Thursday September 25, 2014

Read: Romans 13:8-10

In verse 7 Paul exhorts the believer to pay to everyone any debt that they owe. But there is one debt that Christians can never repay. One obligation that will never be completely fulfilled or satisfied. What is that debt? The continuing debt to love one another. With a beautiful turn of phrase Paul brings our attention back to the love and devotion that believers are to have for one another. An obligation that we can never completely fulfil or discharge.

Paul’s main point is not that Christian’s shouldn’t have loans. Paul is not suggesting that Christians avoid debt entirely but that they fulfil their obligations in repaying their debts. Christians should be diligent in repaying any loans and fulfilling their obligations with integrity (vs 7). Instead he is illustrating the depth of love that believers are to have for one another. They are to be committed and devoted to one another, not as a once off event but as an ongoing obligation to love and serve each other. The kind of debt that can never be paid off. This is the kind of love that Paul has been talking about since Romans 12:9. The kind of love that serves and honours others above ourselves. The kind of love that gives generously and shows hospitality. This is the kind of devoted, committed love that believers are to show to one another.

By showing this kind of love towards one another the Christian is fulfilling one of the two commands that sum up the whole law (Matthew 22:34-40): “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Paul shows how this is the case. No one will murder another person if they truly love them and are devoted to them. No one will commit adultery against another person if they truly love them. No one will covet the possessions of someone when they truly love them and are devoted to them. By loving one another all these commands are fulfilled and kept by the Christian. Notice Paul’s conclusion in verse 10: “Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.”

But the love that believers have for one another goes far beyond merely avoiding harming others. We have seen throughout chapters 12 and 13 so far that loving other believers involves serving them, being devoted to them, being willing to love them and care for them, bearing their burdens, encouraging them and giving generously to them. This kind of love is indeed a costly debt, one that requires we sacrifice of ourselves to serve and love others. In order to repay this debt we need to give of ourselves for the sake of others.

Paul makes it clear that this is not the kind of debt that could be repaid by a single act of extraordinary kindness. This is the kind of debt that continues and can never be repaid. There is never a day when we can say that we have loved others enough and now it’s our turn to get some love. There is never a day where we can refuse to love others any more. Whether we are young or old, male or female, rich or poor, busy or with plenty of time we all have a debt to love and serve one another. Let’s get paying our debt!

Prayer:

Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Continue to pray for Extreme Week today. Pray that the leaders would have energy and strength for the remaining days of the week. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage them in this important work. Pray that the children would have a fun week and that they would be challenged to follow Jesus. Pray that God would be preparing and softening their hearts.

¥ Pray for the Talent Night at ChristLife tonight as part of Extreme Week. Pray that God would be bringing families along to be part of the night. Pray that God would reach many parents and children and bring them to Him.

 Walk Moment:

Sometimes we need help from God to cultivate and strengthen love for others in our hearts. Take time to regularly pray that God would help you love and serve other believers.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Individually, what are some ways that you can love and serve one another?

2. As a group, what are some ways that you can love and serve others in the church? What can you do to sacrificially serve others?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Sometimes it can be really hard to love other people. Sometimes people do things that make us not want to love them. What should we do?

Share: A time when you found it hard to love someone. What happened? What did you do? How can you love someone when it is hard?
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Sometimes it can be really hard to love other people. Sometimes people do things that make us not want to love them. What should we do?

Share: A time when you found it hard to love someone. What happened? What did you do? How can you love someone when it is hard?
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.

Wednesday September 24, 2014

Read: Romans 13:7, Deuteronomy 25:4

It’s a sad fact that sometimes businesses find that the worst customers are Christians. They can require extra service, be seemingly extra fussy about the final product and be late in paying their bill. In fact there are businesses that will openly share that Christians are their worst paying customers. This is a terrible reflection on Christians and on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This kind of thing is what Paul is writing about here in Romans 13. He has exhorted the believers to submit to the governing authorities who rule over them because God has established them to rule over the nation. He continues this train of thought in verse 7. Not only are they to submit but they are to give everyone what they are owed. By his examples Paul clearly has submission to authorities primarily in mind. They are to pay taxes they owe, pay revenue, show respect and honour those who are owed honour.

But this principle extends far beyond merely giving the Government what they are owed. Notice how broad Paul makes his statement: “Give everyone what you owe him.” This extends beyond governments to include businesses, friends, family members, other believers etc. Anyone and everyone whom we owe anything we are to give to them what they are owed. If it’s money, we pay it. If it’s respect, we give it. If it is honour, we show it. If it’s time we provide it. Whatever we owe we are to give to those we owe to.

This is not a new idea. In fact this is the way that God has desired that His people operate throughout history. This is the meaning of the somewhat cryptic command in Deuteronomy about muzzling an ox. When an ox is working hard to tread out the grain the Israelites were note to muzzle the ox to prevent it from eating some of it’s hard earned meal. Instead they were to allow it to eat. This concept extended far beyond beasts of burden. The Israelites were not to withhold the necessary wages from those who had worked hard for them, they were to pay them as soon as they were owed.

