Most likely you've heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but you've never heard it like this. 

The Israelites (also known as the Hebrews) were slaves in Babylon when the three Hebrews boys got an opportunity to be more than that.  Most people in this situation would be so grateful for the opportunity that they would do anything to stay in the king's good graces.  However, the Hebrew boys made a resolve to live for God like the covenant was never broken.  Even though it looked like God had forsaken them they still made a resolve to serve only Him.  And they took that resolve all the way into the fire where Christ was right there to protect them.

It was their lifestyle that showed their obedience to God - not their lips.  Listen as Pastor Cox pushes you to look at your life and see if your life shows that you believe in Jesus Christ who will be there to save you too when you forsake fame, notariety and position in this life for a life lived sold out to your Savior.

Last week we learned that Paul had a rightful place in the highest levels of Roman society as a Roman citizen. Nevertheless, when he met Jesus face to face on the Damascus road, he was willing to give that up to become a slave to Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the scriptures. Now we move on to verse 2 of chapter 1 to learn that he was set apart or called to proclaim the Gospel. Some people today feel called to be married or a parent; or to be a doctor or lawyer or just rich; or to be an athlete or music or movie star. But above all of that, as Christians, we are called by Christ to be ministers of the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. Does that calling sound as attractive as some of the others? Are you answering that calling?

Paul had all the full rights of a Roman cititzen.  It was then much like being a US citizen is today.  The words, "I'm a Roman citizen" got Paul out of torture and jail on more than one occasion.  But before calling himself an apostle, he announced himself to the Gentiles and Jews in Rome as a slave to Jesus Christ.  This humble position underlies the whole book of Romans.  Listen as Pastor Justin Cox introduces the series on the Book of Romans.