THE BEST SUMMER EVER
UNASHAMED
OUTLINE
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel
of God
• UNASHAMED MAN (1)
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning
His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the
flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and
apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom
you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called
to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• UNASHAMED MESSAGE (2-6)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of
throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to
come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so
that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by
the mutual faith both of you and me.
• UNASHAMED MINISTRY
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you
(but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as
among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks & to barbarians, both to wise
and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who
are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek. 17 For
in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just
shall live by faith.”
UNASHAMED MOTIVATION
TRANSCRIPT (Note all content is primarily from personal study. No plagiarism is intended of any kind.)
OPEN
Sundays look very different for me now that I preach but growing up Sunday afternoon was time after lunch we’d all get together & play some type of sport. If we had enough people we’d get out in cow pasture & play football. Now for those of you who have never played football in a cow pasture, it brought a whole new dimension to being tackled. Let us just say when you hit the ground the worst part wasn’t the pain it was what was on you after the tackle. One Sunday evening all us boys got down there in the field to play football. We had chosen teams and were about to start the game when someone asks who’s got the ball. We all looked around & no one had brought a ball. They all thought the other one would do it. Let me tell you if there no football there is no football. Nothing works unless you have a ball. First downs are measured by where the ball stops. Touchdowns are made by ball crossing goal line. Offense & Defense line up on each side of the ball. An Incomplete pass is determined by whether or not caught the ball. You can have all the other stuff but no ball & there is no game. You can have all the right equipment. You can have a stadium. You can have a scoreboard. You can have cheerleaders but if don’t have a ball there is no game.
<><As Christians it possible have all the stuff right. Go to the right church, carry the right Bible, say the right words, & wear the right clothes & still not have the one thing that makes Christianity what it is. If you don’t have Christ & the gospel then everything else doesn’t matter.
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TS—Today we start a series on the book of Romans. We are going to walk through this book verse by verse. This magnificent letter is the Centerpiece of NT & doctrine. I’m doing this series on faith because I don’t have the confidence in myself to pull this off.
In today's message, we’re going to look at the first 17 verses. The Title of my message today is UNASHAMED. We live in a culture that shames you if don’t go with culture. God has called us to live a life unashamed of Gospel & Christ.
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Let's kick this thing off…
(Scripture)
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
The first thing I see in Romans is Paul is an
UNASHAMED MAN (1)
(Commentary)
—Paul had never met most people he was writing to so he introduces himself. His introduction tells us a lot.
First He is a SERVANT—(bondservant) Paul was born free—He voluntarily gave up his plan to serve under God’s plan. (I would say I believe everybody chooses to serve underneath something. Could you write you bondservant of Christ or would you be a bondservant Visa/Mastercard or your children
-Look he also says he is SET APART—Means He is no longer like the world. He’s Been separated from it. To use religious word Sanctified. He is not saying one day there’s going be stained glass windows of himself & the sisters of St Carmel are going make a statue of himself someone can buy on Amazon for $99. He is not declaring sainthood he is just saying he is different than the world.
- What is of just as much interest is what he DIDN’T SAY. Didn’t say—used kill Christians—Paul didn’t talk about past. Didn’t say—Preached 1000’s & started churches—Paul didn’t talk about success. Paul was unashamed of who He was.
(Application)
- Paul didn’t live a life in shame—he lived under Grace. He could have very easily done that. He had taken people’s families & destroyed them. He had Fathers/Mothers killed. Culture say SHAME ON YOU…Christ says SHAME OFF YOU. We all have things we are ashamed of—I know I do—Things we’ve done & things we’ve said. (Like right now my mind can go to a moment where if you think about it long enough it will begin to make you embarrassed all over again) We think if anybody found out be so embarrassed. Some would go to jail if people knew. Satan comes & shames you & says if everyone knew shame shame shame. You are looking through the lens of humanity.
