God is working on Kokoyah Road

Students in Gbenequella

Church leaders from every denomination on Kokoyah Road gathered during the past two days, to be trained in Gbenequella.  There are a currently 130 people participating in our training.  I praise God for all He is doing.  Here are a few steps we felt the Lord leading us to take in the past and the few steps we feel Him leading us to take in the future.  

 

Painting of Romans 5:3-5

Step 1.  Last month, we felt led to hire a full-time artist, named Prince, to work with us in developing a visual curriculum that teaches book by book through the Bible.  These pictures have proven to be incredibly effective as Liberians live in an oral culture with an extremely high illiteracy rate.  God is good.    

Last Wednesday in Gbenequelleh

Step 2.  Two months ago, we felt led to begin opening Remote Bible Training Centers on Kokoyah Road.  The vision for these centers is to make disciples and for those disciples to make disciples in every town and village on the road.  God is good!  We opened our first training center in Gbenequelleh hoping 20-30 people would participate.  We were surprised when 70 showed up.  Later, we felt led to open a second training center in Foloblai.  We expected 20 people to participate but 60 came to be trained.  Every month, students receive 14 hours of training from these centers. 

Pictures of Romans hanging in the front of our classroom

Step 3.  We felt led to begin our training by leading students verse by verse through Romans chapters 1-8.  We knew many of our students were not Christians.  By teaching these chapters, students are learning about sin (chapters 1-3), salvation (chapters 3-5), and sanctification (chapters 6-8).  As of today, nearly all of our students have made a profession of faith.  

Booklet on Left:  Sin.  Booklet on Right:  Salvation.

Step 4.  This month, we felt led to create booklets which lead students a second time through Romans.  While going through Romans again, students are forced to wrestle through every verse in small groups while writing down how they will teach each verse and their corresponding pictures in the future.  Students then practice teaching each other.  This is a slow and tedious process but it helps students to truly know Scripture.  

In this picture, students are working through the booklet on SIN.  

Step 5.  After completing the study, we feel led to meet with each student one-on-one, listening to them teach through Romans.  This step is important in avoiding false teaching.    

Step 6.  Every student who demonstrates the ability to teach accurately will be given a copy of all our training material.  These trained students will meet together for prayer and fasting as we look at a map of Kokoyah Road.  After selecting towns to minister in, students will be commissioned and sent out.  Our prayer is for disciples to be made in every town and village on Kokoyah Road.

Step 7.  We feel led to continue teaching, book by book through the Bible, giving students the training and tools they need, until we see healthy churches in every town and village on Kokoyah Road.

Thank you for partnering with us in the Gospel.  We feel very blessed to get to do what we do everyday.  Please remember our students in your prayers.  Pray also for healthy churches in every town and village on Kokoyah Road.  Thank you!

Romans Devotion #4: Character Traits of a Christian Leader

There are 8 character traits of a Christian leader that are listed in Romans 1:1-14.

Character Trait #1:  A Christian leader lives like a servant and not like a king.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1).

If you were to spend extended time with our family, you would likely hear my wife and me asking our children, “Are you acting like a servant or a king?”  This is a saying that we use often while training our children.  Let’s face it, there is a king inside of each of us that we must crucify if we are going to truly be servants of God.  A Christian leader must learn to live like a servant and not like a king. 

Character Trait #2:  A Christian leader is humble not proud.

“through whom (Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations” (Romans 1:5).  

Notice Paul did not say, “We have received apostleship and grace.”  He said, “We have received grace and apostleship.”  The order of words is important because it reveals Paul’s heart.  In essence Paul is saying, “It is only by God’s grace that I am who I am today.”  A Christian leader is truly humble, not proud. 

Character Trait #3:  A Christian leader praises others not self.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world”       (Romans 1:8).

Is Paul praising himself or others in this verse?  How about you?  Do your conversations tend to lift others up or do they lift yourself up?  Christian leaders praise others, not themselves.  

Character Trait #4:  A Christian leader serves God not self.  

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son…” (Romans 1:9a)

When Paul says that he serves God with his spirit, he is saying, “I serve God from the deepest part of me.  I don’t just serve Him by my actions but I serve Him from the very core of my being.”  The driving force of a Christian leader is to serve God not self.   

Character Trait #5:  A Christian leader prays for those he or she is leading.

“… that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you” (Romans 1:9b-10).

