Godly Ambition

Notes for Nov. 5, 2017
Romans 15:14-22

Biblical Background

• You are full of goodness, knowledge and able: Paul expresses his confidence in his readers – a common rhetorical device in Greek writing to gain the listeners' attention and favor.

• Reminders: A reminder is a gentle way of instructing others and was used often in Greek rhetoric.

• Gentiles & Jews: Jewish prophets spoke of a time when the Gentiles would come to know the one true God (Isaiah 60:11-14). Paul's outreach to the Gentiles may have signaled that this time had come.

• Racial Reconciliation: The Gospel tore down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and thus was the most effective means of racial reconciliation in the world. This is true today as well as all believers become part of God's family and are thus no longer thought of as being from different ethnic groups, tribes or races.

• Word and Deed: Paul points to both his words and his actions which reflect the idea that he practices what he preaches. This was expected of philosophers in the Graeco-Roman world. A teacher/philosopher who didn't do what he preached would by a "hypocrite" - someone wearing a false mask.

• Power of signs and wonders: Paul was using what some have called today, "Power evangelism" as the Holy Spirit did signs and wonders, healings and miracles through Paul and the disciples which pointed people to the power of God and to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

• Illyricum: This part of Macedonia (today's Serbia-Croatia) was on the outer edges of Paul's ministry.

• 21: Paul is quoting from Isaiah 52:15 – a fulfillment of prophecy in his day.

• Paul's plans to visit Rome: Paul's plans often didn't work as he expected, but instead the Lord used him to share the good news of Christ, even with his persecutors or those who might be delaying his planned trips.

• Paul's ambition: Paul had a desire to preach the Gospel where none had heard – in other words he was an adventurer for Christ who sought to reach all those who had never heard.

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Discussion Questions

1. Why would Paul tell his readers in Rome that they are full of goodness, knowledge and able to instruct one another?

2. What can we learn in our dealings with people from Paul's example of complimenting the character of others while at the same time instructing them?

3. Give examples where you have been encouraged and instructed at the same time.

4. How does Paul describe his ministry? Where does his motivation come from?

5. What things inspire Paul? What inspires you to share your faith with others?

6. How far away is Illyricum (modern-day Serbia/Croatia) from Jerusalem? How far away is Spain from Jerusalem? What do these distances in the ancient world say about Paul's vision for the spread of the Gospel?

7. Where do you think Paul picked up the idea of taking the Gospel to the far reaches of the Roman world? Where are the distant places God may be encouraging you to dream about spreading the Gospel?

8. What did Paul use to help him in his Gospel proclamation?

9. When have you witnessed signs and wonders, healing and miracles from God that have led to people coming to saving faith in Christ? Share examples.

10. Why is it that in the United States, the sharing of the Gospel is sometimes separated from the prayer for signs and wonders? What are your thoughts on this?

11. What unreached peoples might God be calling you to pray for and find ways to reach with the Gospel? (Review the attached 10/40 Window Graphic: Consider praying for people living in these unreached areas of the world).

12. Why do you think Paul was hindered from doing all that he wanted to do?

13. What can we learn about planning and flexibility from Paul's example?

14. Take some time to pray as a group and ask the Lord to place His desires, motivations, and passion for sharing the Gospel with others? Then pray and ask Him where He would like you to go and spread the Gospel.

fishbowl

The Encouragement of God

Notes for Oct. 29, 2017
Romans 15:1-13

Biblical Background

• “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me”: This quote from Psalm 69:9 is applied to a righteous sufferer – and Paul makes it clear that this applies specifically to Jesus the Messiah who was without sin and yet suffered on our behalf.

• Christ is our model: We are to imitate Christ who sought to build up his neighbor, not please himself – this is an extension and part of the Golden Rule and the command to love our neighbor as ourself.

• Scriptures written for our instruction: Jesus believed that the Hebrew Scriptures were God’s word and thus it is God’s instruction book for life for all of us. One of the most important arguments for the idea that the Bible is without error and is God’s Word is that is what Jesus believed and taught. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and choose not to believe parts of the Bible, then how can you be faithfully be a disciple of Jesus and reject parts of the Bible?

• Being of one mind – living in harmony: This is an idiom which signifies the unity of believers. It doesn’t mean that we will agree on everything, but will be united in our identity as followers of Jesus Christ.

• Glorifying God as one voice: This is another picture of the unity in the body of Christ as we praise God together.

• Jews and Gentiles part of God’s plan and people: Paul makes it clear that God’s plan for the Jews (the circumcised) was to point the way to the Messiah so that both Jew and Gentile could become part of God’s kingdom and people.

• Paul’s quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures: Paul puts together a series of biblical citations to confirm his point that the Gentiles all along were to eventually become a part of God’s people along with the Jews. These include: 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49; Deuteronomy 12:43; Psalm 117:1; Isaiah 11:10.

• Prayers at the end of a letter – v. 13: Verse 13 is an example of a common way writers would wrap up a letter with a prayer for the person or people that they are writing to.

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Discussion Questions

1. Who are the strong in this passage? The weak?

2. When have you been the strong person? The weak? Share examples.

3. Who is the best example to show us what it means to please our neighbor and build them up? How can we imitate this model?