- Jesus came to set us FREE FROM SHAME. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2. In Garden of Eden, Adam/Eve were created in perfection and the Bible says they were naked & unashamed. God created us to know no shame. After the sinned they were ashamed & began to cover up & hide what they had done. They lived with the fig leaf. You don’t have to live with a fig leaf. You don’t have to live with shame. Not bc it was OK what you did & doesn’t matter but bc Christ died for that shame & our shame was placed on him.
- Illustration<><I used to be so ashamed to tell people I was a pastor. #1 Bc people automatically treat you different. They either go oh & shut down on you or most of the time they go super spiritual and start talking all Christianese. Praise the Lord-Hallelujah and it is just weird. I’m tempted to say what Jay Johns says when they asked him what he did for a living. He said I work for a global enterprise. We have outlets in 95% of every country in the world—hospitals, hospices, orphanages, feeding centers, crisis centers, recovery centers. He said basically we look after people from birth to death. When they ask me what it is I’ll say its the church have you heard of it. I used to be ashamed to tell people what I did bc some of the things I had done in my past. I knew who I was but no one else did & I was so ashamed. I was looking through the lens of culture. I can say honestly now I am unashamed to tell people I am a pastor bc I recognize like Paul I can't be ashamed of my past.
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(Scripture)
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
(Paul is saying right here that Jesus was 100% man & 100% God)(He wasn’t half & half. Part human & part God)(He was as human as me & you yet was as God as God)
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Paul is included both Jews & Gentiles in his greeting. Grace was common to Gentiles & Peace was common to Jews)(Paul is kind of saying hello everybody)
UNASHAMED MESSAGE (2-6)
(Commentary)
2—In Paul's day it was popular to follow Rabbinical teaching. They taught about the law—didn’t teach Christ. Paul comes in & teaches a different message.
3-4—Jesus was from the seed of David & Son of God. He was 100% man just like us & 100% God. This message much like today was not mainstream.
(Application)
- The same message Paul preached is the same message we have today as followers of Christ.
- The Lord said to me, The Message is larger than the Messenger!! You don’t have to enhance it—You don't have to make it pretty or cool—Just share it & let it do what it does. The power is in the Message.
- Illustration<>< Let's say one night I’m up studying & come across some information that says it’ll cure cancer w/ a simple injection. So I go to someone I know that has cancer & say I read where this will cure cancer. You just have to be willing to accept the injection. They believe me & try it & their cancer is immediately cured. They go to one of their friends who has cancer & tell them what happened. Their friend tries it & they are immediately healed of cancer. Let me ask you, If I had information about something that powerful & it could literally change millions of lives, would I be obligated to share it. Absolutely I would. If I knew the cure for cancer we’d be searching out people to share the antidote with. Even if the entire medical industry said this is a false message. You shouldn’t do it. It is crazy. These people are just saying they are cured. Would you allow that to keep you from sharing it. No bc you know it changed you. My friends when the Gospel has changed you, you will not be ashamed to share it bc you know the power of it. If have experienced Christ & He has healed you of the disease called sin you have an obligation share that with everyone around you.
- I don’t want to force it on anybody. You aren’t forcing anything. It's not about how many people we can check off the list. It's not about making converts. It's about a message that brings life to spiritually dead people. It is a message that brings hope to the hopeless. It is a message that brings light to the darkness. Here is the message the antidote for sin. The message is Christ robed himself in flesh & came to earth. He was totally human & totally God. He proved that by His resurrection from the dead. He is alive today & He is the cure for sin. He is the cure for Hell. He is the cure for death. I can hear the joyful sound Jesus save, Jesus save. He still saves. He still rescues. He takes dead things makes them alive.
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(Scripture)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making a request if, by some means, now, at last, I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
UNASHAMED MINISTRY
(Commentary)
8—This group of people was known all over the world. They didn’t have a TV ministry or huge building but their faith was legendary. They lived in Rome during the time of King named Nero. Nero was Psycho. He was the one that put animal skin on Christians & put them in coliseum & let animals publicly kill them. Would also take Christians dip in pitch & light them on fire to provide lighting for his gardens at night. In the midst of terror & torture, they did not deny their faith. They were unashamed. Bc of this their faith being talked about all over the world. CHURCH WAS GROWING EVEN UNDER PERSECUTION. LEADING PEOPLE TO CHRIST UNDER IT.
