READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | In Rm 14, 15, Paul tried to overcome divisions in the Christian community who trusted in God’s promise (fulfilled in Christ’s first coming) and eagerly await His second coming. The scripture passage is the climax of Paul’s earlier arguments.
What are the marks of a Christian community? Paul’s answer and prayer for the community is encapsulated in 3 words – hope, harmony and hospitality.
A. A Christian Community is marked by Hope
(a) What is hope? V13 – the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. God is the basis of hope. Biblical hope is not sentimental optimism but strong confidence in the sovereignty and goodness of God.
(b) Why abound in hope?
- Scripture: promise of the Messiah (Rm 1:1-4) has already been fulfilled.
- Primary purpose of Scripture is to instruct and create hope. Everything that was written was to teach us so that through endurance and encouragement we might have hope (V4).
(c) What type of hope?
- Confident, as Jesus has come.
- Centred on God and His word which is totally reliable.
- Communal – Rm 15 shows that it takes the whole community to show itself as a reflection of Christ. Hope is not just for our personal good, it is to be shared with others. The communal nature makes it joyful, reflects our conviction that God is alive and characterises our relationship with God.
(d) What discipleship lessons can we learn?
- Do not live like people without hope (Eph 2:12). The saddest condition of man is to be without hope. Any reconciliation must begin with God.
- No one is hopeless. No one or no situation is without hope as we have the power of God available to us. Martin Luther wrote, “Christ takes upon Himself everything that separates us from God and in return gives us all Christ’s benefits.”
- Reach out to those who do not know Christ.
B. A Christian Community is marked by Harmony
(a) Why live in harmony? Rm 15:5-6
We live in harmony so we may glorify God
(b) Basis of our fellowship
- Common Hope – We are united in Christ with the same attitude of mind toward each other as Christ
- Common Goal– Unity does not mean we agree on every detail but we share the same beliefs and purpose, putting God above all and come together to praise God and glorify Him.
- Common Love – Harmony comes from the common love we share in the Holy Spirit, in accordance with Jesus Christ.
(c) Discipleship Lessons:
- Love your neighbour as yourself – Seek the interests of others, not yours.
- Live in the light of the Holy Spirit, bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Living in harmony is a fruit of the Spirit.
C. A Christian Community is marked by Hospitality
(a) Hospitality to whom? Rm 15:7-12
Paul instructs that we are to welcome one another just as Christ accepts Jews and Gentiles, strong and weak. We welcome those who are weak in the faith as Christ died for all.
(b) God’s hospitality
- Command grounded in the work of Christ. God’s grace is revealed in His salvation, offered as a gift to all regardless of worldly worth or status. This same grace is the foundation for the life of our community. Divisions in community are overwhelmed by the grace of God. We make no social, cultural or ethnic distinctions.
- Christ’s coming is for everyone – Everyone is invited, those inside or outside the church. Who can you embrace in your community today?
- Community praise – With united hearts we praise God as this is God’s intention for all people. Community praise is our witness to the world.
(c) Discipleship Lessons:
- You are God’s special messenger – Confessing Christ is not just an act of faith but also a willingness to speak to others about Christ. Are you willing to be a servant just as Christ became a servant to the Jews to confirm God’s promises to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy?
- Reach out to the lost – Are you willing to open the way for others to come in? We can begin by inviting pre-believers to our Christmas events and services.
The prayer in the Bible can be a launching point for our prayer and spur us to live as people of hope. With hope in Christ, may we reflect God’s hospitality and live in harmony with one another.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- According to Romans 15:4, the Scriptures can be a source of hope for us.
- Share a time in your life where a passage in the Bible has given you hope.
- Name some examples in the Bible where God gave someone hope by fulfilling His promises.
- What value has the Old Testament for Christians (Romans 15:4)?
- A Christian Community Is
- Marked By Hope (v4)
- How do Paul’s statements on hope in verses 4 and 13 fit in with the purpose of this chapter?
- Marked By Harmony (v5-6)
- Why is it important that we be of one mind?
- What is the purpose of being unified?
- What does it mean to be of ‘one mind,’?
- How do we glorify God (Romans 15:5-6)?
- Marked By Hospitality (v7-12)
- In what way are we to receive one another (Romans 15:7)?
- Marked By Hope (v4)
- Romans 15:8-12 describe how Jews and Gentiles can put their hope in Jesus Christ. Having hope in Him changes our perspective and affects every aspect of our lives.
- How has your hope in Christ changed you?
- What is the common denominator in all of the Old Testament texts Paul cites in verses 9-12? What point is he driving home?
- What is so powerful about a diverse group of people welcoming each other and physically coming together to worship the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one unified, harmonious voice? Why do you think God is so glorified in that?
- Read Romans 15:13.
- What strikes you about God being described here as “the God of hope”? In what ways does this hope make us stand out to non-believers?
- Are you guilty of thinking that hope is something you need to produce in your life? If so, how does verse 13 correct you?
- Can you try to put into words what a life that abounds in hope looks like in this world?
- How can we be praying verse 13 for each other?
- What will the end result be if we praise God in unity (Romans 15:13)?
