New Hope Baptist Church Podcast

Romans 8:5-11 (NIV) 5) Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6) The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7) The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8) Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9) You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10) But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. TAKEAWAYS 1. Mind-set 2. Mind governed 3. The mind under the realm of the flesh or spirit

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV) 1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3) For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. TAKEAWAYS 1. The Spirit filled home is a no condemnation home, v1 2. The Spirt filled home honors righteousness. 3. The Spirit filled home relies on Jesus not the flesh, v 3

Romans 7:1-25 (NIV) 1) Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2) For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. 3) So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. 4) So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5) For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6) But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 7) What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8) But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9) Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10) I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11) For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13) Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14) We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16) And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17) As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18) For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19) For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20) Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21) So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22) For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23) but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25) Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. TAKEAWAYS 1. Even the victorious Christian struggles with sin. – Be Honest – Get ready for the victory in chapter 8 – Walk in freedom and obedience with Jesus today – Healthy spiritual disciplines are different to mere rules 2. Admit that the victorious Christian can feel moments of despair about oneself. 3. The victorious Christian will be and is delivered by Jesus We’d Love to Connect With You! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newhopebc Twitter: https://www.x.com/newhopebc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newhopebc

Romans 6:11-23 (NIV) 11) In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13) Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14) For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. 15) What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16) Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17) But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18) You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19) I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20) When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21) What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. TAKEAWAYS 1. Count yourself alive (v11) 2. Count out the dead stuff -Do not let sin reign in you (v12) -Do not offer yourself to wickedness (v13) -Do offer yourself to God (v13b) 3. Remember the why We’d Love to Connect With You! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newhopebc Twitter: https://www.x.com/newhopebc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newhopebc

Romans 6:1-10 (NIV) 1) What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2) By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7) because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10) The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. TAKEAWAYS 1. Baptism symbolizes a new life united in Jesus. 2. Baptism symbolizes a funeral. 3. Baptism symbolizes a resurrection. We’d Love to Connect With You! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newhopebc Twitter: https://www.x.com/newhopebc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newhopebc

Romans 5: 12-21 12) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— 13) To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14) Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 15) But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16) Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17) For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18) Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19) For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20) The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21) so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. TAKEAWAYS 1. Adam I. Adam is the Originator of sin, the representative of the human race who messes things up. II. His influence brought in death, v12 III. Adam has a representative impact upon every human being. IV. Adam’s responsibility does not excuse us. 2. Jesus: the Second Adam We’d Love to Connect With You! Facebook: / newhopebc Twitter: https://www.x.com/newhopebc Instagram: / newhopebc

Romans 5:1-11 (NIV) 1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4) perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5) And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10) For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11) Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. TAKEAWAYS I. Romans 1-3 shows the need for justification. II. Romans 4 shows the way of justification. III. Romans 5 shows the benefits of justification. 1. What God has done for “who I am” (v1-2; v6-11) 2. What God is doing in you and us (v3-5) 1. What God has done for me on the cross is who I am. 2. But it’s also who I am that I must suffer, persevere and grow

John 20:19-23 (NIV) 19) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”20) After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22)And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.23) If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” TAKEAWAYS 1. The Risen Jesus is the only source of lasting Peace, v19-20 – God-given peace – Personal peace – Felt peace – Wherever peace – Shared peace – Transforming peace – Joyful peace – On-repeat peace. 2. The Risen Jesus calls you to be a messenger of His unique peace 3. The Risen Jesus gives you all you need to be His peace envoy

Sunday, March 24 - Last Sleep to the Last Supper Matthew 26:14-35 (NIV) 14) Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15) and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 17) On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18) He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19) So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20) When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21) And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22) They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23) Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24) The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25) Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27) Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29) I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30) When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 30) And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31) Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32) But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33) Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34) Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35) Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. TAKEAWAYS 1. Be Prepared 2. Be Loyal 3. Believe the Cross 4. Be Ready for Departure

Romans 4:18-25 (NIV) 18) Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19) Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20) Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22) This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23) The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24) but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. TAKEAWAYS 1. Abraham faced the dead facts, but trusted a greater fact 2. Abraham believed in living resurrection

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 4:1-17 (NIV) 1) What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7) “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” 9) Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10) Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11) And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12) And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13) It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14) For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15) because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16) Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17) As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. TAKEAWAYS 1. The Faith of Abraham 2. Faith through Grace 3. The Promise of Faith APPLICATION 1. Live by Faith 2. Accept Gods Grace 3. Rest on the Promise of God

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 3:21-31 (NIV) 21) But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22) This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25) God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26) he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27) Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28) For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29) Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30) since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31) Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 3:1-9 (NIV) 1) What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2) Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3) What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” 5) But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7) Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8) Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just! 9) What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 2:17-29 (NIV) 17) Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18) if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19) if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21) you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22) You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23) You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24) As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25) Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26) So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27) The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28) A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29) No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 2:1-16 (NIV) 1) You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2) Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3) So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4) Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5) But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6) God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7) To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8) But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9) There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10) but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11) For God does not show favoritism. 12) All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13) For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14) (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15) They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Get ready for this powerful message from former MLB Player, 8x All Star, 4x World Series Champ, 2x Silver Slugger, Darryl Strawberry!

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 1:17-32 (NIV) 17) For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed---a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 18) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19) since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20) For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities---his eternal power and divine nature---have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25) They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator---who is forever praised. Amen. 26) Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27) In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28) Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29) They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30) slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31) they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32) Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

We will be going through the book of Romans in this powerful, epic sermon series, Clash of Civilizations. Are you ready? Today's reading is from Romans 1:1-16 (NIV) 1) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2) which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3) concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4) and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6) including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7) To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10) always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12) that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13) I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14) I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15) So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

In this 2 week series, Jumpstart, we look at Malachi and 1 Samuel as we focus on starting the new year well. Today's reading is from 2 Samuel 24:1, 9-18, 20-25 (NIV) 1) Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” 9) Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand. 10) David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” 11) Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 12) “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’ ” 13) So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” 14) David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” 15) So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16) When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17) When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.” 18) On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 20) When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. 21) Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.” 22) Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23) Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.” 24) But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25) David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

In this 2 week series, Jumpstart, we look at Malachi and 1 Samuel as we focus on starting the new year well. Today's reading is from Malachi 3:6-12 (NIV) 6) “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7) Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8) “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9) You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11) I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12) “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.