Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell

Why I do something is more important than what I do, and there is only one reason that pleases God: love. I could do the most noble thing in the world, and if I do it for the wrong reason, it means nothing to Him. I may have benefitted someone else but spiritually I haven't pleased God. If I've done it selfishly or fearfully or pridefully or begrudgingly, I receive no reward from Him at all. The only benefit I'll get is whatever human approval comes my way (Mt 6:1-4). Even great spiritual achievements such as mighty faith or prophetic revelations bring me no approval from God if not done for the right reason. Anger, self-righteousness, pride, competitiveness all leave me a disappointing failure. And the reverse is also true. If I do even the simplest act because I love someone, I will be rewarded for it in eternity and probably in this life as well. So obviously it's very important for me to understand what love is. We should acknowledge right up front that only God knows why I do things (Lk 16:15), but I'd still be wise to examine my own heart to see if love appears to be at work there (1Co 2:11), and if not then I need to drop everything else I'm doing and find some because, as far as God is concerned, I've been wasting my time (1Co 13:1-3). It's not that what I've been doing is wrong necessarily, it's why I've been doing it. Something in my attitude about myself may need to die, and something that comes only from God needs to take its place. I need a miracle... I need His love. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!  

Paul is teaching the churches In Rome how to live successfully In a non-Christian society. Most of their neighbors and family were not believers and many were growing suspicious or even hostile. And with Nero as emperor, the government was certainly no friend. In a few more years it would become a bitter enemy, so if believers weren't careful, their situation could deteriorate very rapidly. Yet just because they were vulnerable politically didn't mean they were weak spiritually. Paul doesn't for a moment counsel them to compromise or hide their faith. They were still called to reach that city for Christ. What he does is coach them on how to stay effective at winning souls In the midst of that dangerous environment. He explains how believers should respond when someone has treated them cruelly, how to guard the Lord's reputation, and how to witness to the toughest opponent. He doesn't want them drawn into fights that don't really matter, so they can stay focused on what does. Every lesson he gives them applies to us as well. We too need to learn how to live in peace in a non-Christian society, even with those who treat us cruelly. Why? So they too can find peace with God. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!  

Hope is an amazing quality. In a moment I can go from being tired, discouraged, aimless and withdrawn to being energized, focused, grateful to be alive and engaged with others. It all depends on whether or not I have hope. And unfortunately hope is not constantly present in me at the same level. It waxes and wanes. Sometimes I have a lot and other times little or none. And it's not hard to tell which condition I'm in. It only takes a glance or a few minutes of conversation before its presence or absence shows through. There's a sparkle or dullness in the eyes. There's confidence or dread in the way I talk about matters. Either I expect defeat, or I expect victory. I expect weakness, or I expect strength. I expect loneliness, or I expect love. I expect failure, or I expect success. My attitude reflects my assessment of what's possible. It's the way I see the situation. It's what looks real to me at the moment. Either I believe something good is going to happen, or I do not. To a group of people facing hostility, poverty and abandonment Paul said, "In hope, rejoice!" He was reminding them that hope, and the joy it produces, is absolutely vital to persevering through hard times. Without hope they would soon run out of energy to keep going. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!    

It's only natural that most of us came to the Lord because we have needs. In some way we needed Jesus to help us. Our focus was on ourselves. We were lost or hurting, so we came to the Savior. And that's the way it should be. But as we grow in Christ that inward focus turns outward off of ourselves. Though we never stop coming to Him for our own needs, that compulsive drive to care for myself lessens and a genuine concern for others increases, I find myself loving and caring, noticing needs or people I never noticed before, wanting to do something to help. And I'm not responding out of guilt feeling somehow I should do something. It's real change. My heart is being warmed with new love for others. I'm spiritually moving from childhood to adulthood. In this passage Paul is calling believers in Rome to move into spiritual adulthood, to love one another at a deeper level. With so many in need it was time to share generously and pursue hospitality. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!    

We often refer to joining the military as "answering the cali to serve our country." Every person who hears that call is forced to make a very serious decision. The very act of putting on a uniform means that person has accepted the possibiiity that they might die defending us. They choose to put our safety ahead of their own. And joining the military means a radical change in lifestyle. You join a community. You're taught to submit and work cooperatively with others. You develop special skills that others on your team will depend on. You're trained to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties toward one another to such a degree that many are willing to risk their own lives to rescue one of their own who is injured or has been captured. In this passage Paul makes it clear that God expects this same level of commitment from us toward His Church. Following Jesus places profound demands upon us. What's asked of us is no less, and in many ways more, than what's asked of a soldier. We too are called to commit ourselves to one another and have courage under fire. We too accept the possibility that we might die fulfilling our duty. We too must learn to submit and work together as a team. We too have special skills given to us which others in our team depend on. We too must learn to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties, to the point that we will risk our own lives to rescue one who's injured or been captured. And like those in the miiitary, we do all this to save others. In our case, people's eternity depends on us fulfilling our duty. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!