77 MASTER F O O T ================================

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READING

77 MASTER : MISSIONARY : MESSAGE

PRAY Help me to grasp something new and fresh about yourself and your Gospel, Lord God —————————————————————- READ Romans 1:1-17. —————————————————————- THINK How does Paul describe himself in the opening paragraph? How does he describe Jesus in this passage? (Make a list). —————————————————————- FOCUS Paul’s letter to Rome begins like any other ancient letter. Without wasting words he notes who is writing, to whom it is addressed and the central theme of his message. MASTER. Paul is keen to make certain his readers are sure about Jesus. he reminds them that Jesus is truly God and truly human. It is no accident that Jesus is a descendant of David (3). As a jew, Jesus was born into a community to which God had revealed himself as the one, holy, living God. It was the nation to whom he promised the Messiah. Paul has no doubts that Jesus is God’s son. For him, the resurrection is the ultimate proof. Furthermore Paul has met the living Christ on Damascus Road (Acts 9:4-6). Only such an encounter could have changed Saul the persecutor into Paul the servant. MISSIONARY. Paul, possibly the greatest ‘missionary’ of all time, is largely responsible for the spread of the church across the Roman Empire. He hadn’t planted the church at Rome but is delighted that it is flourishing (8-12). Paul is certainly shown here as an activist but also as a praying person. MESSAGE. Paul’s eagerness to preach the Gospel and his confidence in its power comes load and clear through this section. It opens the way for the teaching of the whole letter. Look carefully at verse 17 and chew over each word. Learn it by heart. —————————————————————- PRAY Pray that the Gospel and its power to work in people’s lives will grip you today.