Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
Romans 1 calls people to give thanks to God as Creator rather than suppressing the truth and turning to idolatry.
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Romans
John Visser's sermon series through Paul's letter to the Romans, focusing on the gospel, faith, obedience, judgment, and life transformed by Christ.
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Finding Your Calling
Paul’s calling in Romans 1 illustrates how surrender to Christ leads believers into general, particular, and specific ministry callings.
The Obedience of Faith
Romans 1 presents the gospel as God’s grace producing obedience to faith among all nations.
Imparting a Spiritual Gift
Paul’s desire to impart a spiritual gift in Romans 1 becomes a call for gospel power to strengthen believers and produce a harvest.
The Wrath of God
Romans 1 reveals God’s wrath against humanity’s suppression of truth and the progressive effects of idolatry and rebellion.
A Day of Wrath
Romans 2 describes the impartial day of wrath when God judges people according to the truth they have received and the lives they have lived.
The Real Thing
Romans 2 distinguishes genuine faith from outward religion by locating true circumcision and obedience in a transformed heart.
The Great Rescue
Romans 3 declares that all people are guilty, while God provides a great rescue through Christ’s righteousness received by faith.
No Ground for Boasting
Romans 3 excludes human boasting because justification comes through faith apart from works of the law.
The Example of Abraham
Abraham demonstrates in Romans 4 that God justifies people by faith rather than by works, credentials, or religious status.
This Grace in Which We Stand
Romans 5 describes the grace in which justified believers stand, bringing peace with God, hope, and endurance through suffering.
Building Character
Romans 5 teaches that suffering produces endurance and character as God lovingly matures the faith of his people.
Rejoicing in Our Sufferings
Romans 5 calls believers to rejoice in suffering because God uses it to produce endurance, character, and hope.
A Hopeful Christian
Romans 5 presents Christian hope as the result of justification, suffering, and God’s love poured into believers’ hearts by the Holy Spirit.
God's Love Poured Out
Romans 5 says God’s love is poured into believers’ hearts through the Spirit and proven by Christ’s death for sinners.
While We Were Yet Sinners
Christ’s death for us while we were sinners proves God’s love and secures reconciliation and ongoing salvation through Christ’s life.
In Adam or in Christ?
Romans 5 contrasts Adam’s representative work that brought condemnation with Christ’s obedience that brings justification and life.
Dead to Sin - Alive to God
Union with Christ means believers are dead to sin and alive to God, so they should present themselves as instruments of righteousness.
Overcoming Sin
Romans 6 teaches that believers overcome sin’s dominion by union with Christ, reckoning themselves alive to God, and yielding to righteousness.
Law & Grace
Romans 6 contrasts law and grace: grace frees believers from sin’s dominion and produces obedience rather than permission to sin.
Avoiding Sin's Trap
Romans 6 warns that sin enslaves, while presenting oneself to God leads to righteousness and the gift of eternal life.
The End of the Matter
Romans 6 contrasts the end of sin’s fruit and wages with the free gift of eternal life in Christ.
The Free Gift of God's Grace
Romans 6 presents eternal life as the free gift of God, contrasting it with the death that sin earns.
Married to Christ
Romans 7 uses marriage and death to explain that believers are released from the law and joined to Christ to bear fruit for God.
Facing Up to Yourself
Romans 7 forces believers to face the conflict between God’s good law and the sin that still operates in human nature.
The Good That I Would...
Romans 7 gives voice to the believer’s conflict: wanting to do good while confronting the continuing presence of sin and the need for Christ’s grace.
No Condemnation
Romans 8 announces no condemnation for those in Christ because the Spirit of life frees them from sin and death.
The Spirit of Sonship
Romans 8 contrasts the spirit of slavery and fear with the Spirit of sonship who assures believers that they belong to God.
Heirs of God
Romans 8 describes believers as heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, with present suffering pointing toward future glory.
Preparation for Glory
Pastor John argues that suffering and discipline are necessary components of preparation for eternal glory. He teaches that true faith requires trusting God completely, even when circumstances are difficult, and surrendering personal ambition to His will.
Managing the Environment
While environmental care is important, Pastor John argues that global suffering stems from humanity’s rebellion against God, not merely human action. True stewardship requires recognizing that the earth belongs to the Lord and focusing on growing in one's relationship with Him.
Groaning Inwardly
Pastor John teaches that the Christian life involves an inherent tension between earthly suffering and heavenly glory, drawing parallels to creation groaning until adoption. Believers are called to persevere through current struggles, maintaining hope in God's ultimate redemption.
