Worship Preparation - October 23, 2022
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Read the sermon text: Romans 4:1-25
Read the sermon summary: Who is your favorite Old Testament hero? David who stood up to Goliath? Blind Samson who destroyed the Philistine temple? Deborah, the judge and protector of Israel? Many of us may have learned growing up that we were to try our best to imitate these heroes. However, Paul has a different aim in Romans 4. We are encouraged to imitate him, yes. But the focus is on imitating Abraham’s faith. In our passage for this Sunday, Paul argues from Scripture that God’s promises are realized and received by faith. Abraham, Paul argues, was justified before he was circumcised and before the giving of the law. His faith, not his works, was counted to him as righteousness. In the same we, the only way people will be justified before God is through faith in “him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord” (v. 24). In preparation for the sermon consider the following questions: What does Paul emphasize in his insistence that justification is by faith and not by works (see verses 4 and 16)? What Old Testament passages does Paul refer to? What do you think is Paul’s purpose in quoting so many Old Testament passages?
Read the following song lyrics in relation to the sermon:
O Praise The Name (Anástasis)
I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me
I see His wounds His hands His feet
My Saviour on that cursed tree
His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone
Chorus
O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord oh Lord our God
Then on the third at break of dawn
The Son of heaven rose again
O trampled death where is your sting
The angels roar for Christ the King
He shall return in robes of white
The blazing sun shall pierce the night
And I will rise among the saints
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face
CCLI Song # 7037787
Benjamin Hastings | Dean Ussher | Marty Sampson
© 2015 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Remaining portion is unaffiliated
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 11078052
Preaching: Jim Upchurch
Leading Music: Seth Hubler