The Book of Romans - Mission Under Governing Authorities - 10 August 2025

In this sermon, Peter Lenehan explores the tension in Romans 13:1–7 between submitting to governing authorities and remaining faithful to God above all. Drawing on the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, Peter reminds us that while Christians are called to respect and submit to authorities as instruments established by God, there are limits when obedience would mean denying God or harming others. He unpacks the spectrum of Christian responses—from quiet submission to active engagement—and challenges us to consider when to remain silent and when to speak up. Ultimately, our submission to human authority must flow from our greater submission to Christ, seeking to love our neighbour and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21; 13:8–10).

5 Questions to Think About:

1. How do Romans 13:1–7 and Daniel 3 together shape our understanding of submission to authorities?

2. In what situations might silence demonstrate faithfulness, and in what situations might speaking up be necessary?

3. How does the command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Romans 13:9–10) guide when civil disobedience may be required?

4. How does Jesus’ own submission to unjust authorities challenge the way we think about power and obedience?

5. In your current context—school, workplace, or community—are you more prone to staying quiet when you should speak, or speaking when you should stay quiet?

3 Takeaways from the Message:

1. The default Christian posture toward governing authorities is submission, recognising them as established by God (Romans 13:1–2).

2. Submission is not blind obedience—Christians must never deny God or obey in ways that harm others (Acts 5:29; Romans 13:10).

3. Our ultimate calling is to honour Christ in every decision, whether by being quiet or by speaking up, seeking always to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).