Worship Preparation - August 13, 2023
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Read the sermon text: Romans 15:1-13
Read the sermon summary: Are you living to please God or your neighbor? As we come to the passage for this Sunday we might be confused. After all, in other places of Scripture, we are told not to be pleasers of men. So, what does Paul mean when he says, “Let each of us please his neighbor”? The key to understanding this are the qualifications gives, “for his good, to build him up.” And notice that Paul grounds this sort of behavior in the example and work of Jesus Christ, who took our reproaches on himself for our good. Further, the result of this living for one another is nothing less than our unity in worshiping our Triune God. Once again, we see that our unity in Christ isn’t founded on our uniformity in non-essentials, but in our love for one another. In preparation for the sermon, consider the following questions: How do we know that the reason for the command to please our neighbor is connected to the work of Christ? What does verse four mean for how we read and understand the Old Testament? Why do you think those who are “strong” have an obligation to bear with the “weak”?
Read the following song lyrics in relation to the sermon:
Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven's praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living in His suff'ring
Never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law in Him we stand
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father's plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured love untold
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e'er restrain Him
Praise the Lord He is alive
What a foretaste of deliv'rance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when He comes
CCLI Song # 7026028
Matt Boswell | Matt Papa | Michael Bleecker
© 2012 Bleecker Publishing; Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; McKinney Music, Inc.
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CCLI License # 11078052