Sermon Outline

Sermon Outline

Romans 8:14-25

“The Blessings of Hope”

Patricia Hargrove

Rev. Darius Smith

Minister’s In Training

Sermon Preparation

February 13, 2017

Sermon Outline

The Blessing of Hope

Romans 8:14-25

1. Pulpit Manners

1. Acknowledgement

1. Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr.
2. Deaconess Patricia Thomas and the First Family
3. Diaconate
4. Associate Ministers
5. Congregation
6. Family and Friends

1. Prayer 

1. Call Attention to the Text

A.        Please Stand and turn with me in your Bibles to Romans, chapter 8 (repeat)

1. Beginning with v. 14 and concluding with v. 25
2. I will be reading from the New International Version of the Bible and word declares;

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

1. You may be seated in the presence of the God
2. Key Verse – 25 “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
3. Sermonic Title or Subject/Theme? The Blessing of (Christian) Hope

Proposition

Mankind’s ability to comprehend the circumstances and sufferings of life are unavoidable to their understanding but only revealed through the anticipation of Christian hope that produces patience beyond our understanding.  

Antithesis  

Recently God as allowed me to see and be close to a lot of brokenness. Whether it has come from family, friends, acquaintances or just hearing about it from others. I believe God did this to affirm and reassure me and many of you who have experience brokenness that we have hope.  God has so orchestrated a message of hope by way of the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans for his children to hear a message about the blessing of hope, Christian hope.

Thesis

Hope in Christ is the expectation of something better than our present circumstances and sufferings.  

1. Historical Background

The Apostle Paul at the time of our text after some twenty-three years in ministry has had his own personal suffering and circumstances in his Christian walk. During this period Paul is writing to reassure the Gentiles and the Jewish members of the church in Rome by introducing himself and their identity to God.  He is telling the positive aspects of living a righteous life and how they will suffer for the Gospel.  But through it all he is letting them know that they are adopted by God which means that they are heirs and co-heirs with Christ. He is reflecting on the moral and exhortation of being saved by hope. He is encouraging all Christians that no matter what they go through that they have hope in Christ. Paul’s view of suffering from the book of Romans chapter 8 comes in many forms of persecution and the struggle against sin. As we suffer we cry to God for help and the suffering that we bare is the cross that is required for our crown. (8:17) In this text we are in observation of the third element that Paul writes regarding suffering. He is describing it in two ways. (1) future glory (2) Hope. These two concepts are what helps us when we suffer. It is what we are looking forward to as we go through life’s journey. Provided that we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. There are too many who want the crown but not the cross. “Only those who suffer the cross or the hand that they are dealt will receive the crown. The comprehension gap between God and us is light years ahead. When God puts us through pain, He always has a reason that we really can’t comprehend or understand. God was there with Paul through all of his circumstances and sufferings. Although Paul was a persecutor of Christian, God knew his heart. He was blinded as Saul and given a new name Paul which means small or humble in Latin. Saul doing his time of blindness had an anticipated hope through his prayers that he would one day see again. Because he had the blessed, anticipated and a Christian hope in God. God had a plan for Paul in our text and he has a plan for all of you has well. Paul had his day in court on the Damarcus Road with the resurrected Spirit of Jesus. Paul life was totally turned from a Pharisee and Persecutor into a suffering servant for the Gospel and an Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul was in the will and plan of God for his life.  Paul was in his element.

Transition

Paul’s sufferings were not so much about his shipwrecks, being beaten, social status as a Pharisee or an Apostle but he is dealing with the reassuring himself in hope, Christian hope as he waits patiently as he endured his battle with sin. Paul was letting the Gentiles and Jews in Rome know not look at what they were going through but to humble themselves in hope that will teach them patience. Paul contents that we are sufferings and undergoing circumstances because of sin.

IV. Relevant Question 

Why doesn’t God let us choose to get out of our sufferings? What happens when we concentrate on the God allowed circumstances that are beyond our control? Why doesn’t God make people unable to cause suffering? Will we be consumed by your hardships and circumstances or will you concentrate on the Christian hope that gives us patience, comfort and strength in our weaknesses?  

Transition 

Regardless of what we are going through God has promised his adopted sons and daughters that he will be there and guide us as he teaches us how to wait patiently in hope. Paul’s offers an answer, because he knew who and what his hope was in. Paul patiently waited no matter what the circumstances he underwent. Paul humbled himself because of the promise and plan of God for his life. How many of you know that your suffering is not in vain? Paul although pressed stayed in place and finished the race.