Today’s passage: Romans 15:8-13

Helpful thoughts:

• It would be good to read verses 1-7 to regain an understanding of the context of this passage.
• Remembering that the “weak” of chapter 14 were those who wouldn’t eat all meats helps us to understand that those who are weak may very well have been the Jews who had put their faith in Christ.
  • If the Gentiles were the ones who were “strong” in the Roman church and if the Jews were those who were “weak”, the Gentile believers would be called on to use their strength to serve the Jews…And Christ also came to serve the Jews (Verse 8).
  • It would not be right for the Gentile believers to cut the Jews off from their fellowship because of their differing convictions.  As the Old Testament stated, it was God’s will that the Jews and Gentiles would be gathered together to worship.
• In the Roman church, there was a very real representation of the will of God to use the Jewish people to bring salvation to the world (Through Christ) and then using the world (The Gentile believers) to bring Jewish people to Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. The idea of maintaining fellowship with other people who have disagreements and different convictions sure doesn’t sound easy…but why is it better?  Is our goal to surround ourselves with people who think just like us about everything or to be used by God to help others grow?  One of those options looks like the easier path to peace, but it’s a counterfeit peace.  Which of those options produces true joy and peace from the God of all hope?
2. What do we learn about God from this passage?  Are there any promises that God will not fulfill?  What promises of God are dearest to your heart?  What promises of God does this passage call us to engage in?
3. What appears to be the role of the Holy Spirit in this passage?  What will His power urge us toward that will result in an overflow of hope?

Today’s passage: Romans 15:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Our increasing spiritual strength is to be used up for the benefit of others.  The stronger we grow, the more we can love people who aren’t just like us.
• Verse 4 looks like a summary statement of Hebrews 11:1-12:2.
• Christ welcomed us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).  Welcome others as Christ welcomed you.
  • This doesn’t exclude the idea of rebuke for the sake of edification.  We come to Christ as sinners, and then the work of progressive sanctification begins.  (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Questions to consider:

1. Who is the “You” in verse 6?  Does the church exist for individuals to receive personal satisfaction or has God rescued and given individuals to make a collective body who sacrifice for one another to the praise of His glory?  Which of those two options truly satisfies the soul?
2. What are the ways we think about life selfishly?  Whose day is your day?  Whose church is your church? Whose life is your life? We know that we live in a consumer-minded culture…How often do we see the world through consumeristic lenses and not even realize it?
3. How did Christ welcome you?  What is the Gospel?  How does preaching the Gospel to yourself help you stay in the right frame of mind to help other people who also need Christ just like we did?

Today’s passage: Romans 14:13-23

Helpful thoughts:

• There is a major shift in focus in verse 13.  We are to put off thinking of our judgments of others and to put on thinking of how we can encourage them (Or refrain from discouraging them) in their faith.
• The statement that “Nothing is unclean in itself” is written in the context of this passage related to eating different foods.  There are no “unclean” foods.
  • But, if I am convinced that a certain food is unclean, and I eat it, I have sinned.  In violating my conscience, I have chosen to reject God’s authority (Even though my understanding is off).
  • Or, if I know that someone I am dining with is convinced that a certain food is unclean, I would be sinning by eating it in front of them.
    • Paul includes the drinking of wine with this principle in verse 21.
• The overarching principle in this passage is not what we can or cannot get away with eating or drinking…but to love one another.
  • Everything is clean.  But eating and drinking selfishly, or in violation of yours or another’s conscience is not loving.
  • So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Questions to consider:

1. This is a great passage to help us take an honest assessment.  Ask yourself this question:  Am I more prone to think about why others are doing what they are doing, or am I more prone to think about what I can be doing to help others?  What would growth look like according to the Word of God?
2. How does the focus on loving the family of God change our perspective on passages like this?  If I want to argue about eating, or drinking wine, or any other activity that people debate about, and if I am having that argument to justify what I can do (If my attitude is more, “Stop telling me what I can or can’t do. I don’t care what you think”), what am I missing?
3. On the other hand, if my conviction does not line up with the truth of Scripture, what would be the most godly response?  Should I maintain a conviction that goes beyond God’s written revealed will and demand that others do the same?  How would truth and love guide me from that perspective?

Today’s passage: Romans 14:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

• There have been and there will be differences of opinion and conviction for brothers and sisters in Christ.  And though there is “strong” and “weak” faith, and though “eating meat” and “esteeming all days alike” is acceptable and good, we have no authority to judge others or treat them as if they are inferior if they disagree.
• The way this was written, the believer who would hold to a stricter conviction would have the “weak” faith and tend toward being judgmental.  The believer who did not restrict meat or hold one day higher than any other would have the “strong” faith and would tend toward despising (Or looking down on) their brother or sister in Christ.
  • It is interesting to see that both sides, as soon as they start comparing themselves to others, think they are doing better than the other.
• We have a Master and Lord.  We answer to Him.  We are to be fully convinced in our mind and do what we do to be pleasing to Him.

