“Mystery, Mercy, Majesty" (Romans 11:25-36)→

/

“What’s the plan?” We all like to know what’s going to happen, and we plan our careers, relationships, and our whole lives ahead as best we can. But what about things we can’t know? This Sunday's passage will show us the breadth of God’s mercy and the depth of his wisdom.

"A Remnant, Chosen by Grace" (Romans 11:1-10)→

/

Most of us are surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues who do not believe in Christ. Many of us even know people who once seemed to believe in Jesus yet have fallen away. This Sunday's passage will remind us that even if so many people are rejecting Christ, God's grace is enough to preserve a remnant, chosen by his grace. Human rejection can never thwart God's plan.

"Free to Serve God" (Romans 6:15-23)→

/

Our culture today values personal freedom almost above all else. The ability for someone to be and live however they want is celebrated, while any kind of constraint on this is derided. But is this kind of freedom possible? Where does it lead? Our passage this Sunday shows us how the gospel brings true freedom and life through Christ.

"Dead to Sin, Alive to God" (Romans 6:1-14)→

/

How do you respond when you struggle with sin? Do you throw your hands up in defeat? Do you shrug your shoulders because Jesus promised to forgive you? In our passage this Sunday we'll see how the gospel not only blesses us with life for eternity, but that it has real impact on our lives for today.

"A Tale of Two Adams" (Romans 5:12-21)

/

Do you ever get discouraged by the way of the world? There is so much immorality and despair and, of course, death. Why is it so...bad? As we continue in the second section of Romans (ch. 5-8) about the results of the gospel, we'll see the source of the world's brokenness and how we can find encouragement and, even hope, in the midst of it.

"The Joyful Blessings of the Gospel" (Romans 5:1-11)

/

What brings you the most joy? This Sunday we dive back into our sermon series in Romans. The first part of the letter (ch. 1-4) was all about the content of the gospel: our need and how faith in Jesus' work on the cross saves us. This second section (ch. 5-8) focuses on the results of the gospel--the peace, hope, freedom, and life we receive in Christ. This week's passage will show us why Christians should have overflowing and enduring joy in God!

"Sola Fide" (Romans 4:1-16)

/

Exactly 507 years ago this week, German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of his local church in Wittenberg, Germany. This began what became known as the Protestant Reformation - and it is how, in God's Providence, we are worshiping Christ in 2024 at Ruggles. Central to the Protestant Reformation was recovering the biblical teaching from our passage this Sunday - that we are justified, or made righteous, before God not by our works, but by faith alone. We'll see this Sunday what revolutionized and reformed the Church, and why "sola fide" is such glorious good news for us today!

"More Than Forgiveness" (Romans 3:21-31)

/

This Sunday's passage is a detailed x-ray of how God saves us in the gospel. Significantly, we'll see that God's gift to us in the gospel is much more than forgiveness! Here the Apostle Paul paints a picture of our salvation with words like "righteousness," "grace," "justification," "law," "redemption," and "propitiation." Finally, we'll see why continuing to believe and boast only in the gospel is a crucial antidote to our pride, our anxiety, and our relationships with others.

"Guilty As Charged" (Romans 3:1-20)

/

So how bad is it really? This Sunday we come to the Apostle Paul's climactic conclusion about the depth and breadth of humanity's sin and rebellion against God. The truth is, all are sinners deserving the death penalty. We are guilty as charged by God, the only just judge. We'll see not only how bad it is but also the benefit to reading this sweeping judgment against us.