Podcast on The Way

Romans 14 Part 1

Learning the Way - Romans 14 Part 1
Is your character one that tends to want to rule all matters as being disputable, or no matter as being disputable? Can you see any area in which you may be a weaker Christian (to do so takes great self-awareness!)? One of the signs of being a weaker Christian is the desire to promote nonessential or secondary things as critical and essential. It is tempting for all of us to make sweeping mandates to apply to other believers. Has the Holy Spirit revealed any areas where this has been a temptation for you? In what areas have you found yourself being the weaker brother? How does it make you feel to realize you are the weaker brother?One of the signs of being a mature Christian is how we respond when we are around less mature Christians. Do we pull away from them or do we press in closer? Has there been a time where you pressed in or pulled away? What did you learn from either of those experiences? How has God used this to grow you as a believer?

Romans 13:11-14

Learning the Way - Romans 13:11-14
For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Do you live your life as if each day we are nearer to the end? Is that a reality that you think about?Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. -Romans 13:13Do you live your private life in the same way you live your public life? We’re called to ‘walk properly as in the daytime.’ Does this accurately describe your life?What would change in your day today if you imagined that Jesus was right before you, and you clothed yourself with Christ?

Romans 13:8-10

Romans 13:1-7

Learning the Way - Romans 13:1-7
A couple of things to remember before we get to the questions: first, God is sovereign. He is not surprised by any of our current events, nor is He far off and distant. Second, as believers we are bound to each other through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The love God shows for us should eclipse any of the differences we have politically or socially.Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. -Romans 13:7How should we pray for the authorities that have been placed over us? How do you currently pray for these leaders? In the message we were reminded that these people have been given the authority they have by God. Does this make it easier or harder for you to pray for these people?As believers, how should we engage with our culture and with political discourse?Take time as a group to pray for our leaders at all levels of government. Keep in mind our earlier conversation about how we should pray for these leaders. This is a great time to practice!

Romans 12:17-21

Learning the Way - Romans 12:17-21
Take some time to confess and repent and pray for the individual people in your group.We are commanded by Christ to love our enemy (Matt 5:44) and Paul tells us to leave vengeance to God, in fact, he tells us not only to love our enemies but also to serve them and see to their physical needs. What are some reasons and/or ways you tend to avoid keeping these commands and instructions?How do these instructions laid out by Paul highlight the Gospel?When you are sinned against how do you typically respond?When we do evil to those who have sinned against us we represent our enemy and not our Lord. This points others toward evil instead of the God of grace.How have you pointed others (believers and the lost) toward the enemy instead of the grace of God?How often does your behavior outside the congregation point to the glory of God?What comes out of your heart when you are put under pressure?

Romans 12:11-16

Learning the Way - Romans 12:11-16
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. -Romans 12:15Which of these is easier for you? Are there times when you struggle to rejoice with others because of feelings of jealousy? Do you weep with those who weep? Or is it easier to maintain a safe distance in those difficult times?Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. -Romans 12:16What does it mean to “never be wise in your own sight?” How can we help each other avoid this?Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. -Romans 12:12Spend some time as a group rejoicing in hope, being patient in tribulation, and in prayer.

Romans 12:9-10

Learning the Way - Romans 12:9-10
This week is going to be different: begin your group by taking time to confess and repent. Follow this with a time of prayer, and finish by going through the questions together. Let this time of confession, repentance, and prayer take as much time as it needs. If you run out of time for getting through the questions, it’s ok. We learned in the message that true love is selfless. This kind of selfless love requires that we put the person ahead of the relationship. In our relationships, in our marriages, in our parenting, there are times that we have to say hard things and address difficult issues. To not do this is ultimately self serving. Give specific examples of times when you’ve had to do this with relationships in your life, or times when someone has approached you this way. Are there some relationships that are easier to do this with than others, and if so, why? 

Romans 12:1-8

Learning the Way - Romans 12:1-8
Paul in verses 1-8 is describing what it means to be a living sacrifice. He says “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think”. When you are in traffic and get cut off by someone do you think you are the most important person on the road? When your server brings you your food and the meal is not exactly the way you ordered it how do you respond? Do you automatically think your opinion is right and become defensive when someone disagrees with you? These are all ways in which we are guilty of thinking more highly of ourselves. Have you been guilty of any of these? If not what does this look like in your life? To work as a body we have to submit to one another if we are going to become one body. Paul lists a short list of areas that describe the way a church should function. Prophecy (or preaching), service, teaching, exhorting, generosity, leadership, and mercy. Which of these areas describes your current area of gifting? In what spirit do you operate in your area of gifting?Take note that making disciples is not listed in this list because we should all be actively pursuing this as Christians. Would you be willing to meet with others from your small group to diligently work through books of the Bible together?Verse 2 says “be transformed by the renewal of your mind”. Do you find that you value your opinions over Scripture in any area of your life? Are you willing to submit to the truth you come across in scripture?