Athey Creek: Audio Podcast

Knowing the Christians in Rome were about to face a time of great trouble, Paul offers them an encouraging reminder in Romans 16:17-20 to stand firm against evil, pursue what is good, and rest in the assurance of God’s ultimate final victory. As we continue to feel the effects of the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk and experience our own evil days, may Paul’s words echo in our hearts and strengthen us to shine the light of Jesus in an ever-darkening world.

As Christians, we are called to love one another, build each other up in Christ, and glorify God in unity. In Romans 15, Paul expands on these commands and then begins to close his letter by showing how he has lived them out in his ministry and how he plans to continue doing so in his visit to Rome.

With countless religions, denominations, and beliefs, there are times when we must separate from those who deny essential doctrines or promote blatant false teaching. But when it comes to non-essentials, we are to put away quarrels, division, and hostility and instead choose to follow Paul's exhortation in Romans 15:5-7 to be like-minded in Christ, to love one another, and to glorify God as one.

Gray areas, non-essential doctrines, and lifestyle choices often stir up debate within the church today – sometimes leading to unnecessary conflict and division. In Romans 14, Paul gives us guidance for navigating these issues in accordance with the law, our liberty in Christ, and love for our Christian brothers and sisters.

The propensity to judge others — while not wanting to be judged ourselves — is just as prevalent today as it was in Paul’s day. In Romans 14:10-13, Paul addresses this issue by showing us why we should stop judging others, what we should actually be judging, and why our focus should be on the coming judgment that belongs to Jesus Christ alone.

Paul wraps up his checklist on how to live as Christians in Romans 12:12-13:14 by presenting practical behaviors we should display in our daily lives. From how we treat others and handle evil, to how we submit to authority, Paul’s words help us measure how we are reflecting Jesus Christ in a dark world.

After reminding us that time is of the essence, Paul urges us to wake up, cast off the works of darkness, and put on the light of Christ. As we study his practical and profound words in Romans 13:11-14, we learn what it looks like to resist the spiritual snooze button, walk in purity, and reflect the light of Christ in an increasingly dark world.

In Romans 12:9-12, Paul gives us a checklist of what it looks like to live as Christians. As we walk through his lineup of godly behaviors, we’re challenged to consider how well we are loving others, rejecting what is evil, and living in ways that reflect Jesus in our daily lives.

Evil is a real and destructive force in our lives, communities, and the world that we must overcome or risk being overcome by it. In Romans 12:21, Paul gives us the key to overcoming evil, and we learn specific tactics from Scripture to put this charge into action.

In Romans 12:3-8, Paul calls us to live with humility and remember that we are all part of the body of Christ. In this unity, God has uniquely gifted each of us to serve Him and one another. As we explore these verses, we discover what these gifts are, where they appear elsewhere in Scripture, and how God works through each one to build up His Church.

After firmly establishing what we must do to be saved, Paul turns to what we should do as a result. As we study Paul’s directive for daily Christian living in Romans 12:1-2, we see how to surrender every area of our lives to God, stand firm against the world’s pull toward sin, and rely on Him to give us what we need according to His perfect will.

Paul continues his argument in Romans 11 that God isn’t finished with the Jews by presenting evidence to make his case. As Paul speaks about the remnant, the grafting of branches, and the dispensations of the Jews and Gentiles, we’re reminded of God’s mercy and that His wisdom is far beyond our understanding.

Paul tells us in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. But what does it really mean to have faith, and what does that look like in our everyday lives? As we study this verse, we discover the role faith plays in our salvation, how it should impact our daily walk with the Lord, and how we can cultivate it through God’s Word.

A Bible teaching titled “Through the Bible | Romans 10” from Romans 10 by Brett Meador.

Paul continues exploring the theme of God choosing certain people for specific purposes in Romans 9 by addressing Israel’s role in His plan for humanity and how the Gentiles factor in. As we dig into Paul’s reasoning, we learn important truths about what we truly deserve, God’s mercy, and how salvation is available for all through Jesus Christ.

From Moses striking the rock in the desert to Daniel’s vision of a stone that topples kingdoms, Scripture consistently uses the image of a rock to point us to Jesus Christ. In Romans 9:31-33, Paul draws upon this symbol to show us how the Rock can either be a stumbling stone to those who reject Jesus or a firm foundation of salvation to those who believe.

In addition to the deep theological issues it raises, Romans 8:28-39 also shows us God’s blessings and assures us of His good plans for our lives. As we study, we see how God uniquely calls us, learn how absolutely nothing can separate us from His love, and are reminded of how we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Within Christianity, the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism –or freewill versus predestination – remains a hotly debated topic with views falling across the spectrum of both theological systems. Using Romans 8:28-31 as our starting point, we search the Scriptures to make sense of these doctrines, learning what both beliefs teach and where we should land biblically as we consider this topic.

One of the greatest blessings we receive when we accept Christ is freedom. But freedom from what exactly? In Romans 8:1-28, Paul shows us how we’ve been set free from the bondage of sin, given liberty as God’s children, and can live with peace on this earth as we rest in the hope of Heaven.

Romans 8:28 is one of the Bible's most beloved verses as it offers a powerful promise to a specific group of people. But what exactly does this verse mean, and who is it meant for? As we break down this verse, we'll explore what is good from God's perspective, why we can trust Him, and most importantly, how we can ensure we are among those who can claim this promise.