WWW Be Right (20)

In one paragraph

This message walked through Romans chapter 1, looking at who Paul was, what the gospel of grace actually means, and what happens to individuals and cultures when they turn away from knowing and thanking God. It was the first session in a twelve-week study of Romans, taught by a member of the congregation as part of a women's Bible study. The aim was to lay a foundation for everything Romans will...

Read together

1. Romans 1:1-2 Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel God promised through the prophets
2. Romans 1:3-4 regarding His Son, descendant of David, appointed Son of God by the resurrection
3. Romans 1:5 through Jesus we received grace and apostleship to call the Gentiles to obedience that comes from faith
4. Romans 1:6-7 Paul writes to those in Rome who are loved by God and called
5. Romans 1:11 Paul longs to see them to impart spiritual gifts and be mutually encouraged by each other's faith
6. Romans 1:16 Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes
7. Romans 1:17 the righteousness of God is revealed by faith from first to last, the righteous live by faith
8. Romans 1:18 the wrath of God is revealed against godlessness and wickedness of those who suppress the truth
9. Romans 1:19-20 what may be known about God is plain because God has made it plain through creation, leaving people without excuse
10. Romans 1:21 although they knew God they neither glorified Him nor gave thanks, their thinking became futile and their hearts were darkened
11. Romans 1:22-23 claiming to be wise they became fools and exchanged the glory of God for images
12. Romans 1:24 God gave them over to sinful desires and sexual impurity
13. Romans 1:25 they exchanged the truth about God for the lie and worshipped created things rather than the Creator
14. Romans 1:26-27 God gave them over to shameful lust, women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, men committed shameful acts with men
15. Romans 1:28 they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God so God gave them over to a depraved mind
16. Romans 1:32 they know God's justice requires death for such things yet do them anyway and encourage others
17. Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar boasted of his great Babylon, was driven to the wilderness to eat grass, and was restored when he gave God the glory
18. 2 Timothy 3:16 referenced indirectly through the BIBLE acronym and the idea of scripture as God-breathed instruction

Talk about it

1. Paul described himself as a slave of Christ whose one wish was to do whatever Jesus commanded. How does that picture of total surrender compare to how you normally think about what it means to be a Christian?
2. Bono described grace as 'love interrupting the consequences of my sin,' and Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned against cheap grace that strips away the demands of following Jesus. How do you personally hold those two things together in your own life?
3. The sermon drew a distinction between obeying God to earn His approval and obeying God because you already have it. Can you think of a time when your motivation for obedience was fear-based rather than coming from a place of knowing you are already forgiven?
4. The sermon pointed to knowing God, glorifying Him, and giving Him thanks as the keys to being right with God and with ourselves. Which of those three feels hardest for you to practice consistently, and why?
5. Five practical steps were offered at the end: making time with the Lord a priority, receiving His grace daily, looking for ways to extend that grace to others, being ready to share your hope, and choosing to keep going no matter what comes. Which of those five feels most urgent for you right now?