THE JESUS QUESTION                                                                EAST BAY FELLOWSHIP

(Series, #5)                                                                                                                March 9, 2008

LETTING GO OF FEARS AND DOUBTS

TEXT: Rom. 1:16

INTRODUCTION

· “We believe that some people act like jerks…They do bad things.  They should feel sorry

for what they did and stop it.” Garrison Keillor, We Are Still Married: Stories and Letters (Penguin, 1990)

· "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."

              John 12:21 (NIV)

1) DEAL WITH SHAME

· “A sad soul will kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.”

                                Author John Steinbeck

· Shame is that sense of inferiority or insecurity that keeps us from doing anything the

Lord is telling us to do

· Shame is the enemy of the gospel

2) RECEIVE HIS POWER

· The word receive is used twice as many times as there are books in the New Testament.

· There are basically two words translated by the word “receive” in the New Testament. Their basic meanings are to:

a. Reach out and take what is being offered.

b. Welcome what is being offered. 

3) SHARE THE POWER

· But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they

believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him

unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends

him? That is what the Scriptures are talking about when they say, "How beautiful are

the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace with God and bring glad tidings of good

things."                                 Rom 10:14-15 (TLB)

CONCLUSION

· “God revealed himself in a specific time…in a specific place…among a specific people. 

Jesus joined a story in progress.  God entered and engaged.”

            article in Leadership magazine by Tim Keel

· Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.

So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.             Heb 2:11 (NIV)