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Date: January 21, 2024
Series: Romans – Grasping The Gospel
Sermon Title: Part 2 – What Do You Want To Be Known For?
Scripture: Romans 1:8-15
Speaker: Pastor Mark Pospisil
Questions:
Describe a reputation you have (or have had in the past). It could be for a skill, an event, a look, an action…what were you known for?
Describe a time when you were excited to share an announcement with someone else. How did your excitement affect your announcement?
In Romans 1:8, Paul reports that the faith of the believers in the church in Rome is being proclaimed throughout the world. The word he uses for “proclaimed”
describes making an exciting announcement. What do you think excited Paul about the faith of the church in Rome? If Paul were writing to you about the reports he had received about your faith, how excited do you suppose he would be?
In Romans 1:9, Paul makes a solemn statement before God: that without ceasing he never failed to pray for the Roman church. How would you rate the consistency of the prayers you offer to God on behalf of the one person for whom you pray the most?
In Romans 1:10, Paul describes his constant prayer as asking for something
specific; the word he uses for “ask” carries with it the idea of “begging.” The fact that Paul was begging, pleading denotes a degree of urgency, of desperation, that goes beyond any ordinary request. What requests do you bring to God with such a level of urgency, of desperation, that you would actually be “begging?”
Paul’s urgent plea was to somehow get to go to Rome, to go be with the church there (1:10), so that he could give some spiritual gift with the purpose of
strengthening them. Generally understanding that the Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts in order to serve and strengthen other believers, how does Paul’s prayer inspire you (or convict you) to change how you pray for other believers?
One of the reasons Paul wanted to go to Rome and see the church was so that the church might be a source of great encouragement to him, the same way that he wanted to be an encouragement to the church (Romans 1:12). Who is it that you love to be around because they are such an encouragement to you in your journey with Christ? How can you be such an encouragement to someone else?
Read Romans 1:14. Why you think Paul considered himself to be a debtor to those living at that time in the Graeco-Roman world (Greeks, barbarians, wise, foolish)? What clue(s) does the next verse—verse 15—provide as to the reason for this?
Paul expressed in Romans 1:15 that he was “eager” to proclaim the Good News to those who were in Rome. Why do you suppose he was so eager to do this? How does his eagerness compare or contrast with the eagerness we show today to proclaim the Good News to our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our co- workers?
Going back to Pastor Mark’s opening question, what is it that you would say you want to be known for today?
Notes: