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.

For Sunday, September 18, 2011

1) Romans 3:27-31

Why does Paul bring up the argument about boasting? Who would be boasting and why? What does it mean to be justified? What kinds of works (actions, rituals) were the Jews tempted to rely on for justification? Why was this a problem? According to Paul, how will God judge the circumcised? The uncircumcised? Why did Paul bring up the question about nullifying the Law? What would be the problem if the Law no longer applied? What is the connection between following the Law and faith?

2) Romans 4:1-8

Why did Paul choose Abraham as an example for the Jews about how to be justified? According to Paul, how was Abraham justified? What proof did he use in his argument? Which other person did Paul select as an example? Read Psalm 32:1-2.

3) Romans 4:9-15

What nationality was Abraham? Why does Paul dedicate so much time to circumcision? If he were choosing a modern day example of works (actions or rituals done to try to make oneself right with God), what might he choose? Why was it so important for the early church for Paul to explain this teaching in detail?

4) Romans 4:16-25

What is the connection between faith and grace in salvation? If following the Law still played a major role in salvation, how would life be different for modern Christians? How did Abraham show an extraordinary measure of faith? Did Abraham ever wobble in faith or lose faith in God’s promise? Why is the goal of faith righteousness? Thank God today for giving you the ability to have faith in Him.

For Sunday, September 11, 2011

1) Romans 1:18-32

Where is the wrath of God revealed? How does nature teach us about God? Can you think of some specific examples of what nature teaches us about God? According to verse 23, what is the big “exchange” humans have made? What does a person give up when they choose this exchange? How did this exchange affect humanity? Individuals? Nature?

2) Romans 2:1-11

What does Paul teach about judgment in these verses? Why would this topic be so important to the early church? To us today? How does the kindness of God lead a person to repentance? What does a stubborn and unrepentant heart store up? What did Paul mean by verse 11? Why was this an important lesson for the early church? How should this lesson inform our behavior today?

3) Romans 3:7-20

What argument was Paul addressing in verse 7? Can you think of some modern examples of this twisted idea, that sinning more allows God to forgive more, bringing Him more glory? How would you answer someone who claimed this is true? In verses 10-18, how does Paul describe humanity’s sin problem? Who does it affect? What does Paul point to as the cause of this problem? What is the purpose of the law, according to Paul in verses 19-20?

4) Romans 3:21-26

What does Paul say in these verses about:

The Law?

Righteousness of God?

Sin?

Faith?

Justification? (What is justification? How is it accomplished? Why do we need it?)