Solo Act- Paul's Message To The Romans

Send us Fan MailThe apostle Paul understood that, sometimes, you just have to get out there on your own and see what you can accomplish with only the Word to guide you.  On this edition of Growing Together, host Nicholas Affolter,  finds himself in a similar situation.  With no co-pilot available, he will have to rely on what has been stored up inside the spirit and go for it.  Fortunately, he knew right where to look for inspiration.  The Book of Romans is a great place to find solace in solitude and the result is a deep dive into the everlasting truth that Jesus Christ can free us all from our sin and the obstacles that hold us back.Have you been on a hopeless pursuit of happiness, finding yourself lost in the self-help section of your favorite bookstore?  Do you have a favorite chair or recliner that calls your name and suckers you in for a wasted night of death-scrolling or channel surfing?  Do you find that all the goals you set in your mind are sabotaged by the draw of more comfortable, yet pointless pursuits?  Paul covers this fatal flaw of mankind and explains to us that although we share these same weaknesses, they do not have to define us.  Christ is our one true solution to everlasting purpose and salvation.  The nature of sin that lives within us all is a powerful mixture of loathing, self-doubt, and overwhelming guilt that can control our body and mind to the point of a breakdown.  We can tell ourselves that we are unworthy of God's grace, so why bother?  It can reduce the self to mental and physical apathy, making even the most ordinary tasks seem insurmountable.  Have you ever been there?  Paul has.The Book of Romans reminds us that it is our spirit that decides our fate, not the sin forced upon us by a cruel and unfair world.  If our spirit is for the Lord then sin must retreat and die a slow death of its own.  Our natural bodies can never survive the harsh realities of this world, but our spirit will live on and on if it lives for the Lord.  It's time to tell sin to hit the road.  It has no place here.  It all starts with one simple statement: I choose to live for the Lord.  Paul was so confident in this belief that he was willing to travel thousands of miles to share it.  All it takes is one step for your journey to begin.  Let's go!