God desires this kind of honesty and integrity in the way that God’s people deal with others. Every part of our lives should reflect this aspect of God’s character. From preparing a tax return to the way that we purchase from businesses. From caring for and loving one another to honouring those in our churches and country who are in a position of honour. In our every dealing we are to have integrity and honour in the way that we live.

This might mean that we need to put some strategies or plans in place so that we can fulfil our commitments and show this kind of integrity. If you have trouble remembering to pay your bills on time you might need to figure out a way to remind yourself. If you have trouble meeting your obligations you might need to consider preparing a budget or cutting back on your spending. If you find it difficult to honour others you might need to pray that God would help you to be humble and honour others. How can we make sure that we are giving to everyone what we owe?

Prayer:

Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Pray for Extreme week happening this week at ChristLife. Pray that the kids would be open and willing to hear about what Jesus has done for them. Pray that many would desire to give their lives to Him. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage the leaders and give them energy to serve. Pray that through the kids the families would be reached with the Gospel.

 Witness Moment:

Being a good witness for the Gospel isn’t just the big difficult things. Simple things like paying bills, being kind to staff in businesses and keeping our word are powerful examples in a sinful world. Let’s get serious about these simple ways to be a witness.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. How would this passage apply to the following areas of your life?

Þ Work

Þ Family

Þ Finances

Þ Preparing your tax return

Þ Church

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Sometimes it can be hard to be honest and to do the right thing. Sometimes we might even get in trouble.

Share:  A time when you were honest, even though it was hard and you thought you might get in trouble. Why was it hard? What happened when you told the truth?
Read: Romans 13:7 God wants us to be honest and to do the right thing because He loves us and wants the best for us. This means showing honour and respect to those who deserve it. What does it mean to show honour? What does it mean to show respect? Who should you honour and respect?

Pray Together: Thank God that He wants what is best for us. Pray that He would help us to do the right thing.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Sometimes it can be hard to be honest and to do the right thing. Sometimes we might even get in trouble.

Share:  A time when you were honest, even though it was hard and you thought you might get in trouble. Why was it hard? What happened when you told the truth?
Read: Romans 13:7 God wants us to be honest and to do the right thing because He loves us and wants the best for us. This means showing honour and respect to those who deserve it. What does it mean to show honour? What does it mean to show respect? Who should you honour and respect?

Pray Together: Thank God that He wants what is best for us. Pray that He would help us to do the right thing.

Tuesday September 23, 2014

Read: Romans 13:3-6

“Why?” This seems always to be one of the most important questions we can ask in our lives. The toddler uses this question to figure out why the world works in the way it does, often to the exasperation of their parents. The teenager uses this question to understand who they are and why they do the things they do. The adult uses this question to evaluate their own actions and the actions of others. Christians use this question to grow in their understanding of God and how He has made the universe to operate. When we stop asking this simple question things begin to go downhill.

So why do we submit to rulers and authorities? Why should we obey those in authority over us? Why should we follow the rules and regulations set down by those who govern us? Paul has just established that we should submit ourselves to the governing authorities. Paul gives us three reasons why. The first we looked at yesterday: because God is the one who has established the governing authorities. If we rebel against them we are essentially rebelling against God. Here in this passage Paul gives us two more reasons.

Firstly, we are to obey the governing authorities so that we will not have to fear punishment and retribution. The general principle by which authorities and governments operate is that those who do right are commended whereas those who do wrong are punished for their actions. This principle and authority is given to the governing authorities by God. Notice verse 4. The ruler is God’s servant to reward good and he is an agent of wrath to bring God’s punishment on the wrongdoer. We ought to obey the authorities so that we do not have to fear retribution and punishment for our rebellion.

But avoiding punishment is not the only reason to obey the authorities. Notice the final reason that Paul gives is hidden in the second part of verse 5. We are to submit to the authorities because of conscience. God has instituted what is right and wrong and has declared it to us through His word. By the work of His spirit in our hearts and lives He is bringing our thinking, our consciences and our actions in line with His will for our lives. Part of this will is that we obey the governing authorities and systems that He has established in the world. If we disobey them we are disobeying the commands of God Himself and this should play on our consciences. We obey the government because God has commanded us to and He is our supreme authority.

Paul applies these concepts to paying taxes. We pay taxes in order to obey the government and because God has set them aside to spend their full time governing and ruling. We are to provide for their needs and for the needs of all people by paying taxes and contributing to the function of our government.

Even if no other reason was given the fact that God has commanded we obey those who rule over us is enough for us to obey. Let us submit willingly to God by submitting to those who rule over us.

Prayer:

Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Pray that God would help you to submit to those in authority and to obey the laws and regulations given by the government. Pray that He would be working through the government to establish His purposes, to restrain sin and to build up His people.

