The Book of Romans: The Gospel on the Move

The Book of Romans

Welcome:

Good morning friends and welcome to Eastern Shore Baptist Church! My name is Stuart Davidson and I am the pastor here. I’m so grateful that you’ve chosen to worship with us today.

Whether you are a longtime member, a first time guest, a family that has been visiting for a while, or joining us online, thank you for being here. I’m overjoyed that you are with us this morning. Friends, I believe God has brought us together today for a purpose, and my prayer this morning is that you would be encouraged. That you’d be challenged by God’s Word. I also hope that you will experience God’s love this morning.

Visitors and guests, we hope you feel welcomed, that you feel cared for. My hope is that you felt at home the second you walked through our doors. I would love the opportunity to meet you, answer any questions you may have about ESBC, I really want to help you get connected.

One of the ways we care for one another as a church family is through prayer. If there is any way we can pray for you this week, we would love to know. You can text our prayer line at 251-222-8977. Whether you have a prayer request, a need, a burden, a praise, or simply need someone to stand with you in prayer, send us a message. Our prayer team would be honored to pray with you and for you.

Introduction of “Today’s Message”:

Friends, when you read the Gospels, one of the things that jumps off the page to me is that Jesus was always moving.

Think about it.

Jesus did not have a car.

No bicycle.

He never called a taxi.

He never opened an app to order an Uber.

He walked.

He walked from village to village, city to city, mountain to mountain, shoreline to shoreline.

He traveled by foot.

By boat.

He rode a donkey into Jerusalem.

He climbed mountains.

He walked dusty roads.

He passed through fields.

He traveled along crowded streets and lonely places.

He traveled through places like Nazareth, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Nain, Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem, the region of Samaria, the region of Galilee, and even into Gentile territory. The Gospels show Jesus constantly going where people were.  

Some estimates suggest that during His three years of public ministry alone, Jesus likely walked more than 3,000 miles. Not in climate control. No air conditioning. No paved roads. Think about it friends. That’s three thousand miles in sandals. No New Balance 1080’s. No Nike’s. Just dust. Just heat. More hills than any human should ever be allowed to climb. Step after step after step.  

Think about this little nugget brothers and sisters. This just hit me the other day. One of the most powerful pictures of Gospel movement comes on the final day of Jesus’s life.

After all the beatings.

After all the trials.

After all the mocking.

Jesus walked.

He carried His cross, He walked that 120 pound cross beam toward Golgotha, the Place of the Skull.

John 19:17 (CSB) says:

“So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.”

Church, what was Jesus modeling for us?

Movement. Motion. Momentum. When you put them all together you see His mission. 

Jesus never planted Himself in one place and waited for the world to come to Him. He went to people.

Luke 19:10 (ESV) says:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Gospel was never intended to be stationary.

It was never intended to be cemented to the ground.

It was never intended to stay inside four walls.

The Gospel moves.

From person to person.

From neighborhood to neighborhood.

From city to city.

From nation to nation.

Today in Romans 15, Paul reminds us that followers of Jesus are not called merely to receive the Gospel.

We are called to mobilize it…and friends, that brings me to the title of my sermon this morning. “The Gospel on The Move”.

Today’s Message:

“The Gospel on The Move”

Introduction of Today’s Thought:

Friends, do me a favor. On your listening sheet, you have blanks under “Today’s Thought.” You can fill in these blanks as we get started this morning:

The Gospel Impacts Everything, Inviting Everyone, And Shared Everywhere!

Church, I really believe that statement captures the heartbeat of Romans 15. I also think that it captures the mission of Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel changes everything it touches. It changes homes. 

It changes priorities. 

It changes marriages. 

It changes futures. 

It changes eternity. Know this…the invitation of the Gospel is incredibly wide. Jesus did not come only for one group of people, or one nation, or one background, or one type of person. The invitation is open to everyone who will come to Him by faith. You know, over the years I have seen people who were…at the time…living totally antithetically to what the Gospel preaches and teaches. They were living lifestyles that were living in complete opposition to the life that God had created for them. Then, they hear the Gospel. The Holy Spirit breathes new life into their dead heart. There is conviction of sin. There is repentance. They become washed in the blood. Then this person, man and woman, who were living as enemies of God suddenly become friends with God. Adopted into His family. I have seen it brothers and sisters. It is the most beautiful sight when someone is brought from darkness to light, from death to life. 

Then once we receive that Gospel, we do not keep it to ourselves. We carry it. We share it. We move it forward. From our dinner tables to our neighborhoods. From Daphne to Alabama. From Alabama to the nations. Friends, the Gospel was too good to stop with us. It was always meant to move through us.

Today’s Thought:

The Gospel Impacts Everything, Inviting Everyone, And Shared Everywhere!

