Paul writes to a divided church in a hostile culture about timeless news that can only be described as ‘Good’. What is the Good News? In Jesus, God’s work to restore the life we were created for—through a price we couldn’t pay—has been made available to everyone. During our series on the Book of Romans, we will explore Paul’s gospel and its everyday impact on our lives today.
Small Group Tips
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Make note of anything that sticks out to you.
Write down thoughts that may be sparked as you listen.
You can facilitate meaningful discussion based on your notes.
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They may find something interesting, or even have a question about something.
It’s good for them to share that, and good for the group too!
Some of your best discussion will come from what individuals heard that was particularly challenging or helpful to them.
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Even if it seems silly to you (we know every personality is different), it’s supposed to be fun and easy. Hopefully it can get people laughing together, and comfortable sharing. It can also bring out some great memories.
Groups should be social and spiritual. It’s good to start light and build friendships, as we discuss God’s Word and share personally.
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We give you a few questions. We hope they work well. But you know your group.
You may pick a few and skip a couple. You may have a great question that you think of! There’s no pressure to do every question.
Click the topics below after each week’s message for discussion questions and other resources.
MESSAGES
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Paul opens his letter to the church in Rome with thankfulness, joy, prayers, theology, and his own sense of obligation to share the Good News. The Good News is our salvation from sin, but so much more as the Book of Romans will continue to reveal. The Gospel is: Jesus’ work to restore the life we were made for by a price we couldn’t pay, and is available to everyone.
ICE BREAKER:
Have you ever had a friend or family member who was embarrassing to be out with?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
As a group, read Romans 1:1-17.
What did you take away from the message this weekend?
Look at verses 11-12. How have you experienced this “mutual encouragement”?
In what ways do we sometimes have too small of a view of the Gospel?
Why are Christians sometimes “ashamed of the Gospel”?
We might not want to admit, or even think we are “ashamed of the Gospel”, but when have you hesitated to share the Good News with others?
Who are you personally praying for to come to faith in Jesus? As a group, pray for those named, and for each other to be used by God in those people’s lives.
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Paul steps from the “Good News” found in verses 1-17 of Romans 1 to the bad news in verses 18-32. His is point is that we have traded the worship and devotion to self. The fallout is severe as it shows up in our life choices wandering farther and farther from how we were created.
ICE BREAKER:
People aren’t one-dimensional. Few people exhibit only one personality attribute. Most folks aren’t totally angry all the time, nor are they mostly compassionate all the time. Who is a person in your life who was misjudged by people as being one thing (angry, sad, happy, driven, judgmental, etc.), but exhibited the opposite characteristic once you got to know them?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
As a group, read Romans 1:16-32
What did you take away from the message this weekend?
How do people justify believing that God exists, but not surrendering their life to Him?
Why is the all-American “pursuit of happiness” a terrible compass?
Read Romans 1:18-20. What are some ways that God’s invisible qualities are seen through creation & nature?
God’s judgment in this passage shows up three times as Him giving humanity over (verses 24, 26, 28) How would you describe that to a friend?
What does “surrendering my natural instincts when they conflict with God’s supernatural intentions” look like in real life? What are examples of seeing that actually work?
Read 1 John 4:10. The ESV translates that verse with the word “propitiation”. How should the wrath of God being eliminated from the life of a believer affect their life? How is that part of the Good News?
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Paul shifts from calling out the gentiles for their flagrant sin to informing the self righteous jewish Christians that they are just as guilty! The hypocritical act of treating others sin as more depraved than our own has no place for a Christ follower, and Paul intends the Roman church to change that practice.
ICE BREAKER:
Everybody has experienced a “do as I say, not as I do” moment in life. What is one from your past?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What did you take away from the message this weekend?
How would you define the term “hypocrite”.
Hypocrisy is something everybody wrestles with to some degree or another. Why do you think Christians specifically have gotten a reputation for being hypocritical?
Read Romans 2:1-4. Why do we tend to see our own sins as less evil than others?
“There but for the grace of God go I,” is an old phrase meant to help Christians show grace and not be judgmental. It promotes an attitude of humility, understanding that we are in need of God’s grace and blessing as much as anyone. It helps us face the truth that we are just as capable of brokenness and sin as anyone else.
What is your common reaction? Are you more likely to judge someone or say “there but for the grace of God go I”?
Scripture calls us to use wise judgment, but not be judgmental. What does this actually look like in our day-to-day lives? How can you exercise wise judgment when dealing with others, without becoming judgmental?
Looking to Jesus should affect how we think of ourselves and others.
How does looking to Jesus help us see yourself rightly?
How does looking to Jesus help us to see others rightly?
As a group, close in prayer. Pray that God will develop in your group the type of Jesus followers who take sin seriously, as well as God’s kindness and grace. Pray that this affects both how you see yourselves and gow you see everybody else.