¥ Pray for those Christians around the world who are living under ungodly and violent governments. Pray that they would be encouraged and strengthened in their faith. Pray that they would be bold in their preaching of the gospel and that God would protect them and build His church.

 Word Moment:

There are many passages in the Bible that show that God establishes authorities and brings them down according to His plan. One amazing example is of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37. What does this passage teach about God’s sovereignty?

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Why do you think Paul gives three reasons why believers should obey the government instead of simply commanding them to submit and moving on?

2. How would you explain these reasons to someone in your own words?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Sometimes we might want to rebel against people that God has put in authority over us.

Share:  A time when you did the wrong thing and didn’t do what someone in authority told you to do. What happened?
Read: Romans 13:2  Paul tells us that we should obey those in authority because God has given them authority over us. When we are rebelling against them we are actually rebelling against God. What do you think we should do when we want to do the wrong thing? Who could we ask for help? What should we do if we have done something wrong?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help us obey those in authority.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Sometimes we might want to rebel against people that God has put in authority over us.

Share:  A time when you did the wrong thing and didn’t do what someone in authority told you to do. What happened?
Read: Romans 13:2  Paul tells us that we should obey those in authority because God has given them authority over us. When we are rebelling against them we are actually rebelling against God. What do you think we should do when we want to do the wrong thing? Who could we ask for help? What should we do if we have done something wrong?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help us obey those in authority.

Monday September 22, 2014

Coming Up: Sonday September 28, 2014

In The World But Not Of The World - Romans 13

 Read: Romans 13:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13-17

If you want to start a lively discussion amongst almost any group start talking about politics. Tensions will flare, tempers will rise and people will start to air all their grievances about the policies and practices of the current rulers. Discussions like this seem to be particularly prevalent amongst church people, who not only disagree with those policies that directly affect them but also rightly disagree with policies of the government which conflict with God’s Word. If you really want to throw the cat amongst the pigeons in this kind of discussion, let me suggest reading out Romans 13:1-2.

This passage confronts the way that we tend to operate in 21st century Australia. Rather than recognise the authority that the Government naturally has over us we can tend to only acknowledge whatever authority our power we allow them to have over us. We tend to consider ourselves the highest authority and when the government stops serving our needs or delivering on our preferences we rebel, regardless of how subtle or hidden our rebellion is.

Paul commands that believers do something totally different. Rather than expect the government to fulfil our needs we are to submit ourselves to the government. We are to recognise their authority and submit ourselves to their rule. Why? Because their authority is given directly by God. Paul says this twice in verse 1, once in a negative way and once in a positive way: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

We submit to the governing rulers and authorities over us not because they have some kind of intrinsic right to rule over us. Instead we submit to them because their authority and power is given to them directly by God. If we are rebelling against them then we are rebelling against what God has established and we are rebelling against God Himself. This is true whether the government is Liberal, National, Labour or Greens. God has established those in Authority.

This means we must obey the laws and decisions of the government, even when we don’t necessarily agree with them. Of course we must make an exception in cases where the laws of the land directly contradict God’s laws. In that case we have a duty as God’s people to obey God and disobey the government. However, for us in 21st Century Australia this would be the exception and not the rule. We cannot use this as an excuse to disobey the laws that we disagree with or don’t serve our purposes and desires.

Do we submit to the government that God has instituted or do we rebel against them? Do we use every chance we can to talk badly about those in authority and stir up trouble or do we seek to submit to those in authority over us?

Prayer:

Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Pray for those who are in authority over our country. Pray that God would give them wisdom and guide them in making Godly decisions. Pray that those who don’t know Christ would have their hearts softened and would turn to Him.

¥ Pray that God would help us to submit, even to those we disagree with.

 Worship Moment:

In a way that we don’t fully understand God is sovereign over all things that happen in the Universe. This should prompt us to fall before God in worship and praise at who He is. Take a moment to praise God today.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What do you think it looks like for us to submit to the governing authorities?

2. Under what circumstances do you think it is legitimate to rebel against the government?

3. Can you think of any examples in the Bible where people disobeyed the commands of the government and obeyed God instead?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Everyone has to obey someone higher than them. Even leaders have to obey God.

Share: Who do you have to obey at home? Who do you have to obey at school? Who do you have to obey all the time?
Read: Romans 13:1 Paul tells the believers that they should obey the ’governing authorities’. What is an authority? Can you think of some examples? God wants us to obey those who He has put in authority over us. Who does God want you to obey? Is it ever okay not to obey? Why?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has put people in authority to help us and protect us.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Everyone has to obey someone higher than them. Even leaders have to obey God.

Share: Who do you have to obey at home? Who do you have to obey at school? Who do you have to obey all the time?
Read: Romans 13:1 Paul tells the believers that they should obey the ’governing authorities’. What is an authority? Can you think of some examples? God wants us to obey those who He has put in authority over us. Who does God want you to obey? Is it ever okay not to obey? Why?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has put people in authority to help us and protect us.