Introduction of Today’s Quote:

In studying for this message, I came across a name that I had never heard of before. The name Henry Martyn! Martyn was born in 1781 England. He was incredibly intelligent. He was attending the prestigious University of Cambridge when he encountered the preaching and teaching of William Carey. He gave his life to Christ and submitted his life to the call of full time Christian ministry. Henry Martyn became a missionary. He went to India among other countries but his true passion was translation. He became very burdened for people who did not have the Bible in their own language. He translated the Bible into Urdu, Persian, Farsi, and he helped translate the Bible into Arabic. Sadly, he passed away at 31 years old while traveling through Turkey. He is known for saying “The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of missions.”

You can see the start of that quotation on your listening sheet this morning. Read it with me. 

Today’s Quote:

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become. His heart beats for the nations, and if we walk closely with Him, our hearts will begin to beat for the nations too.”

-Henry Martyn from “The Journal and Letters of Henry Martyn”

Introduction of Today’s Scripture:

Church, before we go any further, open your Bibles to Romans 15:14-21. As you do that, let me set the stage for where we are today.

Paul is beginning to land the plane on this letter to the church in Rome in Romans 15. For fourteen chapters he has been building and explaining the Gospel. He has taught us about sin, grace, justification, salvation, sanctification, life in the Spirit, unity in the church, and how believers are to live differently because of Jesus.

Now as we come to verses 14 through 21, something begins to shift.

Paul moves from theology to testimony.

He begins opening his heart and talking about why he lives the way he lives. He reminds the church in Rome that his calling was not simply to gather information about Jesus, but to take the message of Jesus to people who had never heard.

Paul was not content for the Gospel to stay in one city.

His desire was movement.

He wanted churches strengthened. He wanted believers discipled. He wanted the Holy Spirit to work in power. He wanted the Gospel to go farther and farther until people who had never heard the name of Jesus had the opportunity to respond.

In many ways, Romans 15 gives us a picture of God’s heart for His church.

Friends, God never intended for the church to become a museum where saved people gather and preserve memories. God designed the church to be a mission force, mobilized by the Gospel and sent into the world.

Today we are going to discover together three steps required to mobilize the Gospel.

Before we read God’s Word together, I want to remind you what we believe about Scripture.

Statement of Belief:

“We are opening the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

Romans 15:14-21 CSB

My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. [15] Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God [16] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God's purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [17] Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. [18] For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, [19] by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. [20] My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else's foundation, [21] but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name. Praise His Holy name.”

3 Steps Required To Mobilize The Gospel…

First, You’ll Be Discipled vs. 14-16

Well folks, we have made it to the heart of today’s message. Let’s pull apart these verses and see what Paul is trying to communicate to us this morning. You can see there on your outline, three steps required to mobilize the Gospel. 

Our first step to mobilizing the Gospel, be discipled. We see this in verses 14-16. 

“I am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.”

Specifically look at that part of the passage…”filled with all knowledge”. 

There on your outline you can see a brief explanation of this point. 

“Submitting oneself to the accountability, instruction, and correction of a fellow more mature believer is often the first step in mobilizing the Gospel.”

Church have you ever heard the name Michelangelo? Of course you have. 

Michelangelo is considered one of the greatest artists in human history.

He painted the ceiling of Sistine Chapel, including the famous scene of God reaching toward Adam. 

He sculpted David out of marble. He created Pietà, the moving sculpture of Mary holding the body of Jesus. He helped design portions of St. Peter’s Basilica. He carved the statue of David. 

Millions of people still travel from all over the world to see his work.

Michelangelo had an apprentice…a disciple. His name was Ascanio Condivi. Condivi practically lived with the great artist. 

He spent time with him. 

He watched him work and often assisted him in his methods. 

He learned how the master approached artwork. 

He asked questions. 

He received instructions. 

He received correction. 

He would observe Michelangelo’s processes. 

He copied his schedules and routines. 

He took detailed notes. 

As much as he was learning from Michelangelo, he also desired to preserve the great master’s methods in hope that he would himself pass them to future learners. 

Over time, Condivi became an accomplished artist. People credit him with preserving not only Michelangelo’s artwork but also his methods. 

Friends, if you have ever wondered what discipleship looks like, that’s it. 

A disciple is not somebody who stands at a distance and says, “Wow, that’s impressive.”

A disciple gets close enough to learn.

A disciple submits to instruction.

A disciple receives correction.

A disciple follows the pattern until one day they are able to help somebody else grow too.

That’s what Paul is saying in Romans 15.

Paul is looking at believers and saying, “You have grown enough that now you are able to instruct one another.”

Church, the Gospel moves fastest through people who are willing to be taught before they try to teach.

