LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Inseparable”
Romans 8:26-39
3/29/20
God’s word is unchanging, but we are not, our world is not
can return to same words of Scripture in new situation & discover new meaning
certainly in a new situation now: can read Bible w/ new eyes
hope that you are taking time to do so individually, or using daily video devotions
this morning, look at passage of Scripture that speaks of our Xn hope
discover what God has to say to us during time of pandemic
1st verse shows up on wall plaques & coffee mugs all across nation
“in all things God works for the good of those who love him”
can be mis-read: all things are good for those who love God
if in situation that seems to be difficult, just not looking at it right way
doesn’t say “all things are good,” but “God works good in all things”
understand better when don’t just pull out & read by itself
verses leading up to it speak of our “present sufferings”
all of creation groaning under bondage of sin
how Spirit helps us to pray in times of weakness
then, “in all things:” ie in midst of suffering & bondage & weakness
God is working for our good: his plan is continuing
yes, evil is real & dangerous & painful
C-V is terrible menace to our lives, to our community, nation, world
causing problems & distress in ways never would have thought of
but God is still at work: can have confidence that good will triumph in the end
road to get there may be tough: will exp hardship & distress
but hardship & distress will not win the day: God’s love will
Reminds us that God’s plan has been at work all along
choose us & loved us long before were even twinkles in parents’ eyes
called us, justified us, will glorify us
Xn hope not just wishful thinking: “I really hope this happens”
rock solid: future glory more real than air you’re breathing
Then asks series of rhetorical questions: assume everyone knows the answer
ask them to show how ridiculous it would be to think answer is different
eg “Is the pope Catholic?” something about what bears do in the woods
1. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” obvious answer: no one
certainly, times when face opposition, even hostility, as individ or as Church
again, Paul not saying that all things are good, but God works good in all things
but if anyone against us, power is laughably puny when remember God is for us
2. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?”
may certainly face accusation: Martin Luther before conversion confession 8 hrs/day
own guilt & shame, others who accuse, Satan “the accuser”
might even start to believe the accusations: believe are guilty & condemned
remember: it is God who justifies: sets us right, makes us clean
3. “Who then is the one who condemns?” answer: no one
no one other than God himself has authority to condemn
everyone else would be the pot calling the kettle black
if think under condemnation, or starting to condemn self, remember
X died for you, was raised to life for you, is now in heaven interceding for you
“intercede:” more than “pray for:” acting on our behalf
didn’t go to heaven to eat bon-bons & sip mai-tais
went to heaven to get to work: to rule over all creation, bring under his will
at work for us: working good for us no matter what situation we find ourselves in
including weird situation we’re in now: interceding & acting on our behalf
could choose only to see problems & pain: certainly plenty out there
or, choose to see how God is at work in this pandemic
hear whispers of his love, catch glimpses of his glory, sense his movement around
may be difficult to see God at work at times, may even doubt next & greatest truth
4. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Who, or what, can get in the way of X’s love for us?
can’t hear you, but still want you to answer: what can block God’s love for you? […]
Paul goes through all sorts of candidates
struggles & distress that could separate us from X’s love
or, lead us to believe that X’s love for us has failed
trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword
could add “pandemic” or “financial collapse” to list if want to
notice: Paul doesn’t say that we as believers will never exp such things
back to opening point: in all such things, God working for the good of those who love
quotes Ps 44 as reminder: we will face ordeals
in fact, because belong to God, more likely to: “For your sake we face death…”
What or who can separate us from love of X? say it bold & strong: [nothing!]
another list of things may be tempted to think could separate us from his love
goes beyond circumstances & situations to cosmic forces & comprehensive powers
death, life, angels, demons, the present, the future, powers, height, depth
just in case he missed something “anything else in all creation”
that just about covers it!