I have heard it said that if you look at a person’s checkbook, you are looking at their heart.  Scripture says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).   I believe there is another gage of a person's heart that is equally revealing.  It is the gage of prayer.  The true condition of a person's heart comes out during prayer.  Those who are selfish, pray self centered prayers.  Those who have faith, have prayers that are full of faith.  Those who are hurting, cry out to God during their prayers...  The true condition of our hearts is revealed in our prayers.   As a Christian, the love of God has a growing impact on our lives and compels our prayers to become more focused on others than on ourselves. 

Character Trait #6:  A Christian leader is a life long learner.

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12).

What do you think your pastor would do if the Apostle Paul wrote him and asked to preach at your church?  That is exactly what Paul did in verses 11-12.  Look at Paul’s heart as he offers to go to Rome and preach.  He didn't just say that he wanted to "impart some spiritual gift" (referring to teaching the Gospel) but he also said, “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”  

Here is what the Apostle Paul was essentially saying.  “I want to come and preach at your church.  When I am done, I want to sit down and have you preach to me.  I need to learn from you.”  Can you imagine the author of Scripture wanting to sit under your pastor’s teaching and learn from him, better yet, to sit with you and learn from you?  A Christian leader has a God given hunger for truth.  He never becomes proud, believing he knows everything.  He often sits under those he leads and learns from them.  

Character Trait #7:  A Christian leader follows God’s plan and not his own.

“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” (Romans 1:13).  

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this truth if very important for us to learn.  Everyday, we are surrounded by good things that we could choose to do.  Surely, God would want us to do all the good things that are around us, right?  No!  As a Christian, our lives are not to be consumed by doing good things.  Our lives are to be consumed by doing the good things we are called to do.  Please do not misinterpret me.  This is not a license for apathy but it is a call for sweet fellowship with God in everything we do.  There is an enormous difference between doing good things and being led by God in the good things we do.  Paul desired to go to Rome to strengthen the church.  This was a good thing to do, right?  Yes, but it was not what he was called to do at the time.  The needs around us are huge.  We are not God, we are simply God’s servant.  We cannot and should not try to do everything.  Lasting fruit in your life will be found as you focus on doing the things you are called to.  You will know the things you are called to do as you spend sweet, sweet time listening to Jesus in prayer.  

Can you believe that God desires to give leadership to your day?  Stop and think about how amazing that is.  The Creator of the universe wants to give you step by step wisdom and direction as you go through your day.  What an incredible blessing!  Will you allow the Holy Spirit to direct your steps?  Will you sit and listen to Him through prayer?  If you do, your day will be a wonderful adventure no matter what happens.  Your day will be filled with good works that are divinely inspired as you are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Character Trait #8:  A Christian leader serves everyone, not just a few.

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Romans 1:14).

Paul was referring to the Romans when he said he was obligated to the "Greeks".  He was speaking of Rome’s enemy when he mentioned the "barbarians."  He was talking about the smartest, most prestigious people in town when he referred to the "wise."  He was speaking of the lowest of the low when he mentioned the "foolish."  Get this, when Paul entered a town, his eyes and heart were focused on each of these people groups.  While talking to the prestigious, he still noticed the poor and would have often excused himself from the company of the wise so he could be with the lowly.  At times, he would have turned down meetings with big donors so he could experience Christian fellowship with the needy.  Paul loved everyone and he sought to serve them all, under the Holy Spirit's leading, regardless of race, gender, or status.

The word “obligation” is the same Greek word that is translated elsewhere in Scripture as “debt.”  Scripture teaches that every Christian is in debt in two ways:  First, we have a debt of love to pay to everyone (Romans 13:8).  Second, we are indebted to share the gospel with everyone we know.  This second debt is what Paul is referring to here in verse 14.  We are indebted to every man, woman, and child.  We owe them love and we owe them the wonderful Gospel.  

Application:

We are all leaders in one way or another.  Some lead ministries while others lead businesses.  Some lead their families while we all have friends we lead.  Please allow today’s Scripture to challenge you in the way you lead.  

Prayer to Pray:

Father, humble me.  Help me live as a servant and not as a king.  Teach me to truly love others.  I acknowledge that there is a king in me that needs to die so that I may truly live as Your servant.  Please help me to put the needs of others above myself.  Fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

Romans Devotion #3: God's Slave

Early each morning, I wake my oldest son, Christian, around 6:30 so he can spend time alone with Jesus.  We believe Christian is old enough to begin having his own quiet time in addition to our family’s morning devotions.  I typically make him a glass of his favorite hot tea and we drink our teas together, sitting on our back porch, while the sun rises.  For me, this is one of my favorite times of the day.  

Two days ago, Christian and I talked about what it meant to be a servant of Christ.  During our discussion we mentioned that true servants put others above themselves and don't demand their own rights.  Little did I know, my servanthood would be tested that day.

Crazy day at the bank:

LBDI Bank on a less busy day

Early that morning, I had to go to the bank to withdraw money.  Unlike America, going to the bank in Liberia is a big ordeal.  As I pulled my motorbike into the bank's parking lot, my heart sunk as I saw the long line of people who were standing outside.  Typically, I would have turned my bike around, deciding to return at another time when the bank was less busy, but we are out of money so I was forced to stand in line.  

Liberia is different than America in every way.  Even the way you stand in line is different.  In America, your position in line is based upon the time you arrive.  Those who were first to show up are at the front of the line while those who were last are at the back of the line.  Liberian lines are completely different.  Those who are most important are at the front of the line and those who are least important are at the back of the line.  If you are important, you simply walk to the front of the line and those who are not important are expected to recognize your status and welcome you to the front of the line.  

As a Christian, who came to Liberia to serve the poor, I could not bring myself to cut in line.  So, I got off of my bike and took my place at the back.  Immediately, those around me told me to go to the front.  I told them that they were more important than I was and that I was fine waiting in line.  

This is where my patience was tried.  While standing in line, I pulled out my pocket Bible and began reading, trying to prepare for our upcoming pastors' conference.  The sun was beating on me while sweat poured from my body.  I quickly learned that I was unable to concentrate so I put my Bible back in my pocket and looked toward the front of the line.  

Next, I decided to try to pass time by calculating how long it would take me to enter the bank.  From where I was standing, I could see the top of the head of the person who was standing at the front of our line.  I looked at my phone to see the time.  Countless times, “important” people walked past our line, and were greeted at the bank with an open door while the poor were being overlooked.  Several times these “important” people stopped to greet me and encouraged me to join them at the front of the line.  Again, I told them that I was not more important than those who were around me. It took 40 minutes for security to allow the first man from our line in the bank.  

To make a long story short, I finally reached the bank’s porch.  From my new vantage point I could see the guard and began to give him the death glare, trying to get him to move our line.  Little did I know, I would never move past the bank’s porch.  In my disgust, I told one of the security guards who passed by that he better get our line moving or I would take my business elsewhere.  This guard entered the bank, spoke to the other security guards and then opened the door and called me by name, waving for me to come to the front of the line.  How could I possibly walk to the front?  Am I more important than those I came to serve?  Now, the whole crowd was looking at me.  I told the guard that I would wait in line.  People around me instantly began talking.  They told me that I was the first white man they have ever met who waited in line.  They told me that they highly respected me for what I did. 

I wish this was the end of the story but it wasn’t.  In time, I made it to the front of the line, with only a few people in front of me.  It was now time for the bank to close.  The security allowed the few people in front of me to enter the bank but for whatever reason decided to close the door right in front of me.    

Remember my devotion with my son Christian earlier in the day.  A true servant has no rights and does not demand his own rights.  God gave me such a wonderful opportunity to model Christian servanthood but I blew it.  While the guard started to close the door, I held the door and said again, “If you don't let me in this bank, I will take my business elsewhere!”  The guard simply said, “Please step back… excuse me” and with that, the door was shut in front of me.  I returned home vexed, with no money.  

Today, we are studying Romans 1:1-7.  These verses teach us about being God's servant.  This portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans is known as his greeting.  Typical letters in Paul’s day started by the author stating his name and his credentials.   This allowed the audience to know by who and what authority they were writing.  Next, the author would write a short greeting and then address his audience.  

Romans 1:1-7

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. 

Paul's Cradentials:

Read verse 1 again and see if you can identify Paul’s 3 credentials. 

Credential 1:  Servant of Christ Jesus.  

The word servant is the same greek word for the word “slave.”  Can you imagine introducing yourself using the word "slave"?  The world around us is intoxicated with titles.  Everyone wants to have an important title associated with their name.  The same was true in Paul’s day.  Think of all the important titles Paul could have chosen to use.  Paul was the author of Scripture, he had started numerous churches, and he had sacrificed and suffered greatly for the sake of the Gospel.  Despite all the high titles he could have chosen, he chose the title “Servant of Christ Jesus.”  

As you reflect on your walk with Christ, can you describe yourself as Christ's slave?  The highest position in God's Kingdom is the position of a slave.  A slave wakes in the morning, receives his instructions from his master and then goes about his day doing the his master's work.  This description of a slave should reflect every Christian's life regardless of occupation, age, or gender.  

Isn't it interesting how the Bible describes God's church.  God describes His church as a body and each of us as a body part (1 Corinthians 12).  Some are hands, some are feet... but none are the head.  The position of head is reserved for God alone (1 Col 1:18).  Let me ask you a question, what part of the body does the thinking?  Does the hand do the thinking?  No!  The head does all the thinking.  Can you imagine what your physical body would be like if each part thought on its own and did its own thing?  I am convinced that we, as Christians need to do less thinking and more listening to our wonderful Head.  As we develop the habit of listening and faithful obedience, we become slaves of Christ.  

Credential 2:  Called to be an apostle.

The word apostle means, “sent one.”  Paul lived his life on mission.  Each day was filled with divine purpose.  He used both his times of joy and his times of suffering as opportunities to broadcast God's love to the watching world. 

The greatest honor for a Christian is to be chosen and sent by God.  The one who is sent has been given both a sacred trust and a fearful responsibility.  Those who are sent actually get to be ambasitors of God.  Wow, can you imagine being God's ambassador and speaking on His behalf?  

Perhaps you think this honor is reserved for a few select Christians.  That is not true.  This amazing, thrilling honor is for every Christian.  2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."  Your assignment from God for this day is simply a "listening" prayer away.  Please don't waste your life.  Please don't waste today.  Your life can impact eternity today.  You are called and are being sent (Matthew 28:19-20).  Fulfill your sacred trust and your fearful responsibility! 

Credential 3:  Set apart for the Gospel of God.  

The words “set apart” means to put a fence around something.  If I want to set apart my yard, I put a fence around it.  Did you know that our God is a fence building God?  Have you ever allowed God to build you a fence?  God's fences are great!  They have a wonderful way of narrowing our activities, making us more fruitful.  It is not until you allow God to build your fence that you discover God's specific calling for your life. 

Most Christians have never allowed God to define their lives. They live with no Divine purpose nor specific calling.  Life simply happens to them as they bounce from activity to activity.  

To allow God to construct a fence around your life requires you to have complete trust and surrender to God.  He alone determines how far your fence goes and what is contained inside it.   

Most people are too fearful to allow God to build their fence.  They want to remain in control.  "If I allow God to define my life, He may send me as a missionary to Africa," they fear. Brothers and Sisters, run toward God.  Trust Him.  Surrender everything to him.  Hold nothing back.  Embrace whatever life God is calling you to.  Truly enjoy the wonderful journey of a Divinely directed life.   

Paul's life was, "set apart" by God for the Gospel.  God wants to set your life apart and give you a specific calling.  This calling is what He created you for.  You will be most satisfied as you live the life you were created for.  

God is the only qualification you need:

While there are many additional points we could draw from today's Scripture, I want to focus your attention on one more point.  Please reread Romans 1:1-7 and pay special attention to verse 5.  Notice the specific order of each word. 

In verse 5, Paul mentioned that he received grace and apostleship from God.  Notice Paul didn’t say that he received apostleship and grace.  The order of words is important.  He said, I received grace first and apostleship second.  In essence, Paul is saying, "it is only by God’s grace that I am able to be an apostle."  This statement not only illuminates Paul's humility but it reveals God's qualification.  It was not Paul’s abilities that qualified him to be set apart for the Gospel.  It was God’s grace that qualified him.  This same grace qualifies us to be servants of God.  This grace takes the most hardened sinner, turns him into a saint, and sends him on mission for Jesus.  Smile, God's grace toward you is abundant!

  

Prayer to Pray:

Father, my prayer today is simple.  I surrender everything to You.  I want to be a slave of Your Gospel.  I want to live today on mission for You.  I am running towards You.  I trust You.  Please build a fence around my life and reveal my life's purpose.  Thank you for Your abundant grace that not only saves me but also qualifies me for Your service.  I love you with my whole heart.

