Serve-A Mandate for Worship, Motivated by Love
Part of Worship, Grow, Serve—Sermon Notes/HG Study Guides
January 12, 2023

Sermon Date: January 15th, 2023

Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon

Below is a reference to the section of the New City Catechism that we went over on Sunday:

The New City Catechism

Lord’s Day 3

How Many Persons Are There in God?
There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Scripture

Romans 1:1-16 - (English Standard Version)

    1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

    7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

    8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Understanding and Applying

  1. What is the ultimate reason for Paul’s apostleship (v. 5)?

  2. What is Paul’s message as an apostle (vv. 1-5, 9, 17)?

  3. How does the gospel relate to the Old Testament (vv. 2-3)?

  4. Who is Paul’s message for (vv. 5, 13-14, 16)?

  5. Why is salvation, through the gospel, a gift and not result of works (vv. 6-7, 16-17)?

    We will now refer to additional passages in Romans to reflect on how we respond as those who have received God’s Gospel and the motives for our response. If you have opportunity, I encourage you to read through the entire book of Romans.


  6. Missions: How does the gospel concerning God’s Son motivate Paul (Romans 15:17-21)?

      a. How does this apply to the church today?

  7. Service: In your own words, how are the saints in Rome supposed to respond to such a great salvation that they have received in Christ (Romans 12)?

      a. What is your reasonable response to having received new life in Christ?

  8. Motive: What are some motives that stir your obedience to God (Romans 1:7; 6)?