“Incarnational Ministry”

“Incarnational Ministry” (Romans 1:8–15)

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Sunday AM, January 22, 2017

 

Romans 1:8–15 (NIV)

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. ⁹ God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

 

1. We should give thanks to God when the gospel is effective and is growing in influence (8).

 

2. We should make prayer for one another a purposeful and constant practice in our lives (9–10a).

 

3. We should place a high value on face to face discipleship and gospel ministry (over mediated forms) (10b–13).
   1. It strengthens one another’s faith (11).
   2. It brings mutual encouragement (12).
   3. It produces gospel fruit in the lives of others (13).
   4. It is hard, takes purpose, and is met with many obstacles (13).

 

4. As beneficiaries of the grace of God, we have an obligation to share the gospel with others, regardless of their race, economic status, or educational attainment (14–15).