Roman's Devotion #2: Love Letters from God

Mysterious Box

I was raised in an old brick farm house, located in the middle of nowhere, sitting on top of a hill overlooking corn fields.  All my childhood memories took place in this home.  As a young child, I enjoyed playing in our home’s walk-in closets.  These closets magically transformed into club houses, workshops, and wonderful hideouts as I played.  Deep in my bedroom’s closet sat a mysterious box.  As far back as I can remember, this box was there, collecting dust.  It was like the paint on the walls to me.  I paid no attention to it because it had always been there.   

My Mom and Dad have a unique love story.  Their story is of life long love.  They met and fell in love in early junior high school and never dated anyone else.  My Dad is the only man my mom has ever kissed and my Mom is the only woman my dad has ever kissed.  As a child, I thoroughly enjoyed the rare times when my parents told the stories of how they fell in love.  These are some of my most cherished memories.  

One day, as a teenager, I decided it was time to clean out my closet.  I spent the whole day cleaning as I reminisced my childhood.  At the end of the day, the only thing left in my closet was that old mysterious box.  For the first time, I wondered what was in the box.  “How could I go through my whole life without knowing what is inside,” I thought.  I carefully carried the box and placed it on my bed.  After brushing off the dust, I lifted the lid and discovered the box was full of my parents love letters, dating back to the very beginning of their relationship.  What do you think I did with those letter?  Yes, you are right, I did what every respectful, loving son would do….  I read every one of them.  Mom, if you are reading this, I’m sorry…  I learned a few things from this experience.  First, I learned that my parents had a very righteous relationship.  Second, I learned the power of a well written letter.  You see, my parents had told me stories about how they fell in love but these stories paled compared to reading the actual letters that made them fall in love.  In some ways, I was able to actually experience my parents relationship through their letters. 

Did you know that the majority of the books of the New Testament were written in the form of letters?  These letters are called “epistles” which means, “letters.”  It wasn't until I was studying in college that I learned these letters existed   I remember sitting as a college student and reading these Biblical letters over and over again as I marveled at the fact that I was actually reading the Apostle's letters. Out of the 27 books of the New Testament, 20 are letters.  Have you ever wondered why God chose to put letters in His New Testament.  He could have chose any literary style but He chose to use letters.  I believe one of the reasons He did this was because these New Testament letters have a wonderful way of transporting us back in time some 2,000 years and enabling us to celebrate the early churches victories and grieve their losses.  

The new Testament contains letters from James and Jude (brothers of Jesus), Paul the Apostle, John the beloved (He is the one who leaned against Jesus’ chest during the last supper), and Peter.  The book of Romans is a letter written from the Apostle Paul to the first church that ever existed in Rome.  As we study this book, allow the Holy Spirit to take you back in time and experience its message.  

Now, lets take this one step farther.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV Translation).

2 Peter 1:20-21, “…No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (ESV Translation).

If all Scripture is inspired by God and the Apostles were moved by God in the things they wrote, are these letters not ultimately from God?  Could it be true that when we read the book of Romans, we are actually reading a love letter from God Almighty to His church in Rome?  Wow, what an amazing privilege we have to read letters written by God.

By the time we complete our study through the book of Romans, I want you to know this book like you know the back of your hand.  These first two devotions are important because they give us a good foundation to build off of as we study.  

Application:

Our God is a passionate lover.  He wrote letters through the apostles to His churches as they were being started.  Have you ever written a love letter to God?  If God were to write a love letter to you, what would He write?  Take time this week to get alone with God.  Write a letter to God.  Start your letter with, “Dear God.”  When you are finished, keep you pen in hand and begin to pray.  Ask God to write you a letter.  Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as You write down the thoughts that God brings to your mind.  Start God’s letter with these words, “Dear Child.” 

Prayer to pray

Father, thank You for Your love.  It is deeper that I will ever understand.  I want to know You better.  You say, “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.”  Father, I am coming as close to You as I know how.  Please draw me even closer.  However close a human can be to You, that is how close I want to be.  I give You this day.  Please help me be aware of Your abiding presence with me.

More Pastors are coming to Christ

Pastors and church leaders in Foloblai

"If I ate a child (killed a child through witchcraft) in one town and then move to another town and decide to give my life to God, will God forgive my sin even though I have not confessed the sin to the child's parents?" one pastor asked.  

Another pastor said, "Please pray for me, I love woman business too much (having multiple affairs).  I know it is wrong and I want to stop."  

