Vocation, Vocabulary, Victory!


Here’s an outline I used last week from Romans 1:1-17, the prologue of the book of Romans.  The key text was verse 16.

Introduction:  Sometimes we’re timid, intimidated, and embarrassed about our faith, but such feelings were unthought-of in the New Testament.  The early Christians could not help speaking of what they had seen and heard.  This attitude is reflected in Romans 1:1-17.

1.  We Have a Vocation (vv. 1-16a)  – Paul said he was called and set apart to share the Good news of Christ to all the world, just as we are (vv. 1-6).  He said he was:

  • Obligated (v. 14)
  • Eager (v. 15)
  • Unashamed (v. 17).

2.  We Have a Vocabulary (v. 16b) – Romans 1:16 is a basic primer in the great words of the Christian faith:

  • Gospel
  • Power
  • Salvation
  • Everyone
  • Believes

3.  We Have a Victory (v. 17) – Romans 1:17 tells us that our message is one of faith from first to last, for the just will live by faith (and this is the victory that overcomes the world).

Conclusion:  A message is of limited value without messengers.  We’ve got to be ready to say, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ….”