4. When have you experienced insults or ridicule for your faith? Share examples.

5. How did it make you feel to be ridiculed for your belief in Jesus?

6. What is it that gives us the ability to endure and stand strong in faith in the midst of pain, persecution, ridicule, and other difficult experiences?

7. Define hope.

8. What was Jesus’ view of the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament)?

9. Why is unity important for us to have in the body of Christ? What are some examples of unity in the church that have been encouraging to you?

10. What does it look like when Christians are not united? Give examples.

11. How does the example of Jesus promote unity among followers of Jesus?

12. How can you and I welcome others as Christ welcomed people? Give examples.

13. What should the relationship between Jews and Gentiles be in the church? Describe this relationship through biblical history through today.

14. Knowing that Jesus wants a relationship with people from all nations, cultures, etc… how does that change the way you view the world and the people around you?

15. Pray the prayer in verse 15 together. Then pray it one-on-one for each other.

16. How are we able to live out unity of faith in Christ? Give examples.

The Acceptance and Judgment of God

Notes for Oct. 22, 2017
Romans 14

Biblical Background

• Jewish vs. Gentile Christians: The church in Rome had Christians from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. This created cultural divides and differences that threatened the unity of the church. One of the biggest areas of difference was in diet as the Jewish people followed Kosher Laws from the Hebrew Scriptures which forbade the eating of “unclean” animals. Gentiles would eat nearly anything.

• Special Days Observed/Holidays: The Jewish Christians celebrated the Sabbath as a day to rest and worship God. Many Gentiles ridiculed Jewish people saying that they just were lazy and wanted a day off from work. The Jewish Sabbath created a divide between Jews and Gentiles. Of course, the Gentiles had their own holidays which the Jews did not observe.

• “Judgment seats”: The idea of a judgment seat in which a Roman official would make judgments on the law was a common image. The Jews likewise thought of God on the judgment seat or throne making His judgments. The image even of Jesus in heaven is “sitting at the right hand of God the Father,” the idea of sitting in a seat of authority.

• “Stumbling block”: this was a common Greek metaphor found in ancient texts.

• “Brother”: Paul reinforces the idea that one’s identity is as a family member of the body of Christ first so that “in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile.”

• Roman butcher shops: The pagan temples were the place where meat was butchered, sacrificed, and sold. The pagan temple priests received food and income from the animals sacrificed to appease or gain favor from the gods. Thus, much of the meat eaten in Rome had come from animals offered up to pagan gods. This disturbed the conscience of some Christians who didn’t want to promote the pagan cults.

• Meat – good or evil: Paul is stating that the meat itself is neither good nor evil. The problem has to do with one’s conscience and the exercise of one’s freewill to eat meat in a way that may offend a brother or sister who is offended by meat that had been part of a ritual sacrifice to pagan idols.

• People over food: Paul is saying that we may be free to practice certain customs or eat whatever we want, however, if that particular action offends the conscience of another Christian or causes that person to abuse something and sin, we must consider the possibility of avoiding that action when we are with that particular brother or sister. An example would be a dinner in which you were eating with a friend whom you know struggles with alcoholism. Even though you may like a glass of wine, the kind and loving thing may be to drink water instead so that you don’t tempt your friend and perhaps even tempt him/her unintentionally to stumble and drink.

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Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to not “quarrel over opinions”?

2. When was the last time that you quarreled with another believer over “an opinion”? Give an example.

3. Are “quarrels over opinions” good for our relationships? Why or why not?

4. What is causing division in Paul’s day in the church in Rome?

5. In Paul’s day there was division over eating meat that had come from pagan sacrificial rituals in pagan temples. What kinds of things divide us as Christians that may not be of primary or fundamental importance doctrinally?

6. What attitudes or approaches to disagreement over non-essential matters does Paul recommend in this passage?

7. Share examples of ways that you have seen Christians handle disagreements respectfully.

8. Share examples of ways that Christians have handled disagreements over non-essentials in a way that led to division.

9. What are the principles laid out here by Paul for handling quarrels over issues that do not violate a moral law?

10. What does it mean to cause another brother or sister to stumble? To be a stumbling block?

11. Give examples of ways that you have seen Christians be a stumbling block for one another and caused heartache and grief.

12. What is the essential motive for putting others’ first in our actions?

13. What should the church look like when we are made up of people from diverse cultural, family, and historical backgrounds? How are we to behave? Give examples of the ideal.

14. When have you been the “weaker” brother or sister? The “stronger” brother or sister?

15. Ask God to show you if you need to change your behavior so as not to offend or be a stumbling block to another believer.

Awakened by God

Notes for Oct. 11, 2017
Romans 13:8-14

Biblical Background

• Debt: In the Old Testament, there were clear laws governing loans and debts. People were required to pay their debts according to agreements made. As well, God instituted years of jubilee when all debts were forgiven – a foreshadowing of His mercy and grace. Christians, out of their gratitude to God and as a reflection of His grace are called to pay all of their debts.

• The debt of love – In a play on words, Paul is stating the one thing we must always “owe” others is love.

