1. JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES
WELCOME TO THE
JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES

2. Romans 1:8-15  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10  making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- 12  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13  Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14  I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15  So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANS

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANS
Paul was the living example to us all of what a genuine Christian should be.
1 Corinthians 4:16  Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
1 Corinthians 11:1  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
In the first 7 verses of this chapter, Paul introduced himself to the believers in Rome.
He told them about himself, the messenger, and about his message, the Gospel of Salvation.
In verses 8-15, Paul turned the spotlight upon himself in a very real way.
In these 8 verses, the Apostle Paul reveals 9 traits of genuine Christian character that tell us What Every Christian Should Be.
Notice with me NINE CHARACTERICTS OF CHRISTIANS.

5. I. Vs. 8 WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS - First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

6. I. Vs. 8 WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS
Romans 6:17-18  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Ephesians 1:15-16  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
Colossians 1:3-4  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
Do you thank God for your fellow Christians?

7. II. Vs. 9a WE SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO SERVING GOD -  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son,

8. II. Vs. 9a WE SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO SERVING GOD
Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Philippians 1:20-21  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

9. II. Vs. 9a WE SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO SERVING GOD
Romans 6:11-14  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Are you committed to serving God?

10. III. Vs. 9b WE SHOULD BE PRAYERFUL FOR THE CHURCH - that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,

11. III. Vs. 9b WE SHOULD BE PRAYERFUL FOR THE CHURCH
Ephesians 3:14-19  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Philippians 1:9-11  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12. III. Vs. 9b WE SHOULD BE PRAYERFUL FOR THE CHURCH
Colossians 1:9-11  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
2 Corinthians 11:28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Are you praying regularly for the church?

13. IV. Vs. 10 WE SHOULD BE SURRENDERED TO THE WILL OF GOD -  making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.

14. IV. Vs. 10 WE SHOULD BE SURRENDERED TO THE WILL OF GOD
Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 15:32  that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
Galatians 1:2-4  and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4  who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Ephesians 5:15-17  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Have you surrendered to the will of God?

15. V. Vs. 11 WE SHOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS -  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established--

16. V. Vs. 11 WE SHOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS
Romans 14:19  Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24  Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
What are you doing to benefit your fellow Christians?

17. VI. Vs. 12 WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY THE FAITH OF OTHERS - that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

18. VI. Vs. 12 WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY THE FAITH OF OTHERS
Romans 15:24  whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
Romans 15:32  that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9  therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8  For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9  For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,
Are you encouraged by the faith of your fellow Christians?

19. VII. Vs. 13 WE SHOULD BE FRUITFUL - Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

20. VII. Vs. 13 WE SHOULD BE FRUITFUL
Hebrews 13:15  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Philippians 4:16-17  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
Philippians 1:9-11  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

21. VII. Vs. 13 WE SHOULD BE FRUITFUL
Galatians 5:22-26  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Are you bearing fruit for God?

22. VIII. Vs. 14 WE SHOULD BE A DEBTOR TO THE LOST - I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

23. VIII. Vs. 14 WE SHOULD BE A DEBTOR TO THE LOST
Romans 9:1-4  I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2  that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4  who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
Romans 10:1-3  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Do you recognize and accept your debt to the lost of this world?

24. IX. Vs. 15 WE SHOULD BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL - So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

25. IX. Vs. 15 WE SHOULD BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
The gospel is not just for the lost.
Paul was eager (NASB) to preach the gospel to the Christians in Rome.
Acts 20:17-27  From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18  And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19  serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20  how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21  testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. >>>

26. IX. Vs. 15 WE SHOULD BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
22  And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23  except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24  But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25  And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

27. IX. Vs. 15 WE SHOULD BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
Romans 10:14-15  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Are you ready (eager) to share the gospel with those around you?

28. WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERISTICS?
Are you thankful for your fellow Christians?
Are you committed to serving God?
Are you praying for the church?
Are you surrendered to the will of God?
Are you doing things that benefit others?
Are you encouraging and encouraged by your fellow Christians?
Are you bearing fruit for God?
Are you accepting your responsibility toward the lost?
Are you eager to share the gospel with all?

30. HAVE A CHRISTLIKE WEEK