Romans: Expository Preaching and Teaching

For the last couple of months, I have been teaching and preaching through the book of Romans. It has been a deliberate and rewarding process. I've intentionally slowed down and dug deeper into verse-by-verse study. I've pulled many books from my study at church and home: history books, word studies, Bibles and commentaries. What I've rediscovered is a book that is as culturally-relevant to our nation and world today as it was to the Church in Rome when Paul wrote it.

Romans chapter 1 was easy to stay in and dwell on for a good long while. Romans 1:21 has received much attention during this series:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

 The content of that verse and the resulting fallout that's described from verses 21-32 concludes the first chapter with a description of humanity that sounds like it could be pulled from a modern-day news headline. Paul was confronting spirits and battles that have become all too frequent to us today.

One of the books I started during my study of Romans was The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. Originally a six-volume set considered a literary masterpiece by many, this book was recommended by Bro. Philip Harrelson in a Bible study he taught during the Summer. I tracked down my oversize three-volume set at a used bookstore and started reading. What I found so far was a indeed a

masterpiece. Gibbon wrote in a natural style that conveyed dates and historic details in an understandable and memorable way. Gibbon's history showed the beginnings and ultimate endings of some disturbing choices that were being made in Rome and are being made in America (and many countries) today. These were issues that Paul pointed out to the Church beginning in Romans 1, and the consequences he warned about are seen later in Roman history, as recorded by Gibbons.

Romans is not a book to rush through when teaching. It deserves more attention than just reciting and reteaching the more well-known verses it contains. It's a powerful word from God that gives the teacher and preacher a resource for the Church. For the believer, it's a blueprint in the way of righteousness. For the unbeliever, it's a warning of the steps that lead to a fall from God. For a nation, it's a map that shows the dead-end path of a culture that abandons God. It's worth teaching in depth to every congregation!