Church, this idea of discipleship is not optional. This is not an advanced class for super Christians. This was one of Jesus’ final instructions before He ascended back to heaven.

Listen to what Jesus said.

Matthew 28:19–20 (CSB)

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice what Jesus did not say.

Jesus did not say, “Go make church attenders.”

Jesus did not say, “Go collect decisions.”

Jesus did not say, “Go build crowds.”

Jesus said, go make disciples.

That means followers of Jesus who follow Him, obey Him, become more like Him, and then help somebody else do the same.

Think about it.

Jesus spent roughly three years with twelve men.

He walked with them, taught them, corrected them, answered their questions, challenged them, and prepared them for spiritual war. 

Jesus understood something that we cannot forget. The Gospel moves best through disciples. Church, before God sends you to the nations, He usually shapes you through discipleship. Before God uses your voice publicly, He often forms your heart privately. One of the first steps to mobilizing the Gospel is allowing somebody else to help you grow in Christ so that one day you can help somebody else grow too.

So, how do we become a disciple? 

First, surrender your life to Jesus.

You cannot follow someone you have never trusted. Discipleship begins with salvation. Before Jesus changes your actions, He changes your heart.

Next, sit under biblical teaching.

Disciples learn. They open Scripture. They ask questions. They worship. They show up. They place themselves where God’s Word is taught.

That’s one of the reasons we gather every week.

Third, submit yourself to godly accountability.

This is where a lot of people stop.

Discipleship means allowing somebody who is further down the road spiritually to speak into your life.

Sometimes they encourage you.

Sometimes they challenge you.

Sometimes they correct you.

Paul says in Romans 15 that believers should be “able to instruct one another.”

Lastly, start helping someone else grow.

One of the clearest signs that you are becoming a disciple is that you begin discipling others.

You do not have to know everything.

You simply share what Jesus is teaching you. You share the truth. Share the truth in love. In fact that is what Paul tells us to do in Ephesians 4:15.

Ephesians 4:15 NIV

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” 

3 Steps Required To Mobilize The Gospel…

First, You’ll Be Discipled vs. 14-16

Next, You’ll Depend On The Holy Spirit’s Leading vs. 17-19

Ok friends, let’s look at our second point this morning. Our second step to mobilize the Gospel, depend on the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

Depend on the Holy Spirit’s leading. You’ll see this in verses 17-19. 

“By the power of God's Spirit…I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.”

Again, there is a short explanation there on your outline. 

“A lasting Gospel impact is not dependent on personality, skill, ability, or talent. We must learn to lean and trust the Spirit’s leading.”

Church, before we move past this point, I think we need to remember who is writing these words.

This is Paul. Paul was not ordinary by human standards. Paul was born in Tarsus, a city known throughout the ancient world for education, philosophy, and culture. Listen to Luke’s quote of Paul in Acts 22:3, 

Acts 22:3 (CSB)

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors…”

Paul says he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel.

He was an elite.

Gamaliel was one of the most respected rabbis of his generation. Studying under Gamaliel would be something like studying under the very best scholar in your field. Paul was not casually religious. He was trained. He was disciplined and immersed in his religion.  As a Pharisee, Paul would have spent years memorizing Scripture. Jewish training emphasized enormous portions of the Old Testament committed to memory. Paul knew the Law. He knew the prophets. He knew the traditions. He could debate. He could argue. He could defend his position.

This is how he describes himself in his letter to the Philippian church. Philippians 3:5-6.

Philippians 3:5–6 (CSB)

“…circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.”

Did you catch that word? Zeal. Paul’s passion knew no end. He was so convinced he was right that before meeting Jesus he actively hunted Christians. Acts 8 tells us he approved of Stephen’s execution. Acts 9 shows him traveling to arrest believers. Paul was respected, known, educated and influential.  Yet when Paul finally talks about the success of his ministry…

He does not say: “My education did it.”

He does not say: “My training did it.”

He does not say: “My intellect did it.”

Romans 15:19. “By the power of God’s Spirit…”

This is a fairly remarkable statement.  One of the most educated Christians in the New Testament looked at everything he accomplished and said:

That wasn’t me. That was the Spirit. Friends, there is nothing wrong with preparation. In fact, that was what my first point was about this morning. It is important to be educated, accountable, and discipled. Nothing wrong with education. Nothing wrong with talent.

Use your gifts. But never confuse giftedness with power. Because talent can fill a room. Only the Holy Spirit can change a heart. Paul had the résumé to trust himself. Instead, he trusted the Spirit.

Church, hear me carefully. Education is good. Preparation matters. Talent is a gift from God. Skills should be developed. Paul himself was highly educated and disciplined. Christianity is not anti-learning and it is not anti-excellence. However, there are some things that education, talent, and ability cannot do. 