there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in XJ our Lord
nothing, zilch, nada, zip, diddly-squat, goose egg, bupkis, scratch
nothing you do, nothing done to you, about who you are, others think you are
no matter what this crazy pandemic & lock-down may bring, face it all w/ confident hope
God is working for our good through it
he is for us, no one can bring charge or condemnation against us
nothing in God’s green earth can get in way of his love for you
Romans 8:26-39
3/29/20
God’s word is unchanging, but we are not, our world is not
can return to same words of Scripture in new situation & discover new meaning
certainly in a new situation now: can read Bible w/ new eyes
hope that you are taking time to do so individually, or using daily video devotions
this morning, look at passage of Scripture that speaks of our Xn hope
discover what God has to say to us during time of pandemic
1st verse shows up on wall plaques & coffee mugs all across nation
“in all things God works for the good of those who love him”
can be mis-read: all things are good for those who love God
if in situation that seems to be difficult, just not looking at it right way
doesn’t say “all things are good,” but “God works good in all things”
understand better when don’t just pull out & read by itself
verses leading up to it speak of our “present sufferings”
all of creation groaning under bondage of sin
how Spirit helps us to pray in times of weakness
then, “in all things:” ie in midst of suffering & bondage & weakness
God is working for our good: his plan is continuing
yes, evil is real & dangerous & painful
C-V is terrible menace to our lives, to our community, nation, world
causing problems & distress in ways never would have thought of
but God is still at work: can have confidence that good will triumph in the end
road to get there may be tough: will exp hardship & distress
but hardship & distress will not win the day: God’s love will
Reminds us that God’s plan has been at work all along
choose us & loved us long before were even twinkles in parents’ eyes
called us, justified us, will glorify us
Xn hope not just wishful thinking: “I really hope this happens”
rock solid: future glory more real than air you’re breathing
Then asks series of rhetorical questions: assume everyone knows the answer
ask them to show how ridiculous it would be to think answer is different
eg “Is the pope Catholic?” something about what bears do in the woods
1. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” obvious answer: no one
certainly, times when face opposition, even hostility, as individ or as Church
again, Paul not saying that all things are good, but God works good in all things
but if anyone against us, power is laughably puny when remember God is for us
2. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?”
may certainly face accusation: Martin Luther before conversion confession 8 hrs/day
own guilt & shame, others who accuse, Satan “the accuser”
might even start to believe the accusations: believe are guilty & condemned
remember: it is God who justifies: sets us right, makes us clean
3. “Who then is the one who condemns?” answer: no one
no one other than God himself has authority to condemn
everyone else would be the pot calling the kettle black
if think under condemnation, or starting to condemn self, remember
X died for you, was raised to life for you, is now in heaven interceding for you
“intercede:” more than “pray for:” acting on our behalf
didn’t go to heaven to eat bon-bons & sip mai-tais
went to heaven to get to work: to rule over all creation, bring under his will
at work for us: working good for us no matter what situation we find ourselves in
including weird situation we’re in now: interceding & acting on our behalf
could choose only to see problems & pain: certainly plenty out there
or, choose to see how God is at work in this pandemic
hear whispers of his love, catch glimpses of his glory, sense his movement around
may be difficult to see God at work at times, may even doubt next & greatest truth
4. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Who, or what, can get in the way of X’s love for us?
can’t hear you, but still want you to answer: what can block God’s love for you? […]
Paul goes through all sorts of candidates
struggles & distress that could separate us from X’s love
or, lead us to believe that X’s love for us has failed
trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword
could add “pandemic” or “financial collapse” to list if want to
notice: Paul doesn’t say that we as believers will never exp such things
back to opening point: in all such things, God working for the good of those who love
quotes Ps 44 as reminder: we will face ordeals
in fact, because belong to God, more likely to: “For your sake we face death…”
What or who can separate us from love of X? say it bold & strong: [nothing!]
another list of things may be tempted to think could separate us from his love
goes beyond circumstances & situations to cosmic forces & comprehensive powers
death, life, angels, demons, the present, the future, powers, height, depth
just in case he missed something “anything else in all creation”
that just about covers it!
there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in XJ our Lord
nothing, zilch, nada, zip, diddly-squat, goose egg, bupkis, scratch
nothing you do, nothing done to you, about who you are, others think you are
no matter what this crazy pandemic & lock-down may bring, face it all w/ confident hope
God is working for our good through it
he is for us, no one can bring charge or condemnation against us
nothing in God’s green earth can get in way of his love for you
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com