Monday's Lesson - Personal Touch




Read Romans 15:20–27. What reasons does Paul give for not having visited Rome earlier? What made him decide to come when he did? How central was mission to him in his reasoning? What can we learn about mission and witnessing from Paul's words here? What interesting—and important—point does Paul make in verse 27 about Jews and Gentiles

Paul wants to work where no other man has worked before. He believes that this is the mission that God has called him to do. The text tells us that because of this he was prevented from coming.

From Paul's words we learn that mission was central to the reason why he was going to Rome. He realized that there was an area which was being neglected and that he could fill the need in that area. From Paul we learn that we must be motivated by mission.

We must understand what our unique Mission is to the world and be attentive to opportunities to execute this mission. Paul understood that His specific Mission was to reach the unreached.

Paul also makes a note in verse 27 that if the Gentiles were partakers in the Spiritual blessings they should also share their physical blessings.

What important principle can we take away for ourselves on the whole question of mission from the fact that Paul sought help from an established church in order to evangelize a new area.

The actions of Paul in this passage help us to understand that the Church is a movement. As congregations are formed and established the Mission of these congregations should be to multiply and produce other Churches.The established Church can utilize it's various resources to help grow and develop other churches.

Read again the verses in Romans 15:20–27. Notice how much Paul wanted to serve; that is, his great desire was to minister and to serve. What motivates you and your actions? How much of a heart of service do you have?

I feel that life is most fulfilling when it is lived for others. I am motivated to help people anyway that I can.

Prayer: Father thank you for what we have learned about mission and witnessing from Paul. Please help us to understand what is the specific mission that you have called us to. Fills us with hearts of love and service towards one another. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

Sunday's Lesson - Date & Place

What other important churches had Paul visited on his third missionary journey? Acts 18:23

This passage tells us the Paul also Paul passed through the Galatian region and Phrygia.

What kinds of issues are agitating your church at present? Are the threats more from without or from within? What role are you playing in these debates? How often have you stopped to question your role, your position, and your attitudes in whatever struggles you're facing? Why is this kind of self-examination so important?

Currently in the church there is a gap between the people and the Church. The church in most places is set in a historical mode which refuses to move with the change of times. This is not an entirely universal problem in my opinion but one which is generally found to be true.

I believe that this is an internal threat. We have reached a state of comfortability which will cause us to implode ourselves unless something changes. In this matter I feel that I am helping by opening up dialog for newer methods.

When the church is faced with problem , our local church or our church as a whole we must think how can we help? If we do not ponder the question of how can we help we simply become agitators of the wound of our churches deficiencies. We must move from complainers and naysayers to those who execute plans of action to improve our churches situation.

Prayer: As we study the book of Romans help us Father to understand what the lesson is for each of us. Help us to become suppliers of solutions rather than just identifiers of problems. Thank you In Jesus amen.