Civil Obedience - Rom 13:1-7

The central message of this sermon is that God establishes and ordains governments as His servants to maintain order and punish wrongdoing in society, and therefore, individuals must submit themselves to the governing authorities, regardless of their personal opinions or desires for a different form of government. This message advances the belief that God is sovereign over all aspects of life, including human institutions such as government, and that human rebellion against authority is ultimately rebellion against God. The takeaway the teacher wants listeners to understand is that even in imperfect governments, God's presence and purpose are at work, and that obedience to governing authorities is a matter of faith and trust in God's sovereignty.