We all belong to something: A family, a school, a club, etc. Sometimes we leave one group so we can belong to another. What does it mean to belong to Christ? Paul gave up belonging to some things so that he could be totally committed to belong to his Lord. Download this and other PowerPoint Sermons at BibleGuy.org

1. Called to
Belong!
Romans 1:1-7

3. We Want To Belong!
• Kids
• Family
• High School
• Sport teams
• Clubs/organizations

4. There are Commitments To
Belonging

5. Paul Previously Belonged
• A Roman Citizen
• A Freeman
• A Pharisee
• The Educated
• Highly Respected among his peers
• A purifier of the Jewish way of life
– Acts 8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and
entering house after house, he dragged off men and
women and committed them to prison.

6. Paul Was Called To Change What and
to Whom He belongs!
Act 9:1-6 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus,
so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or
women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now
as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and
suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And
falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said,
"Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will
be told what you are to do."

7. Paul Was Called to Belong to
Something Better
• He was changed!
• The change in him changed his allegiances of
belonging.
• What about you?

8. The Letter To the Romans Is Paul’s
Explanation of Belonging
• What is this that we belong to?
• Why do we belong to it? Or, how do we get
into belonging to it?
• Why doesn’t everyone belong to it?
• What Should Our Response be to our
belonging?

9. Romans 1:1–7 (ESV)
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.

10. Paul Belongs!

11. Paul Belongs To Jesus Christ
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
Literally: Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus
There were over 60 million slaves in the Roman
Empire.
A slave is someone owned by someone else.
Paul was a slave by choice.

12. Paul belongs on the front line!
“called to be an apostle,”
In general: Apostle is one that is sent out
Specific group: Included in a special,
authoritative group of sent out
representatives.
Paul was on the Front Line.
He receives direct revelation from God and
speaks these as instructions for the church.

13. Paul is set apart to give Good News
set apart for the gospel of God,

14. He Belongs to Something Very Old,
Very New, and Very Special
2 which he promised beforehand through his
prophets in the holy Scriptures,

15. What is this news about?
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,

16. We Belong!
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.

17. You Have Been Called to Belong!
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.

18. You Have Been Called to Belong!
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.

19. We Belong to something!
To What Do you Belong?

20. Is there something that you belong to
that means more to you than
belonging to Christ Jesus?

21. How Committed Are You to those who
participate in your belonging with
you?

22. How well do you help others belong?