A Quick 10-point Summary of Romans 13 I want to end by sharing an excellent 10-point summary of Romans 13:1-7 that you can keep as a “quick reference” on hand, which was created by New Testament scholar Michael J. Gorman: 1. Various aspects of the meaning of Romans 13:1-7 are debated, but its main original intent was to say to the Roman Christians, “Pay your taxes” (Romans 13:7). The text is not a call to blind obedience to all authorities and laws. 2. Whatever Romans 1

Are You Speaking to Me? Another way people misuse Romans 13 is to make a distinction between commands given to individuals and to civil authorities. Part of the confusion is that English does not distinguish between the singular and plural second person (those pesky pronouns!). It’s so easy to read “you” singular, where it really says “you all.” Take Leviticus 19:33-34. In English it reads: “ When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the

Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely When the Israelites first entered the Promised land, they had no king. God was their king. Priests administered justice, judges were raised when the people were besieged by outsiders. But the people were not satisfied. In fact, they were afraid. They wanted security from invasion. They wanted a king, like the other nations. They got their king, but not without this warning: “ Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to t

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval, for it is God’s agent for your good. But if y

Mark 12:1–12 Then he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went away. 2 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insul

John 4:[1=4] 5-42 As this is a very long reading, I have posted it at the end of the sermon instead of the beginning. Sermon Imagine the excitement of the Samaritan woman after meeting Jesus at the well! She couldn’t keep it to herself. She had to tell everyone! Photina, the traditional name given to this nameless woman, is often painted as wanton woman, this horrible sinner, a loose woman, sorely in need of repentance. Sermons explain that she’s at the well in the mid

Luke 19:29-40 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the col

Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the

Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that