Podcast on The Way

Romans 11:11-36

Learning the Way - Romans 11:11-36
One of the continuing themes from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is that no one should be arrogant or puffed up. In this week’s message we learned that some of the Gentiles in the church at Rome had become arrogant in their attitude towards the Jewish believers who were coming back into the church. Paul is careful to make the point that the only reason any of us are a part of God’s plan is because He chooses us. In what areas of your life do you struggle with being arrogant?During the early days of the church, the most anti-church sentiment (and action) came from the Jews. Yet we learn in verse 23 that even they can be restored to God - He is capable of restoring anyone to Him. What people in your life have you lost hope for God bringing to salvation?At the end of this passage, Paul seems to be overwhelmed by the very nature of God and begins worshipping and quoting scripture. His teaching on the nature of God’s plan leads him to worship. The two are intertwined for Paul - one can’t go without the other. Talk with your group about where you fall on this spectrum. Do you lean more towards studying doctrine or towards worship? Have you ever thought of these two as being dependent and correlated? If you have been confronted with this question before, have you ever used your personality as an excuse? “I just don’t express myself with singing… or I just don’t like reading or studying?

Romans 11:1-10

Learning the Way - Romans 11:1-10
One of the consistent themes of the past few chapters is that you can be surrounded by godly teaching and community and still not know God. Are there times when you are a part of our gospel community, but only want to focus on the community and not the gospel?Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” -Romans 11: 2-4In this example, Elijah has just had an amazing experience with God and literally called down fire from the skies. Despite this, he is sullen, fearful, and depressed! This highlights the danger of us being so narrowly focused on the circumstances of our life that we don’t see God’s bigger picture. In what areas of your life have you blinded yourself to the work that God is doing because you’re too focused on the narrow details of your life?The message made it clear that we are very capable of hardening our own hearts. It is our natural state without God’s intervention. Are there relationships where you are enabling other people to harden their hearts because you haven’t been clearly presenting the gospel as the motivation behind everything you do?

Romans 9:30-10:21

Learning the Way - Romans 9:30-10:21
These passages aren't theological constructs that live in a vacuum. Instead, Paul is mourning and pleading for his people to come to know the truth about God. This is the appropriate attitude! As we talk about God's nature and what we believe about God's plan of salvation, who do you think about in your life who needs to hear the gospel? Do you mourn and plead for their salvation? Do you share the gospel with them in the hope that they will come to know God?One of the key points from the message was that zeal without knowledge leads to fanaticism. Are you naturally someone who needs to add zeal to your knowledge, or knowledge to your zeal?How would people describe you? Would they define you first as a believer, or would they first talk about something else that defines you? Do you evangelize something else (hobby, interest, product, job, etc.) more than God, to the point that people see that as your defining characteristic?How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? -Romans 10:14We have to speak the truth of the gospel. And more than that, we can't simply proclaim it, we have to be able to persuade! Is this something you do? Are you able to share the gospel and show people their need? If not, have you ever been confronted with the truth that as believers we are responsible for what we do with the gospel? How does this make you feel?If you answer the previous questions positively and say, “yes, I preach the gospel regularly” do you simply proclaim it with a ‘take it or leave it attitude’ or do you seek to persuade because your heart is broken at the thought of anyone being lost?

Romans 9:14-29

Learning the Way - Romans 9:14-29
In these passages, we’re diving deep into the nature of God. Is your picture of God based on scripture, or on your thoughts about who he is? Difficult paraphrase from the message: “When I come across something in scripture that doesn’t correlate with my view of God, it’s my understanding that needs adjusting, not the scriptures.” We can’t pick and choose passages that fashion a God that makes us feel comfortable. That’s idolatry. Talk with your group about your understanding of God and His nature as revealed in this passage.Have you ever thought of God as not being fair? What were the circumstances? Do you think of yourself as being worthy of God’s mercy and grace? In Exodus we see God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, but we also see Pharaoh hardening his own heart. Talk with your group about God’s sovereignty and our responsibility for our actions.As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” - Romans 9:25-26Paul ends this passage with reminders about God’s amazing ability to redeem. Hosea is a story of one of these “surprise reversals.” As a believer, do you ever think about the surprise reversal of your destiny? Instead of being condemned and punished accordingly, we are now called sons and daughters of the living God. How does this make you feel? Where would you be if God left you to your own will?

Romans 9:6-13

Learning the Way - Romans 9:6-13
“...in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls…” - Romans 9:11We learned in the message that God calls those that He wants to call, not based on anything good or bad that we do. How does this make you feel? Does it bring you comfort, or does it make you question God? This question is central to the messages in the coming weeks. Take some time to let everyone in your group answer this question before moving forward.“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17Do these kinds of conversations in your small group have a positive affect? Do you see iron sharpening iron? Make sure that these conversations are covered in grace.If you have differing thoughts regarding this open-handed topic, can you set aside your differences for the sake of our gospel community? Is the health of our congregation and the message of the gospel more important?

Romans 9:1-5

Learning the Way - Romans 9:1-5
Paul is systematically and comprehensively addressing some of the hardest questions of our faith in Chapter Nine. Discuss with your group your understanding of the doctrine of grace. How has your understanding of grace changed over time? How has this truth changed you? Paul talks about the anguish in his heart over the lost people of Israel. How have you felt those feelings for the lost people around you? In what ways do you find it difficult to trust God with their salvation? We cannot extend to others what we do not have ourselves. In what ways do you struggle to accept and experience God’s grace in your life? In what ways do you feel that this keeps you from being able to love others and extend grace to them? What does this look like in your day to day life? 

Romans 8:31-39

Learning the Way - Romans 8:31-39
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28Our good, as Paul describes it, is not our earthly happiness but rather our holiness. This is God’s view of our good. What is your view of your good? In what areas of your life do you put your happiness above your holiness?For the encouragement of your group, share examples from your life of times that suffering and dying to yourself led to your good. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26Prayer is such a vital part of life that two parts of the trinity are constantly interceding on your behalf. What does your prayer life look like?In the message we learned that comfort is found in God’s character. What is it your turn to for comfort when you experience suffering? Is it Him or is it something else?

Romans 8:31-34

Learning the Way - Romans 8:31-34
Knowing the truth that God’s plan has been to redeem His people through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross… how does this truth affect your day to day life? If God is for us and there is now no more condemnation, why do you worry?What are you white-knuckling? We learned in the message that the phrase “no, Lord” is contradictory. You can call Him Lord, or you can tell Him no, but you can’t do both. What are you holding on to that is keeping you from pursuing His mission for you?