Three pastors from our neighboring county of Grand Bassa came and said, "We heard that you were training pastors.  We live in St. John.  There are thirteen towns and villages around our town who want to be trained.  Will you open another training center in our town."  

Last Tuesday, we opened a second Bible Training Center on Kokoyah Road in a town called Foloblai.  
From Foloblai and Gbenequelleh we plan to train pastors every month.  Our prayer is that we will see a healthy church in every town and village on Kokoyah Road.  Most bush pastors have no Biblical training and are involved in the demonic secret society.  As we taught through the first 3 chapters of Romans the Lord was touching many pastors hearts.  Yesterday, we gave an opportunity for pastors to give their lives to Jesus.  Many, many pastors responded to the Gospel and asked Jesus to forgive their sins.  Please pray that the seed of the Gospel will truly take root in these pastors hearts as we continue to meet with them.  

Next Tuesday, Cyrus, David, and I will travel to St. John to explore the possibility of opening a third training center there.  Please pray the Lord gives wisdom.  St. John is not on this map.  It is about twice the distance as traveling from  Gbarnga to Gbenequelleh (about a 3 hour motorbike drive).  It is located south of Botata.

Romans Devotion #1: Introduction

Thank you for joining me as we take a journey through the book of Romans.  I pray this study will impact your life in the same way it has impacted me.  I want to begin by answering a few questions about the book of Romans that you may have.  

How was the church in Rome started?

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come.  On the day of Pentecost, believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Each believer began speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit helped them (Acts 2).  The Bible says a large crowd gathered as they heard the believers speaking the Word of God in their own languages.  The map on this page shows where these people were from (Acts 2:5-12).  Acts 2:10 says visitors from Rome were present on the day of Pentecost.  These visitors became Christians and stayed in Jerusalem until persecution forced them to leave.  All the believers except the Apostles left Jerusalem and preached the Word of God wherever they went (Acts 8:1-4).  During this time Christians from Rome returned home and started the church in Rome.      

History books tell us that in A.D. 49 a Emperor named Claudius forced the Jews to leave Rome because they were persecuting Christians.  This fact tells us that by A.D. 49, the church in Rome was well established.

Who wrote Romans?

We learn from Romans 1:1 that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans.  After writing Romans, Paul gave the letter to a woman named Phoebe to deliver to the church in Rome (Rom 16:1).  Imagine being one of the Roman Christians who received this letter.  For some, the last time they saw Paul was when he started the persecution in Jerusalem that forced them to flee for their lives (Acts 8:1).  Now Paul had become a Christian and was leading those he once persecuted.  

Why did Paul write Romans?

Paul had three purposes for writing Romans.  First, he wanted to prepare the church in Rome for his coming.  While Paul was on his 3rd missionary trip, he realized his ministry in the eastern part of the Roman empire was coming to an end.   His heart began to desire to preach in the West (Rom 15:23).  Paul’s goal was to preach the Gospel in places where people had not heard it (Rom 15:20).  By this time, he had already preached the Gospel in all the major cities in the East.  Therefore, Paul wrote Romans to prepare for his coming and his future ministry in the Western part of the Roman Empire (Rom 1:13; 15:22-24).  

Paul’s second purpose for writing was to strengthen the Roman believers (Rom 1:11-15).  Paul strengthened these believers by teaching them the gospel.  The word “gospel” means “good news.”  Paul's gospel can be divided into 5 parts.  These 5 parts make up the book of Romans.  

        Part 1     Romans 1-3:20  Sin

        Part 2     Romans 3:21-5 Salvation

        Part 3     Romans 6-8 Sanctification

        Part 4     Romans 9-11 God’s Sovereignty 

        Part 5     Romans 12-16 Our Service

Exercise:  Open your Bible to the book of Romans and clearly mark it's 5 parts.  For example:  Above chapter 1 write “Part 1: Sin” and next to Romans 3:21 write “Part 2: Salvation.”

Paul’s third purpose was to have the church take a collection to fund his future ministry in Spain (Rom 15:24-28).  

Question: Why did Paul write such a large letter to the Roman church?  Wouldn’t a shorter letter have fulfilled Paul’s purpose?  Answer: If Paul hoped to go beyond Rome and minister in Spain, Paul may have wanted to set up a new mission base in Rome.  Perhaps Paul didn't want to spend much time in Rome, so he wrote the entire Gospel that he had been preaching for the past 20 years.  This would give the church in Rome time to study his teachings before he arrived. 

