LBC Sermons & Messages

Text: Romans 16:1-16

I love to read history and see what choices men and women have made and how it affected the course of mankind. The Bible is clear that all of our choices affect people around us and they have an eternal impact. Each life is made up of multiple choices; therefore, each of us is leaving a legacy whether we want to or not. So, what legacy are you leaving?

In Romans 16, we see the legacy of many mentioned by Paul. These are a legacy of service to the Lord. The Bible is a history book of legacies and choices both right and wrong. Let us look at a few today.

I Sam 1; 3:10-14; 4 give us a little insight into the choices of a man named Eli. Eli was a priest in the temple and he is the one who raised Samuel. However, Eli made some really bad choices and left a legacy for all to read. Eli ended his life with nothing to show for his labor except two sons who abused their office in the priesthood, these two sons die in battle, and he fell off a chair and broke his neck because he was heavy. His choice determined what legacy he left.

Saul is another example, I Sam. 28. Saul was a man of God. God chose Saul to be the first earthly king of the Jews. He made a few wrong choices and ended up chasing his friend and next King, David. He also has God turn away from him and ignore him. Then he died miserably in battle.

Then you have the legacy of David, Acts 13:16-24. David made some bad choices but he made some good choices and repented when he disobeyed. God tells us that in all David did, he was a man after God’s own heart. What a legacy! This weighs more then all the good that David did as a king. This is God saying, “well done thy good and faithful servant.” Once again, this legacy was left because of the choices that David made.

Legacy is based on choice of service. You and I choose to serve Satan and self or God and others. When we choose self, we leave a legacy of deceit and destruction and our families go astray. When we choose to serve God, we leave a legacy of blessing and it compels our families to remain faithful to the Lord, Joshua 24, I Kings 9:1-8.

So, the question is whom will you choose to serve, Matt 6? God is clear that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve ourselves and then come and play church and expect people around us to be drawn into a relationship with the Father. We cannot appear to be godly and then secretly fulfill the lust of our flesh for God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow and the all knowing, eternal God is keeping the tabs.

What legacy are you and I leaving? When those around us look at our lives, will they be compelled to live a life for the Lord or self? The choice is yours and mine so let us honor God, get self out of the way, and serve Him whole-heartedly!

Text: Romans 15:22-29

Last week we had our VBS culmination and the Lord truly great. Thanks again for all who had a hand in honoring our Lord. Two weeks ago, we looked at verse 14-21 and Paul talks about all the glory going to the Father. This is hard for we are a selfish people and like to be praised ourselves.

He then goes on to tell us who to give the glory to the Father. First of all, glory depends on who you serve, vs. 22-24. Paul tell the Roman Christians that he desires to come unto them but that is not what God wants at this time. So, Paul chooses to follow the Lord’s leading. Now Paul wanted to go to the Romans to do a good work and to help them in their relationship with Christ but for some reason that is not what God wanted. So, whom do you serve, God and others or Satan and self?

Eph. 2:1-3 tells us that in our natural state, we serve Satan. We want to fulfill the desires of the flesh and this desire is ever battling us through our Christian walk. Jonah, was a man of God and yet he choose to serve himself and he ended up paying for it three days in the belly of a whale. When we serve ourselves and Satan, there will always be consequences.

On the other hand, Joshua in 24:15 challenges the people to serve God, “as for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.” It takes resolve and a decision to serve God. I John 3:16-18 encourages us to love in deed not just in word if we want to serve the Lord. You can choose to use everything the Lord has blessed you with to serve self. You can use your talents to bring honor to yourself. The choice is yours. Blessing and life or Cursing and destruction.

Next, Paul gets into the pleasure of service. If you have never sacrificially served the Lord, you have no idea what pleasure is. This world’s pleasure does not even come close to the pleasure of working with the Lord. Prov. 11:30 tells us that the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. This world only offers heartache, pain, toil, and a fruit that is spoiled. Earthly fruit withers and rusts away but the fruit of the righteous sustains and withereth not, neither does moth eat it nor does it rust away. Notice as well, that righteous fruit is linked to winning souls. This is wisdom. Who have you told lately?

Lastly, Paul talks of priorities and obedience, vs. 28, 29. Paul once again reveals a heart that is serving the Father, not self. He will go to them when the Lord tells him to and not before. God’s priorities over his own. It is not our place to complete our agenda; it is our place to be submissive to the Father and to do His will over our own. Will you choose wisely and reap blessings or will you choose poorly and reap destruction?

Text: Romans 15:14-21

Why do you live the way you do? Most in this world live their lives totally wrapped up in themselves. Sadly, Christians fall into this trap as well. The jobs we work, the places we go, the cloths we wear most of the time are influenced by what we want and not governed by the grace of God.

In Romans 15, Paul tells the church that he is persuaded that they are full of goodness, grace, and godliness. When people see you and get to know you, are they persuaded to follow Christ? In Heb. 6, Paul says that he is persuaded of better things concerning the church. Listen, it is not just about what you know but about the truth being lived out through you and I. God has so much more for us if we could just lean upon His grace.

Paul goes on to talk about the grace of God and why we have it. The purpose that Paul gives in Romans is for the service to the King. This purpose is echoed in Eph. 4:7. God gives us grace to serve. He also gives us grace to become heirs of Christ, Titus 3:7 and for salvation Titus 2:11. So, are you using the grace of God for yourself or for its intended purpose?

Then Paul gets into perspective and where the glory belongs. Again, it is so easy to praise ourselves and live to ourselves, but this is totally contrary to the scriptures. Vs. 17 Paul shows us the proper perspective can help us glorify the Father. Because Paul understood that all goes to Christ, he is able to not worry about himself and live a life to the Father. In closing, to whom are you living and using God’s grace?