What A Mess! Series

“WHAT A MESS!” Romans 1:18-32

FBCF – 9/7/25

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Fair warning: This may be a hard sermon. Definitely a “bad news/good news” sermon. Might get tough in the middle but hang on! Triggered? Sorry. Deal w/ it. Offended? Sorry, but the Gospel is offensive b/c it confronts sin head on. Uncomfortable? Hope so if you’ve gotten comfy & cozy w/ sin.

Last week, a demonically inspired man opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church & School in Minneapolis, killing 2 children, injuring 18 others, & scarring the lives of many, many more. Terrible tragedy!

I knew what was going to come after that & it did. Liberal politicians, government leaders, & news organizations immediately began to bash the notion that “thoughts & prayers” would help in any way. Mayor of Minneapolis – “Don’t just say this is about thoughts & prayers right now…” CNN anchor – “Forget about thoughts & prayers…”

MLB team observed a moment of silence at the game on Wed. & also released a statement: “Our deepest sympathies & prayers are w/ the victims, their families, & all who have been affected. Alongside our community, we mourn this tragedy & yearn for a future where such violence no longer shatters lives.”

2 things: First, I agree that empty platitudes about thoughts & prayers need to be forgotten. They don’t do anything. Wikipedia actually has a definition for the phrase: "'Thoughts and prayers' is a phrase commonly used by politicians, public figures, and celebrities, particularly in the United States, as a condolence after a deadly event such as a natural disaster or mass shooting." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughts_and_prayers)

It's “a phrase” that is “used.” PRAYER IS NOT JUST A PHRASE! If it’s just a phrase that some politician or celebrity throws out to try to make themselves look better or seem more compassionate, then it’s a crock. It’s even more of a crock when that politician or celebrity’s lifestyle makes it abundantly clear that they know nothing about what true prayer is all about anyhow. If the politicians & celebrities & athletes are just throwing that phrase out there w/out truly crying out to the Lord & interceding for those who are hurting, then just don’t even say the words.

Second thing is this: Same can be said for you & me when we tell someone, “I’m thinking about you.” What good does that do? Just thinking about someone doesn’t change anything. What changes things is when we actually DO pray Scripturally, passionately, fervently, faithfully, & unceasingly. Paul didn’t just tell the Philippians believers, “Hey, I’m thinking about you.” He told them, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Philippians 1:3). Same here in Romans 1:9-10 – “I mention you always in my prayers.” He prayed for them & thanked God for them which is MUCH more effective & life-changing than just saying, “I’m thinking about you.” In fact, instead of just telling someone you’re thinking about them & praying for them, why don’t you stop right there w/ them & pray for them? MUCH more meaningful & much more genuine.

- Called my brother, Tim, when I got the word about my melanoma – “Jon, you know I don’t do the ‘church lady’ junk anymore & just say, ‘I’m praying for you.’ If I tell you I’m going to pray for you, I mean it & I’m going to do it.” My reply: “That’s why I called you.” And he does pray & he IS praying for me!

- So many of you are the same way. When you SAY you’re praying for me or for someone else, you truly are! And THAT makes a difference as you call out to God, knowing that He WILL answer you & show you great & mighty things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3)

Only time I’ve actually agreed w/ Rep. Ilhan Omar on anything she’s ever said. In the aftermath of the shooting, she said, “There is something fundamentally broken.” Agree completely! It got broken all the way back in the Garden of Eden. And every school shooting, every abortion, every rape, every act of child abuse, every drag queen show, every corrupt backroom business deal, every road rage incident, every homosexual act, every adulterous relationship, every lie that is told, every time a student cheats on a test, every act of bullying, every word of gossip, every incident of human trafficking – every sin that’s ever been committed or will be committed shows the brokenness of our lives & our world due to sin.

EXPLANATION – Romans 1:18-32

WHAT A MESS!

Romans – Has been called the “Magna Carta of Christian faith.” Tony Evans – “The constitution of the Church.” Martin Luther – “This letter is truly the most important piece in the NT.” So much of our foundational theology & doctrine comes from this majestic book written by the Apostle Paul. Its focus is on the doctrine of our salvation by GRACE alone through FAITH alone in CHRIST alone. The Good News is that “Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). We need to understand that all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. And here in this passage, we see just how filthy we are as sinners. So, let’s go.