Sermon Notes:
1. According to the Declaration of Independence, America rebelled against the king of England on moral, religious grounds.
2. We, as Christians, are always called to follow the higher moral laws of God over governing authorities. (Acts 4:18:20)
The Bible teaches that we are saved by:
3. Jesus’ work on the cross plus nothing! (1 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
a. If you add something to what Jesus did on the cross, then you are subtracting from what He accomplished on the cross.
Principles of the Reformation:
4. Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
5. Sola Fide: Faith alone. (Ephesians 2:9)
6. Sola Gratia: Grace alone. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8)
7. Solus Christus: Christ alone. (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
8. Soli Deo Gloria: Glory to God alone. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
9. If God didn’t call us at times to rebel against the governing authorities, we wouldn’t have the preservation of the Gospel message in the Reformation or America.
Follow up questions from Sunday:
Icebreaker: Who gave you your first Bible? Do you know where it is today?
1. When you read 1 Peter 2:13-15 and Acts 4:18-20, what Biblical principle do you come up with?
2. Where in the Bible do we find examples of people not obeying the governing rulers and God blesses them for it?
3. How would you describe the Protestant Reformation?
4. Read Romans 1:16-17. Martin Luther said that this verse changed the course of his life as he read it one night in his monastery. “It is not a righteousness that is by works or by penance or by indulgences or by absolutions or by prayers to the saints, but a righteousness that comes only by faith. By faith!” That was the truth that set him free. How do you think we can practically apply this verse in our spiritual lives today?
5. Read Jude 1:3. In 521 Martin Luther was willing to die for the faith. Who would you say is the most courageous Christian that you have met in your spiritual journey? When was the last time you stood up for the faith? How did it make you feel?
6. God used the new technology of the printing press to bless the Reformation, how do you think God is using technology to bless the Church today? How is He using it to bless you today?
7. All but one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Protestant Christians. How do you think the Protestant Reformation influenced these Founding Fathers in rebelling against the King and creating America?
Something to meditate on this week:
Read the Declaration of Independence
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
Prayer for this week:
Pray in groups this week for the coming election and that Christians would represent Jesus well.