Christ Community Church - Leawood Campus - SUNDAY MESSAGES

Romans 8:28-30 // Ben BeasleyWe’ve been in this series Romans: For Life, where we’ve learned from the Apostle Paul, Rabbi Paul, that we aren’t just saved from eternal evil but we are saved for something else: we are saved for eternal glory and for God’s good Spirit-filled work in our lives. Paul’s confidence is rooted in who he understands God to be. Paul is rooting his confidence not just in the happening of this, but in the God who is in sovereign control of all the happenings of the universe. When we embrace faith in Jesus we are God’s children. And we are co-heirs with Christ. Meaning we have the same inheritance as Jesus.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49257653PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24. 05.19

Romans 8:26-27 // Tom NelsonPrayer can be hard for all of us.  Sometimes we struggle to pray because we don’t know what words to pray.  We wonder what to say? I think one of Satan’s greatest strategies when it comes to prayer is to stop prayer in its tracks by convincing us we need to formulate just the right words before we pray.  That somehow if we get our prayer words just right, God will hear us. Paul’s words here in Romans are so encouraging in this regard. Sometimes in prayer we simply groan in God’s direction. We must remember the Holy Spirit meets us right where we are even when we are speechless, even when all we can do is groan. The Holy Spirit groans with us and He prays on our behalf.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49254181PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24.05.12

Romans 8:18-25 // Brent NelsenGod’s kingdom isn’t fully here on earth yet. The picture of Isaiah 11, of a restored creation, is not yet a full reality. But we’ve been given a taste, and it makes us crave more.  When I look around I see violence and discord and hatred. I see creation in subjection and decay. But I know what’s coming, and I know because I’ve had a foretaste. I see God at work renewing the broken pieces in my life. I see him at work restoring relationships around me. I see it in my community group when we experience the joy of gathering together as God’s people. I see it in miraculous answers to prayer requests. And I see it in creation. Every spring, the trees bud, and flowers push through the frozen ground. Everything begins to turn green, and the earth comes back to life. Springtime for me is a yearly visual reminder that God brings life from death. That’s the hope that we have as followers of Jesus.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49243655PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24. 05.05

Romans 8: 12-17 // Tom NelsonLet me ask you. Are you a child of God? John 1…those who receive Jesus…Have your The cross declares many things. That we are forgiven, we are loved, but it also declares welcome home!  We are extravagantly welcome home — not because our sin isn’t real, heinous, or deserving of exclusion — but because our older brother, Jesus, paid for our sin on the cross. He took all the judgment you and I deserved so that we might receive all the blessings. A future homecoming…Already not yet…  Future in our home–  the night before Jesus’s crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples that he was going away for a time to prepare a future home for them. There would be a future welcoming home.Jesus words’ I go to prepare a place for you…a future homecoming… In Christ, You are dearly loved! You are totally secure! A glorious future awaits you. Thanks be to God.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49247179PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2546/responses/new24. 04. 28

Romans 8: 5-13 // Ben BeasleyIn order for something to truly die, it has to be cut off from its source of life. Which means we have to learn how to make room for the Spirit to access the deepest roots of our fleshly desires. We have to learn how to create space to be aware of where the Spirit is trying to access so we can keep up with him and let him in. And it’s going to take time, right? Change takes time. It takes time to kill this stuff that is deeply ingrained in us. And the Enemy is working to keep us living according to the flesh, so we have some resistance. What we have to do is discern where the Spirit is trying to work on us and rely on His presence and power in our daily, ordinary lives. The best practice for creating space for the Spirit to reach the roots of your heart is prayer. Remember, He lives in you. He speaks to you. So take time this week in prayer to ask him for guidance, to help you see what needs to be killed and where the source of life needs to be cut off. SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49243658PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24. 04. 21

Romans 8:1-5  // Ben BeasleyPlanet Fitness has an interesting tagline: “Welcome to the judgement free zone.” Where else can we find that? It’s rare, isn’t it? Much more common is constant criticism. Rampant negativity. Harsh condemnation. We see and experience this, both from others, and from ourselves. The truth is, some of us are our worst critics.And yet, in Romans 8:1, the Apostle Paul writes, “There is now NOW condemnation…” Incredible! How is this possible? Engage this passage with us to find out…SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49240076PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24. 04. 14

Romans 7:14-25 // Ben BeasleyThe biggest fights are the ones we have within ourselves. How does Jesus shape the fight waging within? It may not be what we thought. Join us as we continue to see how God has rescued us not only from death but for Life in the book of Romans. SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49236520PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new07.04.24

Matthew 28: 1-20 // Tom NelsonThe cross where Jesus shed his innocent blood for our sin and the empty tomb that defeated death is the greatest expression of love ever offered to you and to me. The empty tomb is the greatest assurance of God’s loving presence with us now and for all eternity. Peering into the empty tomb we hear the words of God in Old Testament Scripture, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you to myself with my loving kindness. The empty tomb invites each one of us to respond to the new life it makes possible. Jesus' invitation to each one of us is to in repentance and faith embrace his tender loving arms and his nail scarred hands. Jesus is calling. Jesus is calling you.  His arms are open wide. SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49232432PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24. 03. 31

Romans 7:7-13 // Ben BeasleyOne of the ironic dynamics of God’s law is that the more we know, the more we feel and recognize brokenness in our lives. With the grace of the gospel in Jesus, what value does God's law bring? Are we supposed to feel guilt and shame when we hear the law? What is God’s law for anyway if it's not very effective at restraining unrighteousness and injustice?Join us as we continue through the book of Romans where we’ll see the role of God’s law for us today.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49214772PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24.03.24

Romans 7:1-6 // Ben BeasleyWhat we belong to gives us an identity, sense of community, and even drastically affects our self-worth. Whether we find our belonging in sports, career, family, romantic relationships, or even religious observance, there are many good things that we are tempted to worship as ultimate things, but each leaves us restless and empty inside.Join us as we continue to see in the book of Romans why our ultimate belonging is to Jesus and how that is such good news for us. SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49221839PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new24.03.17