A Shepherd Preaches the Gospel

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

A Shepherd Preaches the Gospel

Date: Feb. 22, 2015

Passage

Romans 1:8-17 (ESV)

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

First, Paul's longing for the Romans (8-13). Paul was deeply thankful to God for the faith of the believers in Rome. Paul thought about them all the time and prayed for them continuously. Out of his prayer, Paul wanted to impart a spiritual gift to them. He longed to be an encouragement to them and to reap a bountiful harvest among them just as he had among the other Gentiles.

Second, the power of God (14-17). Paul's desire was more than noble sentiment. Paul felt a deep obligation to preach the gospel. His sense of debt came not only from the grace that he had received in Christ, but also from a compassionate heart for those still suffering under the power of sin and in need of the righteousness of God. This righteousness comes to us only through faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. A true, genuine shepherd heart is one that is eager to share this gospel with the world.

Prayer: Father, use us to share the gospel of salvation.

One Word: The gospel is the power of God

Do Not Rejoice Israel

Hosea 9:1-17

Key Verse: 9:17

  My God will reject them
    because they have not listened to him;
    they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Today's Question

For what do we pray in the fifth request?

See answer and references