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?

Today’s passage: Romans 12:3-8

Helpful thoughts:

• The Bible never tells us to think more highly of ourselves.  It does however tell us to love others and to be humble.
  • This does not mean we are not to be confident.  Humility and “low self-esteem” are not the same thing.  When we know who God is, and we see how He has graciously chosen to use us in His kingdom and for the benefit of the body of Christ, we can serve and love with all confidence and joy.
• God has given us faith (Verse 3) and He has given us gifts to serve (Verse 6).
  • Every member of the church “belongs” to the other members of the church (Verse 5).
  • This is a great reminder for us.  “Church” is a body of believers we all have been equipped to love and serve.  “Church” is not an event to attend.
• There are spiritual gifts listed and there are commands to utilize them with zeal and cheer.  Be encouraged to focus on the doing and the joyful service more than on investigating what gift you have.  You will do the things the Spirit has gifted you to do best as you see needs and start serving others in love.

Questions to consider:

1. How does this passage begin to answer the question of what a living sacrifice and a transforming life looks like from verses 1 & 2?
2. What do you notice about the descriptive words or actions after each listed gifting?  When are our gifts being used or activated?  How should we use them?  What emotions appear to be present in their proper use?
3. In what ways do you think God has used you to love and serve the church?  Don’t just think of “official” church programs…  What about your interactions with people before and after the service, or during the week?  What needs do you see most often and how might you be especially equipped to meet them?

Today’s passage: Romans 12:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

• All of the things we have learned from Romans 1-11 should result in something.  That something is a transformation toward the whole-hearted, whole-life worship of Almighty God.
• This worship is not simply a mental acknowledgement.  What we learn and understand will result in a change, a transformation, in the purpose of our living. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • This transformation does not effect only a portion of our lives (Or one morning out of our week), it changes everything.
• God’s will is good, acceptable (Or pleasing), and perfect.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it only right to want to live a life pleasing to God?  What truths from the first 11 chapters of Romans (Or even simply Romans 11:33-36) encourage you to follow Him?
2. If we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Changing our thinking according to the truth), how would we remain conformed to the world in certain ways?  How do different ways of thinking enter our minds?  Who gives us suggestions on how we should think?  How well do you think you do in running the world’s philosophies through the grid of Scripture…versus running Scripture through the grid of the world’s philosophies?  How would one grow in thinking biblically?
3. If “discerning” God’s will doesn’t mean being able to predict the future (Which it doesn’t), what does it mean?  How does this transformation regarding our thinking impact the way we view the things going on around us every day?  How would the pursuit of God’s will cause us to think more about what we are doing and less about the quality of our circumstances?

Today’s passage: Romans 11:33-36

Helpful thoughts:

• The last three chapters in the book of Romans are some of the hardest in the Bible to wrap our heads around.  Great job working through them and being willing to wrestle with these matters!
• These final verses in chapter 11 remind us of God’s place in everything.  We are His creation and He alone is worthy of all glory!
• The right response to all of the knowledge and understanding obtained from the first eleven chapters in Romans would not be pride.  Our natural response to gaining knowledge that others do not have is to want more and to see ourselves as “above” others.
  • The right response to all the things we have learned is humility.  We see ourselves as even smaller than we thought we were…and see God as even bigger than we thought He was.  And we rest in that truth.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the ways that Paul declares God to be superior to us?  How much superior?  Can we even figure out how much bigger and wiser God is than us?
2. How does our inability to repay God for all He has done give Him still greater glory?  Why would our inability to repay be hard to accept for some (Think…even when we do righteous things after our salvation, those acts are also a result of His grace)?  Why/How does the increase of our understanding and appreciation of His glory give us greater joy?
3. Can you, with the Apostle Paul, say, “Amen” to all of these truths?  Are you resting in God’s complete sovereignty?  Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation?  How does agreeing that all things are from, through, and to God allow you to simply rest with a thankful, “Amen”?