United in Heart & Mind

Message begins around the 24-minute mark

United in Heart & Mind
01/23/2021 - Dave Riddle 
Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

You are all one in Christ Jesus

• A theological scriptural fact

  • Acts 4:32

  • Galatians 3:23

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

• This is what Jesus prayed for.

Unity is our Calling

• 1 Corinthians 13:11

• Romans 12:16-18

• Romans 14:19

• Philippians 2:2

• Ephesians 4:3

• 1 Peter 3:8

• Hebrews 12:14

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

Undivided

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

  • There should be no schism, split, gap, divide…

• 1 Corinthians 1:11

  • There are quarrels among you

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Made complete, perfectly joined together.

Is Unity in this church possible?

• The redeemed live as one… are we?

  • Galatians 3:23

• What is God’s calling for me? Not for my brother or sister, but for me.

• Repentance seems to be rare, almost non-existent.

  • How is God calling us to respond?

  • Can we be agents of unity rather than division?

Paul’s Apostolic Travel Plan

Paul’s Apostolic Travel Plan

Dave Riddle - 2/16/20

Key Passage: Romans 15:22-29

What Was

• Romans 15:23b - ...I have strongly desired for many years to come to you...

  • He never allows his personal desires to override his calling.

  • Taking the gospel to those who had never heard it was Paul’s primary objective.

What Is

• Romans 15:23a - But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions...

  • There was still a lot of work to be done, but Paul’s work was finished.

    • He had planted churches, trained leaders, and empowered believers.

• Romans 15:25 - Right now I’m traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints...

  • Why was the church in Jerusalem so impoverished?

    • Potentially as a result of their extreme generosity (as seen in Acts 2 & 4).

• Romans 15:26-27 

  • Paul acknowledges the importance of the Jerusalem church in the planting and thriving of churches all around the Mediterranean.

    • He is asking now for those churches to bless the Jerusalem church in the midst of their great need.

What‘s Next

• Romans 15:28 - I will visit you on the way to Spain.

  • Spain was one of the furthest reaches of the Roman government at the time

    • Many Jews, few Christians.

    • A place ripe for the gospel.

  • A tremendously long and difficult journey.

• Romans 15:24 - I hope to see you when I pass though and to be assisted by you...

  • He isn’t staying long.

  • He anticipates being “filled up” by their fellowship and support.

What’s For Sure

• Romans 15:29 - ...I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

  • He takes the focus off himself and places it on Jesus.

What do we take away?

1. Paul’s preoccupation with the Gospel

2. The importance he places on people in need.

3. The importance Paul places on the mutual benefit we have in building each other up.