Questions to consider:

1. What are we to be fully convinced in our mind about?  What standard (Or whose standard) are we to concern ourselves with?  How easy is it for the opinions of man to creep into our thinking?  How can the immediate consequences of the expected responses of people impact our decisions and convictions?
2. If people do not have to answer to us as their judge, what is our role in encouraging our brothers and sisters in formulating their convictions?  How can we encourage each other, even when we might come to different conclusions?  What might we expect Paul to address as this passage continues?
3. Why can Christians think about the judgment of God and yet look forward with eager expectation?  What did Christ do for us that allows us to worship Him freely and seek to be pleasing to Him?

Today’s passage: Romans 13:8-14

Helpful thoughts:

• In accordance with the rest of Scripture, verse 8 does not forbid debt of any kind (e.g. Matthew 5:42).  The idea, as is translated in the NIV, is to not let our debt “remain outstanding.”
• The one indebtedness that we remain under is to love one another.  When we are giving of ourselves sacrificially for the benefit of others, we are fulfilling the Law.
• The call to love in verses 8-10 are seen in stark contrast with the warning and challenge of verses 11-14.
  • When we are busy actively pursuing Jesus Christ and loving other people, it’s hard to get caught up in selfish sin.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the illustration of darkness and light (Night and day) correlate with the reality of our conversion, new life in Christ and future glorification?
2. In what way does love take the sting (Or even the annoyance) out of following laws?  When good and right laws feel like a burden to us, what is revealed about our desires?  How does our love for God and for others change our motivation for our actions?
3. Where does our love come from?  What is the context of the love that fuels us to love others (1 John 4:19)?

Today’s passage: Romans 13:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome during the early reign of Nero.  He was a persecutor of the church.
  • The end of verse 1 reinforces government’s divine appointment twice (In case the reader doubts?).
• Ultimately, we are to submit to God. Submitting to the authorities He has provided is submitting to Him.  When those authorities are in sin and punish those who would do good and reward those who are doing evil, we need to wisely consider what is said in Acts 4:18-20.
• There are accounts in history of a tax revolt in Rome near the time of the writing of this letter.  Paul tells the Christians in Rome to pay their taxes.
  • Given the nature of the Roman empire, it would be fairly certain those tax moneys were used to do things that Christians would not want to pay for.  This did not stop Paul (Or Jesus) from telling Christians to pay their taxes to the government (Mark 12:17).

Questions to consider:

1. What kinds of laws can you think of that are obviously good laws to follow (e.g. don’t murder, don’t steal, etc.)?  What kinds of laws might you prefer to be different but are not contradictory to scripture (e.g. speed limits, property taxes, etc.)?  What kinds of laws could there be that a Christian would have to break in order to faithfully obey God?
2. What would be the danger in our political environment of elevating governing preferences to the level of obeying/disobeying God?  For instance, you may have a preference on the issue of universal health care, but is that an issue of disobedience to God?  Why or why not?  What is the danger of jumping into any kind of good vs. evil mindset in a two party political system?
3. Beyond just paying our taxes, what are Christians also to give to our governmental leaders (Verse 7)?  How does remembering what kingdom we belong to first help us to show respect to leaders in this country even when we disagree?  Is there any place for a Christian to mock or publicly ridicule a government leader?

Today’s passage: Romans 12:9-21

Helpful thoughts:

• It would be good to read this passage slowly.  Take time to consider each one of these commands.
• The burning coals on the heads of those who do us wrong are not for our enjoyment…they can be used by God to graciously alert others of their sin and judgment if they do not repent.
  • Our greatest desires for our good works and kindness are to glorify God and see other sinners receive His grace in repentance.
  • Far better for your current “enemies” to become your friends and brothers/sisters in Christ.  This is how God treated us in His love through Christ in the gospel.
• When we see evil in this world, we do not have to be overcome by it.  In fact, we are commanded not to be overcome.  It might be tempting to avoid being overcome by hiding in a “safe” place, but the way to overcome is by proactively doing good. (Verse 21)

Questions to consider:

1. What commands stick out the most to you?  Where would you like to grow first/most?
2. How are these commands tied to each other?  Are there any relationships between one set of commands and another?  How would growing in any one of them help you to grow in others?
3. In what areas of life does this passage call on us to act?  In what areas does this passage call on us to wait, be patient, and/or leave it to God?  How could the consistency of this pattern teach us how we are to interact with and think about other people?