Romans 10 - Part 2

We started off this week with a game. We split into two teams. The only object of the game was to get all of the stuffed animals into the ropes that were set up like so:

What almost always happens and happened last night was  each team was trying to get all the animals into the rope that was set up on their side like so:

After a few moments of chaos and confusion, we realized that something wasn't working. The game seemed impossible. After some debriefing, we realized that all we had to do was move the ropes to the middle and all the animals would fit like so:

Last week we discussed Paul’s vision for the Gentiles in the Roman churches. Paul was trying to help the Jewish people understand that Christ was Lord over all people, not just those who were born Jews. Paul says that “anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Some of us have felt judged or looked down upon like the gentiles and some of us act like the Jews by looking down on others. Our mission is the same as Paul’s to share the gospel – to shine the light of Christ and be an example of his life in the world.  When we look down on others, ignore them, or judge them, we don’t love them as Jesus would. We make them feel like outcasts which is opposite of what God has called his people to do.

As we continue in Romans 10:14-15, Paul asks how anyone will hear the gospel if it no one speaks it to them. This is the ultimate question. How can anyone hear the gospel if we don’t share it? The game we played at the beginning is sometimes representative of how we try to reach others for Christ. We compete against each other and argue about who is right, when we know in our hearts that God is the "Lord of all" (v. 12). The dilemma is that we also can't stay quiet about who Christ is in our lives. Paul says that "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (v. 17). We have a responsibility to share the gospel with our friends, families, and communities. 

As students, you walk into one of the largest mission fields everyday. As disciples, the way you love and care for others is going to tell them who Christ is. The way you react to your successes and failures will teach them something about how God works in a person's life. As humans, we will mess it up sometimes, but God's grace is sufficient and "anyone who calls on his name will be saved" (v. 13). So shine the light of Christ in your schools. Have an attitude like Christ (Philippians 2:1-11).

Romans 10 - Part 1

Lately I’ve been challenged by the way our world communicates with one another. From the presidential debates, and issues in the church, what we think and about people that look, act, or think differently than we do.  There is a lot of judgment being thrown around when it’s really not our place.

In Romans 10, Paul is speaking to a church of mostly gentiles, or people that weren’t born ethnically Jewish, knowing the scriptures and practices of the Old Testament. Some of the ethnic Jews became Christians while others are still waiting for a messiah to come. Paul’s mission was to share the Gospel with those who had not heard about Christ. He wanted to teach them how to live. This is the main theme of his letter to the Romans.

Paul begins in chapter ten with an expression of his desire that all Israel may be saved. The Israelites didn’t recognize that Jesus was the messiah and refused to believe in His message. Paul uses their scriptures to explain that the Messiah is already here. He references Deuteronomy 30:11-14, when Moses is explaining to the Israelites that the law is not hard to follow because the word is in their hearts.  We don’t have to go to the hills or to the valleys to find him, Christ is here – and he is within us (v.8). In verse 13, he says “everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile.

• Has anyone ever done something really embarrassing in front of a group of people? What happened? 
• How about, did you ever want to be like someone else, because they were cooler, more athletic, smarter, and prettier or had more friends? What does it feel like to be on the outside of that group when you really want to be a part of it?

Most of us have experienced at some point what it feels like to be an outcast from a group of people or even our families. Sometimes we blame ourselves and think we just aren’t good enough or sometimes, we try really hard to “be ourselves” and not care what the world thinks about us so we surround ourselves with people that think just like we do even if we know it’s not what’s best for us.  You can feel like you aren’t good enough for God. What Paul is saying to this mindset it that anyone who calls on Jesus and confesses him as Lord will find him. He is here - in your heart. 

 

On the other hand as Christians, sometimes we can be like the Jewish people during Paul’s time; we don’t believe the Gentiles could ever be “like us.” What I mean is we look at the people that live differently than us, have made some mistakes, or think differently that we do (better or worse grades, more or less money, involved with drinking or drugs,  different religions, etc) aren’t within reach. Our mission is the same as Paul’s to share the gospel – to shine the light of Christ and be an example of his life in the world.  When we look down on others, ignore them, or judge them, we don’t love them as Jesus would. We make them feel like outcasts which is opposite of what God has called his people to do.

Resolutions

The first youth group and blog post of 2012! 

Last week at church, Eric talked about new year's resolutions, and why it's important to make resolutions and set goals around our walk with Christ. As a student, sometimes you might set goals to make better grades, reach a personal record in the sport you are playing, stop eating so many sweets, etc. Personal goals are important but without a foundation in Christ, they don't mean anything. We can do all things through Christ, but without him we can do nothing. We started the group with these questions:

• What is a Resolution?
• Why do we make them?
• Do you make resolutions? What are some resolutions you have made?

Resolutions and goals are great, except when other things get in the way. The first couple of weeks…days…even just hours seem really easy, because we are so determined that things are going to change, but what happens after a while? It gets harder to make the time. We are less motivated. It doesn’t seem important anymore.It's really not that bad if I eat the whole bag of Oreos.

The same thing happens when we commit ourselves to the work of God if we aren't careful. We know it's important to read our Bibles and pray, but the Bible can seem really intimidating and prayer is kind of hard to do sometimes. We begin to make excuses and these things fall on our priority list. 

As I was thinking about why it's important to make these resolutions, I began to study the scriptures to see what they had to say about why it's important to be in the word and in prayer. Often when we are asked why we should read the bible or pray, the cookie cutter answer is to draw closer to God. It’s true, but that doesn’t always motivate us to do it does it? Here is what scripture says about staying in the word and prayer.

Why read the Bible? Check out these passages: 

John 6:63

John 14:23-24

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We don’t read scripture just because we are suppose to or just because it draws us closer to God (although it will), but we read because it gives us life, it shows God our love for him, it reveals the truth, and God uses it to prepare us for what he has in store in each of us.

Why do we pray? 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Matthew 7:7-8

Matthew 26:41

James 5:13-18

Prayer is the means by which we find God. God reveals himself to us as we seek to know him. Through prayer God gives us strength to withstand temptation and this shapes us into his likeness. The last passage tells us that the "prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (v. 16). God listens to the cries of his people.

Consider making a resolution or setting a goal that strengthens your walk with Christ. It can be for the year or for a shorter amount of time. I will post some resources for reading plans and prayer on the facebook page soon.