(Application)
How do you grow a church under persecutions? People wouldn’t even come to church if the power went out in America. I heard one pastor say many Christians are like submarines. Every Sunday they surface for a couple of hours and then the rest of the week they submerge and are unseen. There has to be more to the ministry and being a Christian than just going to church on Sunday and making it to Heaven one day.
Illustration<><I watched a documentary on Titanic. This humungous ship sank & 100s of people died. Here the interesting thing I never knew. They had plenty of lifeboats to save everyone on the ship but the lifeboats were only half full. The people in the lifeboats were so focused on saving themselves the left the others behind to perish. They didn’t want to risk it. They were saved & in the lifeboat but it was too risky to turnaround. I think that is a picture of the church. Many believers are saved & in a lifeboat but it is too risky to reach out and minister to those who are not in the boat. You will risk rejection. You will risk being mocked. You will risk offending someone. but we are to have an unashamed ministry.
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(Scripture)
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you
(but was hindered until now),
that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks & to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Hab 2:4)
UNASHAMED MOTIVATION
(Commentary)
-16—One most famous verses in Romans. Paul been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, laughed at in Athens, regarded as a fool in Corinth, & stoned in Galatia, yet remained eager preach in Rome—Rome was the seat of contemporary political power & pagan religion. He was not put off by criticism or physical persecution he had an unashamed motivation. He knew that it was the power.
(Application)
What was his Motivation? The Power of the Message was his motivation. Paul knew something that we need to learn. What changed Him would change them. A changed heart leads to a changed man/woman. Paul says I’m not ashamed…Ladies and gentlemen, there are a lot of things I am ashamed of. I'm ashamed number of babies killed each year by abortion. I'm ashamed our government acts like school children. I'm ashamed of what some of our students & children watching youtube and sending over text messaging. I'm ashamed of what some of our adults put on facebook and social media. I'm ashamed of the high divorce rate among Christians. I'm ashamed of the number of couples who live together with no commitment. I'm ashamed of the amount of pornography available & consumed in the world. I'm ashamed of some of the music people are listening to. I'm ashamed most of sitcoms & movies being made right now. I'm ashamed how many of famous people dress & act. There are a lot of things I'm ashamed of. There are a lot of things I am not proud of. There are a lot of things that just flat out embarrass me. BUT my church family there is one thing I am not ashamed of…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ bc it is the power. It is the power to change a man, the power to change a woman, the power to change a Moma, the power to change a daddy, the power to change an ex-spouse, the power to change a drug addict, the power to change a religious zealot. As long as there is breath in my lungs and blood in my veins I will proclaim it, sing it, preach it, teach it, & post it.
CLOSE
Illustration<><I heard this story years ago of a little girl’s moma that had a big scar on the side of her face. The little girl was very embarrassed of her mother. She never wanted her to come inside the school with her. She never wanted to go shopping with her bc people stared at the scar on her mothers face. At night when the mother would kiss her little girl, she would close her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at the scar. It began to really bother the mother so she asked her little girl one day as she was laying her down for bed. Why don't you ever want to go shopping with me? The little girl said moma I don't want to hurt your feeling but people stare at you and it embarrasses me and I'm ashamed to go with you anywhere. The mom said I think it about time for me to tell you how I got this scar. One night the fire alarm went off in the house & when I opened my eyes the entire house was on fire. The only thing I could think of was you. So I ran to your room and scooped you up our of your baby bed. I was running and as I was running a piece of fire from the house landed on my face. I couldn't get it off bc I had you in my arms so I got you outside of the house & we were both safe but my face was burned very badly. The little girls had tears rolling down her face & she reached up with her little hands and touched the large scar on her mothers face. With her hand on the scar, she told her mom that it was the most beautiful face she had ever seen and she was never again ashamed of her mom.
One day we are all going to get to Heaven & there will be no scars except on one. Those will be the most beautiful scars we have ever seen in our lives in that moment. May we not be ashamed of the scars while we are here on this earth.
PRAYER & RESPONSE.
