Lord, Help Me

Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 7:1-12 We follow God in the “new way of the Spirit” (Romans 7:6) What was wrong with the old way? The law aroused sinful desires The law made us more accountable Paul clearly believes that the coming of the law made the human situation worse by turning sin into “transgression”: disobedience of a definite command. -Douglas Moo Sin used the law to bring death Romas 5:13-14a For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses Freedom from the law does not mean the end of God’s claim on us. That claim is exerted in a new and powerful way through his Spirit. -Douglas Moo Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. What is the “new way of the Spirit” like? We have the Holy Spirit Following a person, not a script Marriage Marriage does entail a significant loss of freedom and independence… But, on the other hand, there is now the possibility of an experience of love, intimacy, acceptance and security that you could not have as a single person. Because of this love and intimacy, our loss of freedom is a joy, not a burden. In a good marriage, your whole life is affected and changed by the wishes and desires of the person you love. - Timothy Keller How do we engage life in the Spirit? Believe we are loved by God. “Through setting his love on human beings, God has voluntarily bound up his own final happiness with theirs… God’s happiness will not be complete till all His beloved ones are finally out of trouble” J.I. Packer Pursue knowing God, not just knowing about God. Pursue God’s interests. Discipleship Questions: Why do you think Paul keeps repeating and re-illustrating the idea that we are free from the law? In what ways was the old way of the law falling short? Paul uses an illustration of us being married to Christ. Do you even think of Christ in those terms? Why or why not? In Romans 7:6, Paul contrasts the “written code” to the “new way of the Spirit”. What do you think he meant by that contrast? What does it look like for us to walk in the “new way of the Spirit” instead of the “written code?”

Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 6:15-23 Our obedience shows we have a new ruler And so the question becomes, to whom or to what do you want to be enslaved? To sin, reaping eternal death as the consequence? Or to obedience, which brings righteousness? To continue to live a life of sin would be to reveal that we are still slaves to sin. The only alternative is to obey God and thereby reveal that he is now truly our master —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans Our obedience is a response from the heart Our obedience to God brings much better results “He is referring to brokenness of life. Here’s how that works: if you don’t obey the law of God, you become a slave to selfishness, lust, bitterness, pride, materialism, worry, driven-ness, fear, etc. The specific enslaving sins depend on whatever particular “bottom line” you have offered yourself to instead of God. For example, if you are enslaved to approval, you will constantly experience self-pity, envy, hurt feelings, inadequacy. If you are enslaved to success, you will experience driven-ness, fatigue, worry and fear, and so on. Anything you worship besides God promises much, but delivers worse than nothing. It is slavery: a constant treadmill of seeking to grasp, or keep hold of, something which can never really deliver. The only benefit of idolatry is brokenness.” —Tim Keller, Romans For You Galatians 5:19–23 [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Discipleship Questions: In what ways do you think freedom is an illusion? How is true freedom found in being a slave/servant to God? What can help us to see our obedience as a response to God’s grace? Describe the results in your life from times where you chose to obey sin. What are some better results you have experienced from obeying God? Spend a few moments praying for our CCC graduating seniors we recognized in our services.