Education can inform the mind, but only the Holy Spirit can transform the heart. 

Talent can capture attention, but only the Holy Spirit can produce conviction. 

Skill can organize a ministry, but only the Holy Spirit can bring spiritual life. 

Personality may draw a crowd, but only the Holy Spirit can draw a person to Christ. 

You cannot educate someone into salvation. You cannot persuade someone into repentance. You cannot manufacture spiritual growth through effort alone. Only the Holy Spirit opens blind eyes, convicts us of sin, and creates faith. Only the Holy Spirit changes desires, and produces fruit. That is why we pray before we preach. That is why we pray before we witness. That is why we pray over our children, our ministries, and our church. Friends, Paul understood something that we must never forget. 

If the Gospel is going to move, if lives are truly going to be changed, then our confidence cannot rest in personality, or presentation, or knowledge, or ability. Our confidence must rest in the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Listen to how Paul frames it in I Corinthians 2:4.

1 Corinthians 2:4 NLT

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”

3 Steps Required To Mobilize The Gospel…

First, You’ll Be Discipled vs. 14-16

Next, You’ll Depend On The Holy Spirit’s Leading vs. 17-19

Lastly You’ll Be Willing To Be Deployed, Going To Your Neighborhood To The Nations vs. 20-21

Ok friends, last point. Our last step to mobilizing the Gospel, You will be willing to be deployed, going to your neighborhood to the nations. 

Think about it like this…

“Gospel-centered believers should live with urgency and a burden for people where the Gospel is not present.”

Look at verses 20-21. 

Romans 15:20-21 CSB

My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else's foundation, [21] but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

Paul was not waiting.

Paul was not settling.

Paul was not building his life around comfort.

Paul wanted to go.

Friends, I want to stop for a second and say something to our church family.

I am so grateful for Eastern Shore Baptist Church.

Right now, as we speak, we have more than thirty people serving in St. Louis, sharing the Gospel.

Right now, we have a young man serving in Asia for the better part of a month and sharing the Gospel.

Just a few weeks ago, we sent one of our college students to New York where she partnered with churches and Baptist ministries and shared the Gospel.

In July, around twenty members of Eastern Shore Baptist Church are heading to Alaska and… yep… you guessed it… they’re going to share the Gospel.

Church, I praise God for that.

But let me ask a harder question.

What about right here?

What about Daphne?

What about Baldwin County?

Because missions is not only boarding planes.

We share the Gospel when we go into Lake Forest.

We share the Gospel when we give out food in Stockton.

We share the Gospel when we tutor children.

We share the Gospel through Upward Basketball.

We share the Gospel when we teach English as a second language.

We share the Gospel when Senior Sounds walks into rehabs and nursing homes and reminds people that Jesus loves them.

We share the Gospel when hundreds of children walk through the doors of Vacation Bible School and hear about Jesus.

Friends, I believe with all my heart God has given Eastern Shore Baptist Church a beautiful balance.

We care about the nations.

We care about the neighborhoods.

From Spanish Fort to Fairhope, God has allowed this church to become a beacon for the Gospel.

But let me lovingly ask you a question.

Are you willing to go?

Now hear me carefully.

We all have different gifts.

Some teach.

Some serve.

Some encourage.

Some lead.

Some give.

Some host.

Some sing.

But while our gifts differ, our command does not.

Every believer has been commanded to make disciples.

Not pastors.

Not missionaries.

Not church staff.

Christians.

The Great Commission was never given to professionals.

It was given to disciples.

Friends, some of us know more Bible than we have obeyed.

Truth be told, we are often educated beyond our obedience.

Research has shown that while most Christians say evangelism matters, fewer than half have actually shared with someone how to become a Christian in the past six months, and more than half have not invited someone to church during that same time period.  

What is even more striking is this. Nearly half of unchurched people say they would willingly have a conversation about faith if someone initiated it.  

Think about that.

People are often more willing to hear the Good News than we are willing to share it.

Church, that ought to challenge us.

If there is no desire whatsoever to talk about Jesus…

If there is no burden whatsoever for lost people…

If there is no willingness whatsoever to tell your story of what Christ has done…

then at minimum there may be a spiritual deficiency.

You may need revival.

You may need repentance.

And friends, according to Scripture, it is also appropriate to examine yourself.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB):

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves…”

Because people who have experienced grace are moved by grace.

Nobody shares perfectly.

Nobody witnesses every opportunity.

That’s not what I’m saying.

But if Jesus has changed your eternity, surely somewhere along the way that good news spills over. I love the way Isaiah spells it out for us modern readers. Isaiah 52:7. 

Isaiah 52:7 NASB1995

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

Friends, I will end this message with this parting question…

Where Will You Take The “Good News” This Week?