Another reason for a long letter may have been that Paul did not know if he would live or die as he traveled to Jerusalem (Rom 15:31; Acts 20:3; Acts 20:13-38).  Since Paul wanted to preach the Gospel in the western part of the Roman empire, he may have written a large letter to train the church in Rome so they could reach the West if he died in Jerusalem.  

What was the church in Rome like?

When you hear the words, “church in Rome” you may picture a large group of Christians meeting in a church building.  This was not the case.  The church in Rome did not meet in a church building, they met from house to house in smaller groups (Rom 16:5,14,15).  Though the church met this way, we know it had many members because its influence was large enough to cause the Jews to fight against it and because Paul planned to fund his future ministry to Spain from their giving.  The church had to be large for Paul's mission to be funded from their giving alone.   

Timeline for the church in Rome:

Application: 
The church in Rome was not started by professionally trained preachers.  It was started and run by common, everyday Christians.  These common Christians' influence was large enough that Jews started rioting, catching the attention of the Emperor Claudious, and forcing him to take extreme measures to maintain the unity of his capital city by removing all the Jews.  

Why did Claudious force the Jews to leave and not the Christians? We can only speculate.  Could it be that he saw Christians as peaceful and the Jews as a problem?  Could it be that the Christians outnumbered the Jews and it was easier to remove the Jews?  We don't know.  The only thing we can do is marvel at the tremendous influence these common everyday Christians had for the Kingdom of God.  God wants to use you in the same way.  Will you let your light shine bright so that others may come to know Jesus?

Prayer to pray:
Father, I offer myself to You as a living sacrifices.  The goal of my life is to die unknown after having made You famous.  I want to be a slave of Your wonderful gospel.  Please use me today to make the world around me a better place.  Please use me in the same way You used the church in Rome.  Please help me understand the book of Romans so that I can live its message and so I can help others live it.  Please take note of my life today.  I want to make you smile by how I live.  

Pastors are coming to Christ!

I praise God for all that He is doing.  I am overflowing with joy and excitement as two dreams I have had for ministry are becoming reality.  

Pastors being trained in Gbenequelleh

Dream 1

I have dreamed of opening Remote Bible Training Centers at strategic locations throughout Bong County.  Many of the towns in Bong County have churches in them but most of these churches are not Christian.  Last month, we opened our first Remote Bible Training Center in Gbenequelleh.  Our goal was for 20-30 pastors and church leaders to attend.  We were delighted with the 70 leaders who started the training.  These leaders were from various denominations in 23 towns and villages on Kokoyah Road.  Our training started with the book of Romans since most pastors are not Christians and are deeply involved in the demonic society.  God was working in powerful ways as many of these pastors were confronted with their sins and their eternal destiny for the first time.  Throughout the training, pastors asked questions like, "Is there anything I can do that is good enough to make God overlook my sins?" or "Can I get to heaven if I obey the Law?"  These pastors were truly lost.  On the last day of our training, most of the pastors made a profession of faith.  Please pray for these pastors as we continue to work with them each month.  Please pray that the seed of the Gospel will truly take root in their lives.  

This Tuesday, we will be opening a second training center in Foloblai.  Our prayer is for these two training centers to raise up an army of disciples who will take the Gospel to the various towns and villages on Kokoyah Road.  

Dream 2

As you are aware, Liberia has a very high illiteracy rate.  I have dreamed of working with an artist to draw pictures for everything we teach.  Picture Bibles are very effective in Liberia but these Bibles teach only the Bible's main stories.  What if we could draw, for example, the book of Romans with such detail that if you knew each picture, you would truly know the entire book?  If we were able to do this, even the illiterate could be trained to be ministers of the Gospel.  This dream is becoming a reality.  Last month, our ministry hired a full-time artist, whom we have worked with in the past, named Prince.  God is using Prince's paintings, to literally keep pastors on the edge of their seats while we teach.  

Prince painting Romans 4 & 5

Do you want to go through our Romans Study?

For years, I have been studying the book of Romans.  This study has completely changed my life.  I have a passion in my heart for others to learn the things that God has taught me.  For the next few months, I am going to begin posting daily pictures (Monday-Friday) and a short devotional on my blog from our study through Romans.  Will you consider joining me in this study?  By going through this study, I pray you will grow closer to our Lord and get a personal glimpse into how we train pastors here in Liberia.