Podcast on The Way

Romans 4:9-25

Learning the Way - Romans 4:10-25
Paul seems to be addressing a disunity among Gentile believers and Jewish believers in Rome. They both were following Messiah, but there were other issues that were causing division. What are issues in our church, specifically, and in the larger church, generally, that cause division fruitlessly and/or over open-handed issues? What should your role be within these conflicts?For Paul believing in God means have faith not in what we can see but what God has promised. How is having a hope that goes beyond all human hope of particular encouragement or comfort to you today? Can you think of ways recently that you have acted in faith when it was hard? Are you being called to do so right now?Throughout this text, Paul uses Abraham as an example to prove his point regarding salvation and the law. For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness… It was not after, but before he was circumcised. So, Abraham’s faith came first, then his obedience through circumcision. It isn’t circumcision (keeping the law) that saves him, just as it isn’t our works that save us. How does it make you feel knowing that there isn’t anything you can do that will make God love you more or less? Is your initial response positive or negative? What does this say about your view of God and your view of salvation?As we make our way through the book of Romans, do you find yourself understanding more clearly our natural state apart from God, and the overwhelming steps He has taken to bring us back to Him? Does this clearer (hopefully) understanding make it easier for you to tell others about this good news? Do you think about God’s actions both corporately (the steps He has taken to bring us back to Him) and personally (the steps He has taken to bring me back to Him)? Reflect on this as a group. 

Romans 4:1-9

Learning the Way - Romans 4:1-9
Romans 4:3, quoting Genesis 15:6 - “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” We learned from the message that this righteousness is a status that is conferred to us, but doesn’t inherently belong to us. How does it make you feel, knowing that it isn’t something you do?The first of two key points from the message: A believer does not work for his or her salvation. How does it make you feel knowing that there isn’t anything you can do that will make God love you more or less? Is your initial response positive or negative? What does this say about your view of God and your view of salvation? The second of the key points: A believer trusts God who justifies the wicked. The message described this as a trust transfer, when we stop trusting in ourselves and shift that trust to God. We now trust Him for our salvation and not ourselves. Do you agree with this in theory, but fight it in your everyday life? Does your behavior betray where your trust actually lies? 

Romans 3:27-31

Learning the Way - Romans 3:27-31
In light of the events of the election, what are ways you can be showing the love of God regardless of your personal political beliefs? In the message we learned that boasting and believing are complete opposites. Discuss with your group why this is true. In what ways are you guilty of boasting? When your sin is revealed to you, does it move you closer to God or further from God? Does it move you into community or isolation? 

Romans 3:21-26

Learning the Way - Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:24 - "...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" The message was clear that your faith is not the cause of your salvation, instead it's the instrument of your salvation. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Thinking that your faith causes your salvation gives us glory rather than God. Where do you struggle with this? Have you had a time in your life when terrible circumstances made you question God? Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Understanding that God is both the just and the justifier gives us a clear picture of both God's holy, wrathful anger, but also His love, kindness, and forgiveness. The just God is the one who is cannot turn a blind eye to sin. The justifier God is the one who loves, is kind, and forgives. Which of these two ends of the spectrum do you focus more on? Why? How does this change your perception of God? 

Romans 3:9-20

Learning the Way - Romans 3:9-20
Romans 3:9 - For we have already charged that all ... are under sin." The message made it clear that you can be better at not sinning, but you are still under sin. What are specific sins that you struggle with? What specific sins have you struggled with this week? Have you confessed and repented from these? If not, why not? Romans 3:10 - "None is righteous, no, not one..." Romans 3:12 - "no one does good, not even one." The message talked about the importance of our motives. Describe a time when you did a good thing, but with a poor motive? What is the motivation of your heart? Will you confess these motives to your group? Romans 3:11 - "No one understands; no one seeks for God." Are you seeking God or seeking things from God? What are the things you are seeking or have sought from God? Do you think you deserve those things? Why? Romans 3:18 - "There is no fear of God before their eyes" Do you have a fear of God? Psalm 111:10 tells us "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Describe to your group what you think the fear of God looks like? 

Romans 3:1-8

Learning the Way - Romans 3:1-8
In Romans 3 we see Paul speaking to a group of Jews that began to think that God's faithfulness was equivalent to Him upholding the nation of Israel. That began to translate into "we are the most important people in the world." This is a man-centered view of God and it ignores a variety of God's character traits like His judgment, wrath, and righteousness. This can lead us to completely miss our need for a Savior. In what ways do you see this happening today in our culture and in what ways are you guilty of this in your own life?The message pointed out that this passage could be removed from Romans and Paul's point would still be made. But he adds this point to address a very specific issue that he knew some of this letter's recipients would question. He goes out of his way to speak to his audience. This is an important principle for us to follow! Are you willing to do the hard work of understanding the objections of other people (ages, people groups, races, denominations, anyone who doesn't think identically to you)? Are you willing to learn their language and speak Gospel truths to them? What does this look like practically in your everyday life?The message talked about some believers having a false sense of security (whether Jews in the first century or Christians today). As believers, we aren't called to a life of complacency and solitude. Instead we're called to live in community, bear fruit, and finish the race (James 2:26, 2 Timothy 4:7). Do you simply fall back to your promise of eternal security or are you actively fighting the good fight? Is being a follower of Christ an active, daily pursuit, or a prayer that you said once? 

Romans 2:17-29

Learning the Way - Romans 2:17-29
Romans 2:17, “But if you call yourself a Jew…” Paul begins this passage by slowly but deliberately calling out the Jewish believers at Rome. He reminds them that while they’ve been boasting in a variety of things (their Jewish heritage, their knowledge of the Torah, etc.) they’ve been neglecting one of their primary callings: showing the rest of the world the one true living God. While Paul is speaking specifically to Jewish believers, his message is still relevant to us. Discuss with your group the ways we are guilty of doing the same thing as a church, as a small group, and as individuals. In other words, if Paul were to write a letter to Church on the Way, what would he call us out on?Romans 2:21, “you then who teach others, do you not teach yourselves?” When you read scripture or hear it preached, how do you actively apply it to your own life, or are you like the man who looks at his face in the mirror, but goes away and at once forgets what he looks like?The sermon spoke a lot about moralism which can be described as the belief that the Gospel can be reduced to improvements in behavior. Moralists often want to keep their lives nice and neat, which often leads to them separating themselves from the things of this world to avoid being ‘contaminated’. Are there areas in your life that this is true?Romans 2:24, “...The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” As mentioned above, these Jews had become so distracted in their boasting, that they’d neglected their true mission. We likewise can be guilty of this, and this can lead to us becoming the kind of Christian that no one wants to be around. But God calls us to lead lives that make others wonder what is different about us! (1 Peter 3:15) Our lives should be attractive to the lost! (Have you ever considered that?)We’ve probably all encountered a Christian who made us want nothing to do with Christianity because of their lack of love, but have you ever encountered another believer that was such an encouragement to be around that you just wanted to spend more time with them? To learn from them and grow with them?Which of these do you consider yourself to be? Do people far from God seek you out because they see something in you that they can’t explain but want to know more about? If not, what needs to change? Would you admit that to your group and ask for their encouragement and prayer? Romans 2:29, “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” Take some time as a group to meditate and talk about Christ’s ultimate circumcision, being cut off completely from God as he bore the weight of our sin on the cross. How does this move you to praise and love Him? 

Romans 2:1-11

Learning the Way - Romans 2:1-11