READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The gospel impacted Paul so much that he devoted his life to God’s kingdom and everything he did revolved around the gospel. What drove Paul to do so?
Paul believes the gospel has power to transform the following-
1) Lives (Rm 1:14-17)
The gospel is the power of God to save us from death due to enslavement to sin and bring us to life of freedom in Christ. We will see God’s power when we choose to live out the gospel and overcome temptations to sin in our lives. We become like clay that God shapes to reveal His power. The gospel is not merely a story that inspires or teaches good values, but those who live by the gospel will experience the power to transform lives.
2) Families
The family in ancient culture was characterised by:
a) Low status of women
In a male dominance culture, wife abuse was so common that Emperor Augustus enacted a law to protect women from wife abuse. In civil marriages, women had to submit to all their husbands’ wishes, however unreasonable or unfair.
b) Males as preferred sex partners
The low-view of woman gave rise to the ideological belief of male as preferred sexual partners, that contributed to the rise of homosexuality. In a culture of slavery, many households do keep young male as sex slaves.
c) Marriage was a liability in social construct
Marriage was often viewed as a hindrance in personal and political advancement unless it helped one up in the social class.
Paul’s view of family stood radical in its time where he called for the Christian marriage towards submission to one another out of reverence for Christ, wives to submit to husbands as to the Lord and husbands to love their wives as Christ loved them (Eph 5:21-32). Husband and wife are cleaved together to become one flesh as in Gen 2:24.
3) Societies and the World
Paul saw how families and societies were changed as disciples lived holy and acceptable lives (Rm 12), as good citizens (Rm 13), exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5). Relationships are transformed and cultures shifted from being self-serving to self-giving, with structures and policies changed in societies and workplaces. John Wesley’s call to practise social holiness impacted schools, hospitals, homes, workplaces and societies.
God uses people living out the gospel to transform lives, families, societies and the world. We need to reframe the priority of the gospel in our lives and families for our children to encounter God or risk endangering them to worldly influence.
What drives you that takes up your time, energy and commitment? What is your priority in life? May the Lord help us to start afresh, desire more of Him in different areas of our lives, embrace forgiveness and trust in His power to transform us for His glory.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Starters – Share what are your top 5 things that take up your time, energy and commitment? Why are they so important to you?
- On a scale of 1-10, where would you place the importance of the gospel presently in your life? Share why it is/isn’t the top priority for you.
- Read 1 Cor 9:19-23 & Romans 1:14-17 – Why do you think the gospel matters so much to Paul?
- What would it look like for you if you saw the gospel from Paul’s perspective? What areas in your life (personal, family, work, etc) do you need the “power” of the gospel to work?
- Share some practical ways how you would allow the gospel to be placed in your life (personal time, family, work, etc).
- (Optional) Try to look at different letters by Paul and pick out how Paul saw the gospel in action in his personal life, relationships, families, community, society, world, etc. Pick a few and share any thoughts.