Help in Our Weakness
Pastor John explains that the Christian life creates inherent tension between physical reality and God’s kingdom, leading to a natural longing. The Holy Spirit assists believers in their weakness by interceding with sighs too deep for words, ensuring our prayers align perfectly with God's will.
Called According to His Purpose
Pastor John teaches that God uses all circumstances, including pain and difficulty, to work toward a greater purpose for those who love Him. This process involves being conformed to the image of Christ, developing His character, obedience, and nature.
Step by Step
Pastor John explains that God's plan for salvation applies both individually and corporately, guiding the church toward being conformed to Christ’s image. Believers are called to actively participate in this divine process by yielding to the Spirit and following God's guidance.
God Is for Us
When life feels overwhelming, Pastor John reminds listeners that God is for us regardless of circumstances. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are assured of an unwavering destiny and security because nothing can separate them from God's love.
More Than Conquerors
Pastor John teaches that the Christian life is a journey through inevitable trials, including external pressures and internal fears. He assures listeners that no tribulation, distress, or danger can separate believers from God's enduring love in Christ Jesus.
Hardening Your Heart
Pastor John explores the sovereignty of God in salvation, examining the nature of divine election and human responsibility. He teaches that while physical lineage does not guarantee spiritual blessing, all believers are sustained by God's grace and must respond with humble repentance.
The Stumbling Stone
Pastor John explores the doctrine of divine election and the nature of true righteousness, arguing that salvation comes solely through sovereign grace by faith in Jesus Christ. He challenges listeners to abandon self-reliance and embrace humility before God's cross.
The Stumbling Stone
Pastor John explains that human attempts to achieve righteousness through works fail because love for God and neighbor are not natural. True justification comes only through faith in Christ, who fulfills the law and replaces condemnation with grace.
Experiencing God's Grace
Pastor John teaches that experiencing God's grace is accessible through faith, which involves both internal conviction and external confession. True salvation requires embracing Jesus with a broken heart and publicly declaring His lordship over one's life.
Faith Comes by Hearing
Faith is fundamentally rooted in hearing the message of Christ, which comes through preaching. The sermon instructs listeners to deepen their knowledge of Scripture and confess Jesus as Lord daily to maintain this vital connection.
Values We Live by
Drawing from the early church described in Acts 2:42-47, Pastor John outlines three essential values for Christian community life: devotion to Christ, personal sanctification, and mutual covenant. He argues that these principles require continuous surrender to God's will, transforming individual lives into a unified body of believers.
Spirit - Led Prayer
Pastor John examines Romans 8, arguing that all creation groans in pain as the old order gives way to a new one, an analogy likened to childbirth. He teaches that when believers struggle with weakness and confusion in prayer, they must rely on the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Working It Out
Pastor John examines the implications of the Jerusalem Council's decisions regarding Jewish law for Gentile believers. He argues that while the ceremonial law has been fulfilled in Christ, Christians must maintain a balance between grace and obedience by extending freedom of conscience in disputable matters.
Working It Out
Pastor John examines Christian liberty through Romans 14, teaching that while differences in 'disputable matters' are acceptable, believers must prioritize love over personal preference. The central application is that mature Christians have a profound responsibility to modify their behavior so they do not cause weaker brothers or sisters to stumble and lose faith.
Overcoming Evil with Good
Pastor John argues that while injustice is an inevitable reality of human life, believers are called to break the cycle of retribution by refusing to repay evil with evil. He instructs listeners to pursue peace and self-examination, focusing on personal humility rather than controlling others' actions.
Overcoming Evil with Good
The sermon argues that true relational harmony requires believers to resist taking personal revenge, trusting instead in God's ultimate judgment. It instructs listeners to take responsibility for establishing strong personal boundaries and relying on divine authority when human systems fail.
Overcoming Evil with Good
Building on previous lessons, Pastor John teaches that true relational harmony requires believers to actively 'overcome evil with good,' rather than simply resisting retaliation. This challenging practice involves a deep process of forgiveness and extending kindness even to enemies, ultimately manifesting Christ's character.
Overcoming Evil with Good
Pastor John argues that confronting evil requires more than just passive endurance or aggressive retaliation, citing biblical principles for Christian action. He urges listeners to identify their natural inclination and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit regarding how they can actively participate in God's work for justice and reconciliation.
Overcoming Evil with Good
Pastor John argues that confronting evil requires a third approach: living obediently. True victory is achieved not through non-engagement or aggressive warfare, but by embodying Christ's sacrifice and overcoming sin with goodness.