Thank you!

Thank you for taking this journey with us.
While our Bible study class is still meeting every Sunday morning, our study format is changing, starting next week. So, this is the end of this blog... and the beginning of exciting new things God has planned!
Come and see what we are up to!

For Sunday, October 30, 2011

1) Romans 12:1-2

What is Paul urging the Christians to do? What does that mean? How is it different from the old sacrificial system? How is worship dependent on this attitude? What does it mean to be conformed? What does it mean to be transformed? How has God renewed your mind? How does it still need to be renewed? How does presenting yourself as a sacrifice prove God’s will?

2) Romans 12:3-8

According to Paul, how should a Christian think of themselves? Why? How do we all fit together as Christians? Why do you think Paul was giving these instructions? What service gifts has God given you? How are you using them?

3) Romans 12:9-16

How can love be tainted by hypocrisy? What did Paul have to say about how Christians treat each other? What did he have to say about a Christian’s attitude? Which of these is hardest for you? When are we tempted to be wise in our own estimation? What is the danger in this attitude? How does it affect our relationship with God? With others?

4) Romans 12:17-21

What are the main categories of behaviors Paul addresses in this passage? How can you respect what is right in the sight of someone you disagree with? What does Paul say about peace? Why is this important to a Christian? How does Paul’s teaching about revenge compare to our society’s teaching about it? How should a Christian overcome evil? When is it tempting to do it differently? Why is this a foundational truth?

For Sunday, October 23, 2011

1) Romans 9:1-5

What was bothering Paul? How would you describe his feelings about it? What was he willing to do? What are you willing to do to help someone else come to a true understanding of following Christ?

Romans 9:19-24

What argument was Paul confronting in this passage? To whom did Paul compare God? To what did Paul compare the Christian? How does knowing this truth change the way you live your life?

2) Romans 9:30-33

What was the comparison Paul made in these verses? What is the key to the pursuit? Who was the stumbling stone? Who did He make stumble?

Romans 10:1-4

What was Paul’s heart desire? What is your heart desire? Do you have a burden for an individual or a people group to come to Christ? What are you doing about it? What was wrong with how the Israelites were pursuing righteousness?

3) Romans 10:8-15

According to Paul in this passage, what must a person do to be saved? What was the encouragement for Paul’s audience found in verses 12-13? What is the progression a person must go through to reach salvation? What was the purpose of all of Paul’s questions in verses 14-16?

4) Romans 11:1-2a; 5-6

According to Paul, how had God’s relationship with His people, Israel, changed? What was the good news in these verses? What was the bad news?

Romans 11:33-36

How did Paul finish his theological explanation about the role of Jews and Gentiles in God’s kingdom? What do you think he ended this way? What stands out to you in these verses?

For Sunday, October 16, 2011

1) Romans 8:1-11

Why is there now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus? What does Paul say about the law of the Spirit? The Law of the Flesh? What is the contrast between the two? What characterizes the mind set on death? on the Spirit? According to Paul, in what domain do believers live?

2) Romans 8:12-25

What is our obligation, according to Paul? What is the difference Paul describes between slavery and adoption? How does that change our approach to struggling with sin? What did Paul declare is clear evidence that a person is a child of God? What do you do to stay in fellowship with the Spirit? What does Paul have to say about suffering and the future? In what ways do you see or feel the “birth pains” of God’s ultimate plan?

3) Romans 8:26-30

In what way does the Holy Spirit intercede for believers? When have you experienced this? How has the Holy Spirit helped you in praying about a difficult situation? Does this promise only apply to difficult situations?

What promise did Paul declare was given to those who love God concerning the things that happen to them?

4) Romans 8:31-39

What does Paul say about our victory over sin in this passage? What does he teach about God’s love in this passage? About God’s power? Which verse in this passage is most meaningful to you right now in your Christian walk? How will these truths effect how you live?

For Sunday, October 9, 2011

1) Romans 7:7-13

What questions did Paul anticipate from his opponents in this section? Why would Pauls’ opponents argue this? Or why would they argue that Paul was leading to this idea? What is the purpose of the Law? How does the Law make sin alive? What was Paul’s conclusion about the Law?

2) Romans 7:14-20

What is the conflict Paul describes in this passage? Do you identify with this struggle in your own life? How would you describe your personal experience with this struggle? Is verse 17 an excuse?

3) Romans 7:21-25

How does Paul identify the parts of himself that are in conflict? What is Paul’s conclusion? Where does freedom come from? How would you describe this freedom to someone who hasn’t experienced it? Are you experiencing freedom over sin in your life?

4) Review Genesis 3

How do you look at this story differently after reading Paul’s teaching in Romans 7?

John 14:13; James 1:22; 1 John 2:3-6

What do these verses teach about why the struggle against sin is important?

For Sunday, October 2, 2011

1) Romans 6:1-7

What was the new argument Paul addressed? Why would this argument be tempting for people to follow? In what way have Christians died to sin? What do we learn about baptism in this passage? What does it mean to live in newness of life? Do you feel like you are living in newness of life? Does your life show the example of being free from the bondage of sin?

2) Romans 6:8-14

How is the Christian life about a “death” experience? How is it about a “life” experience? What if being a Christian was just about one of these, and not the other? How would that change things? Of all those Jesus and His disciples raised from the dead in the New Testament, how many died again? What was different about Jesus’ experience? Why are we not to let sin reign in us? When it comes to dealing with sin in your life, what is the difference between being under the Law and under grace?

3) Romans 6:15-19

What was the next argument Paul addressed? How does it compare to the argument in 6:1? What are the choices when it comes to being a slave? What does a person’s life look like who is a slave to righteousness? What are the results of being a slave to righteousness? What does that mean?

4) Romans 6:20-23

What is the outcome of being a slave to sin? (What does a person earn for their sin?) What are the benefits of being a slave to righteousness? (What is the free gift of God?) How does understanding verse 20 change the way you approach non-Christians? Can you explain God’s free gift of grace to someone who doesn’t know about it? What evidence in your life points to whether you are a slave to sin or to righteousness?

For Sunday, September 25, 2011

1) Romans 5:1

How is a Christian justified? Review: what does it mean to be justified? How does that bring peace with God? What (or Who) is the conduit of that peace? How is this kind of peace different than the peace the rest of the world talks about? Meditate on the peace in your relationship with God today. If you aren’t experiencing that peace, talk to Him about what sin needs to be confessed and repented of.

2) Romans 5:2-5

What does it mean to stand in grace? How would this be lived out in a Christian’s life? What does Paul mean by the hope of the glory of God? What makes us able to celebrate in our tribulations? Are you experiencing, or have you experienced, this? Make a flow chart of the progression Paul describes. How does hope in God not disappoint?

3) Romans 5:6-11

What was our condition when Christ died? Who did He die for? Do you agree or disagree with Paul’s statement in verse 7? How did God demonstrate His love for us? IN your opinion, why did Paul say God in this instance, and not Jesus? How are we justified through Jesus’ blood? How did we receive reconciliation with God? How could you explain this concept to someone else?

4) Romans 5:15-21

How are the gift (grace) and the transgression (sin) different? Can you write out Paul’s teaching in these verses as a mathematical expression? What were the results of the transgression? What were the results of the free gift? Can you think of evidence of God’s abundant grace to you today? Praise and thank Him for it.