Each week we like to find an interesting sermon to share with our readers. We watch many and bring you what we think is best.

A Spiritual Wake Up Call

By Mr. Frank Daddurno

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So, you’ve stumbled upon “A Spiritual Wake Up Call,” delivered by Mr. Frank Daddurno on January 26, 2025. The sermon zeroes in on Romans 13:11, which, in the New American Standard Bible, reads:

“Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

Romans 13:11 (NASB)

Paul’s letter to the Romans is like a dense fruitcake—rich, heavy, and not to everyone’s taste. In this particular slice, he’s shaking believers by the shoulders, urging them to snap out of their spiritual slumber. The message? Time’s ticking, folks. Salvation isn’t some distant mirage; it’s looming closer than your next dental appointment.

Historically, Paul penned this epistle to a mixed bag of Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, around 57 A.D. They were grappling with issues that make our modern squabbles look quaint—like how to integrate diverse cultural practices into a unified faith. In this context, Paul’s wake-up call serves as a reminder to cut through the noise and focus on the impending culmination of their faith journey.

Early church heavyweights like Augustine took this passage as a nudge towards moral vigilance. Fast forward to the 20th century, and theologians like Karl Barth saw it as a summons to active faith in a world teetering on the edge. Across the board, the consensus is clear: don’t hit the snooze button on your spiritual life.

Denominational lenses color the interpretation here. Evangelicals might emphasize personal conversion and the urgency of evangelism. Mainline Protestants could focus on social justice, viewing the “awakening” as a call to address societal ills. Catholics might see it as a prompt for ongoing participation in the sacraments as means of grace. Despite the differing applications, the core message resonates: wake up and smell the eschatological coffee.

In practical terms, this wake-up call challenges believers to assess their lives. Are they merely going through the motions, or actively engaging in their faith? It’s a prompt to shake off complacency, whether that means diving deeper into personal devotion, ramping up community involvement, or reevaluating one’s ethical compass.

For those itching to dig deeper, consider cracking open a theological commentary on Romans—perhaps N.T. Wright’s “Paul for Everyone: Romans.” Engaging in discussions within your faith community can also shed light on how this passage speaks to contemporary issues. Remember, the alarm’s ringing; it’s up to you to rise and shine.

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