• Love fulfills the Law: Paul is quoting His Lord as Jesus makes this statement in Matthew 22:36-40

• The commandments – Paul is referring to the 10 Commandments which are the core of the Law of the Old Testament. These 10 commandments are elaborated on by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:17-48). Jesus gets to the heart of the commandments which stem out of a love for God and neighbor. While the action of murdering someone is sinful, so is the thought or heart attitude of hate toward another person. The act of adultery is sinful, but so is the thought or fantasy of adultery or lust.

• Love does no harm: Love only builds up others and does not hurt or harm them. It is not passive, however, just not doing harm, but is active in seeking the well-being of another.

• Wake up: Paul is making it clear that we can’t put off living for Christ and loving God and neighbor. Every hour and day counts.

• Put aside deeds of darkness: We are called as Christians to love and obey God. This means we stop sinning and getting caught up in sex outside of marriage, the abuse of alcohol and drugs, jealousy, and all things that are contrary to loving God and neighbor.

• Live as in the daytime: Paul knows the human heart’s tendency toward sin and our attempts to hide it from others and God. Why do you think that many sins and crime take place at night and in hidden places? However, God sees all.

• Don’t think about how to gratify sinful desires: Paul knows that your sinful desires can be fed or starved by how much time and energy you focus on them. Don’t focus on your sinful desires, but instead, clothe yourself with Christ – focus on loving others rather than satisfying yourself.

• Clothe yourself with Christ: Put on the armor of God – all of the fruits of the Spirit and truth of God. (See Ephesians 6:10-18)

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Discussion Questions

1. 1) What kind of financial advice is Paul giving in this passage? (See Romans 13:6-7 for context). 1) What kind of financial advice is Paul giving in this passage? (See Romans 13:6-7 for context).

2. How can we apply this practical financial advice in our world today? What are the dangers of not paying off our debts?

3. What is the “debt of love”? Why is it on ongoing debt?

4. How can we fulfill all of the laws of God? How does love fulfill the law?

5. Who else in Scripture stated that to love your neighbor as yourself was the means of fulfilling the commandments dealing with human beings? Why does Paul repeat this teaching?

6. What does it look like to “do no harm to your neighbor”?

7. What does Paul tell us that we can do today to be intentional about loving our neighbor?

8. What does Paul mean when he states that it’s time to wake up? That our salvation is even nearer than when we first believed? What do these statements spark in you?

9. What does the night/darkness symbolize here? Why do people tend to sin in the dark, behind closed doors, outside of watchful eyes?

10. What sins does Paul list here as sins of darkness? Why is dissension and jealousy in a list with orgies and drunkenness?

11. How can we clothe ourselves with Christ?

12. How can we stop thinking about ways to gratify our sinful nature? List some practical ways to do this and to help one another do this?

13. What are some practical changes that I can make today, this week, to put on the armor of light, behave decently, do no harm to my neighbor (family, colleagues, friends, enemies) and love them?

14. What are some “take-aways” from this week’s Scripture passage?

God’s Servants in Government

Notes for Oct. 8, 2017
Romans 13:1-7

Biblical Background

• Loyalty to the State: Roman/Greek culture preached the importance of being loyal to the ruling power and to the state. In fact, Socrates is said to have stated that he would rather be executed unfairly than to undermine the credibility of the state.

• Jews & Christians in Paul’s day: The Jews and Christians (who were considered to be a sect of Judaism) in Roman times were often accused of not being loyal to the state as they would not bow down to the king. Knowing this, it is clear that Paul is not telling believers to worship the state or Caesar or do anything that would compromise one’s first and primary loyalty to God.

• Nero: The tyrannical Roman Caesar, Nero was ruling during the letter to the Romans, however, the persecution of Christians had not been stoked up yet.

• The sword: The sword was the standard method of execution used in Roman times. It was used on Roman citizens (beheading) as this was seen as a more humane way of taking a life than crucifixion, which was reserved for foreigners.

• List of exhortations: Paul continues to use Greek stylized writing with lists of things to do or not to do.

• Rome’s taxes: Rome levied a tax of 1% on all property across the empire and also a head tax – tax/person. Taxes were used for public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and to run the armies and government.

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Discussion Questions

1. In light of Paul’s teaching on the freedom we have in Christ, how does this idea that we must submit to authority fit?

2. What does it mean to submit to governing authorities? What does this look like when you have a good governing authority? A bad governing authority?

3. What is the ultimate origin of a government’s right to govern? Is it power?

4. What is the relationship between God and government?

5. How is God’s action as a ruler different from early governments?

6. Read Acts 5:27-32. How does this passage fit with Romans 13:1-7?

7. What are the key principles for Christians who are also citizens of the United States or any country for that matter? List them and discuss.

8. Have you ever received a traffic ticket? If so, what was your attitude toward the state trooper or police officer?

9. How would you advise a Christian to act in a country in which there are great injustices being done by the government?

10. How would you practice your faith in a country that banned Christianity?

11. How can you live out in new ways this week, the command to submit to government authorities? What does this look like?

12. What are some appropriate ways to act when we disagree with our government?