WWW Be Right (14)

In one paragraph

Becca walked the congregation through Romans 11, the chapter that asks whether God has rejected His people Israel. She argued that the answer is plainly no, and that seeing God's faithfulness across all of history is itself the point, because the right response to that faithfulness is worship. Before entering Romans 11, Becca stepped back to lay a foundation in covenant. She traced the thread from...

Read together

1. Genesis 3:15 first mention of Christ in the Bible, the seed that would bruise the serpent's head
2. Genesis 15:5 God promises descendants to Abram
3. Genesis 15:18 the Lord cut a covenant with Abram
4. Galatians 3:16 the seed promised to Abraham refers to one, that is Christ
5. Jeremiah 31:31-33 the promise of a new covenant written on the heart
6. Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus institutes the new covenant at the Last Supper
7. Matthew 27:50-51 Jesus yields up His Spirit and the temple veil is torn in two
8. Hebrews 10:19-20 confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus through the veil that is His flesh
9. Romans 3:19-20 the law closes every mouth and gives knowledge of sin
10. Romans 2:8-9 wrath and tribulation for those who do evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek
11. Romans 11:1 Paul asks whether God has rejected His people and answers no
12. Romans 11:2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew
13. Amos 3:2 God chose Israel alone among all the families of the earth
14. Romans 11:4 God kept 7,000 men who had not bowed the knee to Baal
15. Romans 11:7 those chosen obtained what Israel sought; the rest were hardened
16. Romans 11:11 Israel's transgression brought salvation to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous
17. Romans 11:15 Israel's rejection brought reconciliation to the world; their acceptance will be life from the dead
18. Romans 11:17-24 wild olive branches grafted in among natural branches; warning not to be arrogant
19. Ephesians 2:16 the two peoples became one body
20. Hebrews 12:1 run the race with endurance
21. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith
22. Matthew 24:13 he who endures to the end will be saved
23. John 15:8 the Father is glorified when you bear much fruit and prove to be His disciples
24. John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; apart from me you can do nothing
25. Romans 11:25 partial hardening of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in
26. Romans 11:26-27 all Israel will be saved; the deliverer will come from Zion and take away their sins
27. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Christ appeared last of all to Paul as to one untimely born
28. 1 Timothy 1:16 Paul found mercy as a pattern for those who would believe in Christ for eternal life
29. Zechariah 12:10 God will pour out a spirit of grace and they will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn
30. Zechariah 13:1 a fountain opened for the house of David for sin and impurity
31. Romans 11:30-32 Gentile disobedience, Israel's disobedience, mercy to Gentiles, and mercy coming to Israel; God shut up all in disobedience to show mercy to all
32. Romans 11:33-36 Paul's doxology on the unsearchable wisdom and knowledge of God

Talk about it

1. Becca said that when we truly see who God is and what He has done, our response should be worship rather than just learning facts. What is the difference between studying about God and actually being moved to worship by what you learn?
2. Becca described the covenant God made with Abram as one-sided, with God alone walking between the pieces while Abram slept. What does it mean to you personally that God bound Himself to keep that promise rather than requiring Abram to hold up his end?
3. Becca raised the question of whether our religious practices, going to church, attending Bible study, living a moral life, can become a substitute for a real personal relationship with God. Where do you see that temptation showing up in your own life?
4. Becca quoted John Piper saying that our physical appetites can deaden our spiritual appetites until we lose all desire for God. What are some of the good things in your life that you have noticed crowding out your hunger for God?
5. Becca used the story of Joseph and his brothers to picture the moment when Christ will reveal Himself to Israel and respond with forgiveness rather than judgment. How does that image of forgiveness speak to the way God has dealt with your own disobedience?