In the letter to the Romans Paul identifies marks or traits of an individual that identifies that individual as a true Christian. The first of these marks that Paul identifies is the mark of love. This is not just any sort of love but the Greek word Paul uses is the word agape which indicates a love like God's love. Paul also completes the thought in Romans 12:9 with counsel on what a Godlike love would do and would not do. Enjoy.

This sermon was taken from Romans 12:4-8. The sermon was a continuation of what was presented last week with a more indepth look at the purpose of the gifts and how they relate to Christian perfection, spiritual growth, unity of the church, and in fulfilling the mission of the church. In my study I was intrigued to discover just how important these gifts are in relation to the desires most pastors have for their churches and equally disturbed by the fact that very little emphasis seems to be placed upon them by these pastors. In the process of my own study, dicovery, and conviction; I am convinced that spiritual gifts are not an option for church leaders to address but they are a foundational principle that requires addressing. If we would have God's vision for His church a reality we must use that which He has given to bring it to pass. I see no means of variation available to us.

This service had a second part in which a spiritual gifts inventory was taken. That document I have provided and you may download and use it if you like. If you are a member of the Lakeland SDA church I would ask that you would communicate the results with me so that your personal ministry record can be created and we can understand the role God has gifted you for in His church.

This was carried in the September 2007 Adventist World magazine. Enjoy. It is Russel Crowe as a beginning actor advertising one of the Adventist Church's many educational institutions; Avondale College in Australia.

The most recent sermon in the series from the Letter to the Romans served as an introduction to the idea of "The Christian Standard". Because I have heard this from so many points of view that were contrary to the scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy this was a hard sermon to preach. I have heard so many people declare that living perfect sin free lives is the point of Christian perfection. I have heard so many people declare the Adventist Health Message is the point of Christian perfection. I have heard many variations of the same theme that it is amazing how many people define it differently or cannot. Essentially most Adventists have settled into that frame of mind. It's either the keeping of God's commandments and living perfectly sin free lives or it is having the right diet. You will find a multitude of different variations of importance but primarily in those two areas. I believe I was fortunate to not grow up as a member of the church. This has caused me to study for myself what the scripture says and what Ellen White says about being "perfect". What I discovered is that the majority of the voices I have heard in Adventist circles over the last 10 years of my life really have no idea what the bible says about Christian perfection and standards of the church and I wonder how many more of the voices I have not heard also subscribe to the wrong understanding.

I gave an appeal to the church after this sermon. You will hear the appeal but you won't have any reference to the reaction of the congregation or what occurred after the sermon was preached. A large percentage of the congregation came forward in response to the appeal and we spent a decent amount of time examining our hearts and asking God to help us to exume what we have buried and give us the courage to enter fully into His will. I hope that you are blessed by what you hear and I pray that you to will be willing to take very seriously what you will hear in this sermon: