Group Contacts

!!!

The book of Romans has played a key role in my spiritual journey. Throughout my life, God has used the words from the apostle Paul to penetrate my heart, and allow me to understand freedom in Jesus Christ. Every time that I have looked at Romans, I gain a better understanding of grace. Over the last 2 months, I have had the privilege of diving into Romans again. This time it has been in community. It has been a joy to talk and pray through this book with other believers, and I cannot wait to do it again in my Community Group starting this fall.

As you crack open this resource guide, I want you to know that this booklet was a community project. I really appreciate everyone who contributed. I want to thank my friends and family for putting up with the endless conversations about Romans. Thank you, Sonja Warner, for allowing me to bounce ideas off of you and sharing your input. The conversations with everyone have been a joy and I am sure that they will continue in the months ahead. I wish every idea could be included in this guide, but there was simply not enough room.

I especially want to thank Jim Thompson for his gift of being able to convert concepts to paper. His writing abilities are a huge blessing to Arcade. Special thanks also need to go to Mike Rice who helped edit everything, and make things easier to read. I am grateful for Ryan Walton’s creativity, and his part in adding color and graphics to this guide.

As our team explored truth through Romans, we found some helpful resources along the way. Below is a list of a few of them.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Expositions of Romans; Christopher Ash’s series, Teaching Romans; Serendipity Bible published by Zondervan; Millard Erikson’s Christian Theology; Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. We would recommend any of these resources if you wanted to take your study of Romans even deeper.

May you have fun and be stretched as you dive into the great news found in Paul’s letter to Rome.

John Cassidy

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!! Table of Contents

! Week 1: Acts 9:1-22

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus…………….4 !Week 2: Romans 1:1-7

The Gospel of Jesus Christ…………………..7 !Week 3: Romans 1:8-17 Paul’s Heart for the Church in Rome………..10 !Week 4: Romans 1:18-2:16

Condemnation of the Non Jew……………14 !Week 5: Romans 2:17- 3:20

Everyone Stands Condemned Before God…17 !Week 6: Romans Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 Moses and All the Prophets Point to Jesus…20 !Week 7: Romans 3:21-31

Righteousness Through Faith…………….24 !Week 8: Romans 4:1-25

Abraham Justified by Faith………………..27 !Week 9: Psalm 51

The Faith of David…………………………31 !Week 10: Romans 5:1-11

Hope, Peace, and Joy……………………34 Week 11: Romans 5:12-21

Adam versus Jesus……………………….38

Group Contacts

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!!Group Leaders

!!Most people want to meet other people and make friends. Spend the first part of the group time in light fellowship. Providing treats and something to drink is a great way to make people feel comfortable. If you decide to offer refreshments, recruit someone else in your group to coordinate this activity. It’s part of involving everyone in leadership. !The study guide has an added section this time: an “icebreaker” question. Some groups have a good number of gregarious, talkative members, while other groups may have a fair number of reserved people. In either case, an icebreaker can help set the tone for sharing, while helping people warm up to each other. !Most people see the Bible discussion time as the heart of the meeting and this is great. God’s Word is essential to our faith. The discussion guide will help the group understand the text. It is set up to allow almost anyone to lead. All the leader needs to do is read the questions to the group and facilitate discussion, as needed. Let several people try their hand at leading discussion. The group as a whole should take responsibility for ensuring the discussion sticks to the Word and heads in a positive direction. We all share the responsibility for hearing God’s voice in the words He inspired. As you work your way through the resource guide you may find that you will not have enough time to discuss everything. Our value is discussing scripture, not answering all the questions. Feel free to pick and choose the best questions for you group. !Prayer is a key way we support each other in the Lord. Reserve at least 10 to 20 minutes after study to pray. Some groups may spend too much time sharing requests and brainstorming solutions to problems. Remember our goal is to seek God in prayer. !!

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Notes ! !!

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Solutions to problems are better left for the time after the group breaks up, when people can talk personally. But always keep attuned to the Spirit. If people mention some serious issues during the initial fellowship, the group can start out with prayer and leave discussion for later. Some weeks may be devoted more to prayer than study. !Groups sometimes have people who are especially needy. Their problems can often dominate discussion and prayer time. If you notice this is beginning to overwhelm the group’s time together, talk with Pastor John. He can be reached at the church office at 916-972-1617. The church has a lot of resources to help people with serious needs. !Look for opportunities to serve. The easiest and most natural situations are needs within the group. For example, if someone has a fence that needs fixing, recruit volunteers from the group to help out. The church will also alert you to service opportunities in the community. Some people have the gifts of mercy and helps, and they are naturally drawn to helping others. Look for these people in your group. They are the natural ones to lead this ministry area. You may see a need that is too big or too complicated for your group. This is an opportunity for people to learn that the church is bigger than their Community Group. Talk with other CG leaders to see if their groups can partner with you. If you need some special skills or talents, talk with Pastor John and see if he can suggest some partners. !Look for opportunities to invite people to your group. One of the key goals of Community Groups is to be a front door to Arcade. Rather than people entering through a few doors in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, we have 50 doors scattered around the city that people can enter and get to know us. !Praise God with the sweet fellowship of your Community Group!

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Notes ! !!

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Romans !

The book of Romans is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome about 57 AD. He had already completed three missionary journeys to Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and was planning a trip to Spain. Paul wanted to visit the believers in Rome on his trip west, but first he needed to go to Jerusalem to deliver a financial gift, so he conveyed his message to them in a letter. He finally got to Rome about three years later, but as a prisoner. !The first believers in the Roman church were likely Jews who heard the Good News at Pentecost or on subsequent travels to Jerusalem. By the time Paul wrote this letter, the church also had many Gentile believers (Rom 2:17 & 11:11-21). He knew several dozen people in the Roman church (Rom 16:3-16) and especially the Jewish couple, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:2-3). !A half a dozen years earlier, the Jews and most of the Christians had been kicked out of Rome because of rioting in Jewish neighborhoods, caused by controversy about Jesus Christ. From the outset, the Church knew the meaning of opposition. !Unlike Paul’s other letters to churches, he does not overtly address specific behavior or doctrinal problems. Rather he systematically summarizes the Gospel. In these early years, the Church as a whole did not have a generally agreed upon understanding of the Gospel. Believers with Jewish backgrounds saw it in terms of the Law. Many Gentiles looked at it from the perspective of their idol worshipping background. Paul’s description of the Gospel informs both Gentiles and Jews about the fallen nature of man, the redemption bought by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the new life in the Holy Spirit. !He discusses the fundamental theological issues of the Christian faith: sin, guilt, salvation, grace, redemption, righteousness, faith, justification, sanctification, death, and resurrection. He finishes the letter with a succinct description of how we should live, considering the gracious gift of new life God has given us. !3

7. Describe the purpose of the Law, v. 20. See also Romans 7:13. (This verse may also imply that our fallen nature reacts to laws by wanting to break them.) !Find meaning:

1. Does Paul mean that we are all punished because of Adam’s sin, or that Adam caused us to be born with the urge to sin? !

2. How do you feel about Adam’s sin being credited to you? How about Christ’s righteousness being credited to you?

3. The “gift” is mentioned five times. Describe the gift

and how to receive it. !Respond:

1. Does the Gospel message excite you? Why or why not? What could help you to experience its life and vitality even more? !!

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!!!Week 1: Acts 9:1-22

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus !!The first part of the letter to the Romans deals mainly with salvation or how we become righteous in God’s eyes. During Paul’s early life he considered himself to be righteous because of his pedigree and his faultless adherence to the Law (Phil 3:5-6). He was a Jew among Jews. But in Acts 9, we read how Jesus intervened in his life and completely changed his view of salvation and righteousness. He would later write that attempting to be righteous by following the law was “stinking trash” and, in fact, a “loss” (Phil 3:7-9). We start our series with a look at his conversion experience. It describes the genesis of his view of salvation. !Icebreaker: Have several people in your group briefly describe their salvation experience. What is common among the stories? !Observe: Read Acts 9:1-31. Imagine what Paul was thinking during his three days of blindness.

Word definitions Paul uses many words that have specific and important meanings in Christian thought. Each week we will define the important words as we discuss the concepts. !Salvation – Spiritual and physical healing brought by deliverance from sin, death and rejection from God’s presence. !Righteousness – A legal term, meaning morally and spiritually excellent—right and pure.

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Understand: 1. Verses 12 – 14 – the key idea is: ! Verses 15 - 19 consist mainly of comparisons between

Adam’s sin and Christ’s obedience. Identify these comparisons in the table below

Verses 20 – 21 – The key idea is: !2. Summarize what Paul tells us about man’s condition

apart from Christ. !3. What is the one trespass referred to in verse 18? (see

Genesis 3:1-19) !4. What is the one act of righteousness referred to in

verse 18? (See Romans 4:25 and Philippians 2:8) !5. Paul uses the term “one man” nine times in this

passage—six times to describe Adam and three times to describe Christ. Locate all the occurrences of this term in the text. What do you think Paul is emphasizing through the repeated use of this term? !

6. What phrases does Paul use to indicate that Christ’s act of obedience is more than adequate to overcome the effects of Adam’s sin? !

v. 15 v. 17 v.20 !

ADAM’S SIN CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE

VS. 15

VS. 16

VS. 17

VS. 18

VS. 19

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!!Understand:

1. Why do you think God blinded Saul in the presence of witnesses? !

2. How many miracles did God perform in this conversion experience? !

3. Who had great faith in this story? !4. Do you see irony in Paul’s blindness and the way he planned

to enter Damascus, compared to the way he actually entered the city? !Find Meaning:

1. Have you ever had an experience like Ananias, where God asked you to do something that seemed unlikely? How did it turn out? What allowed you to know that God was really speaking to you? !

2. Paul attended the stoning of Stephen, one of the first deacons appointed in the church (Acts 8:1). How might Stephen have affected Paul’s understanding of the Gospel? (If you need more context look at Acts 7.) !

3. What part did Paul play in his own conversion and what part did God play? !

4. What would be Paul’s theology of righteousness and salvation in the weeks after his conversion experience? (You can check your answer by reading Paul’s first recorded sermon in Acts 13, particularly verses 32-41.) !

5. Based on other conversion experiences in Acts (and the stories of group members), can we expect God to be involved in conversion to the extent He was with Paul? !Respond:

1. Virtually every great revival begins with God’s people asking him to bring salvation. As a group, pray for

God to bring a great awakening to our city. !5

Week 11: Romans 5:12-21

Adam versus Jesus !!In the second half of chapter 5, Paul covers a number of theological issues related to sin and justification. He discusses the meaning of original sin, the purpose of the Law, and the free gift of righteousness provided through Jesus Christ. His main focus is on the concept of substitutionary atonement or, more generally, the fact that the actions of a family leader can affect the entire family. We will see this is bad news for mankind, because of what Adam did, and good news for us because of Christ’s actions on our behalf. This idea can seem a bit jarring to us, because we tend to emphasize our individuality. However, most cultures place much more importance on tribe and family, and this idea is quite familiar to most people. !Adam represents us in a number of ways. He, of course, is the first of our kind and, in fact, his name means “mankind” in Hebrew. By selecting him, Paul also emphasizes that sin and redemption are not just Jewish issues. Jews and Gentiles are in the same boat on this one. Icebreaker: How far back can you trace your family tree? Any famous (or infamous) branches? !Observe: Like the first part of the chapter, Paul seems to wander a bit. After we read, we’ll map out his ideas. Read Romans 5:12-21.

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Notes !!!

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Notes ! !!

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!!!Week 2: Romans 1:1-7

The Gospel of Jesus Christ !!

Paul begins his letter by identifying himself and then dictates a long sentence describing the Gospel. He leads with theology! !Icebreaker: Do you think web-based communication (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) is causing us to lose the ability to communicate effectively in writing, as well as in direct conversation? !Observe: Read Romans 1:1-7. Think about the overall message and don’t get stuck on the details.

Word definitions !Gospel – From the Anglo Saxon word ‘godspell’, meaning both good story and God’s story. !Servant – A slave. In Paul’s time, freedom and independence were highly prized. It would be unusual for someone to willingly refer to himself as a servant or a slave. !Apostle - A messenger or representative sent out with a purpose. !Saints - People who are set apart or holy. It does not refer primarily to moral behavior, but rather to the fact that believers belong to God and are set apart to Him. !Grace – God’s unearned gift to humanity. These include the gift of eternal life given by His Son and the daily ability to live a Christian life.

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3. Why can believers rejoice in the midst of suffering? (vv 3-5; see also James 1:2-4) !

4. Which verse in this passage is the most encouraging to you. Explain. !

5. Is your hope for the future really in the glory of God or something else? How does this affect your joy? !!Respond:

1. How could you apply what this passage tells you about God’s relationship with you to your relationship with other people? !

2. Is your hope for the future really in the glory of God or something else? How does this affect your joy?

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!Understand:

1. Why do you think Paul started his letter with a description of the Gospel? Is this like the art on the front of a Christmas card, or the subject line of a memo? Or is it intended to be his resume? !

2. What do you learn about Jesus Christ in this section? !3. What does Paul choose to tell the Roman church about

himself? !4. What are the results of the Gospel in Paul’s life and in the

Roman saints? !Find meaning:

1. Write out Paul’s summary of the Gospel in as few words as possible and do not use any of the terms listed above or in the definitions listed in the first week’s section. !

2. Is this description of the Gospel different from his first sermon in Acts 13:32-41? What might account for the differences? !

3. In verse 5, Paul writes that obedience comes from faith. Who or what do we obey? How does faith produce obedience? !

4. Paul uses the word “call” or “called” four times in this section. Who “calls” and what are the “called” people to be and do? Did you include this idea in your summary of the Gospel? !Respond:

1. Discuss how we can most effectively share the Gospel with the people we live and work with. Start by putting it into a story a third grade child would understand. !! !

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2. What do you observe about the results of justification by faith and by Christ’s blood? !

3. What terms does Paul use to describe our condition prior to salvation in the following verses? Compare this with our position after we have been justified as summarized in the outline above. !

Vs. 6 Vs. 8 Vs. 10 !

4. What part does each person of the Trinity play in our justification? !

God (Father) !Jesus (son) Notice the number of times the

phrase ‘through Christ’ is used. !Holy Spirit !

5. Use the following verses to define the “hope of glory of God” that Paul refers to in vs. 2? !

Romans 8:16-19, 23 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 2 Corinthians 3:18 Philippians 3:21 !

Find meaning: 1. How is God’s love for us so amazingly different than any human love? (vv 6-8) ! 2. What do God’s past actions on our behalf tell us about our future? !

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Notes ! !!

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Week 10: Romans 5:1-11 Hope, Peace, and Joy !!!

In this section, Paul moves from the source of and means of justification to its effect on our lives. God heals our broken relationship with him and we truly have a new perspective on life now and in the future. This is the definition of a game changer! !Icebreaker: What is your favorite way to spend a free extended weekend? !Observe: Read Romans 5:1-11. This is a difficult passage to grasp because of the extra emphasis Paul adds to some of the benefits of justification. See if you can determine his main points.

!Understand:

1. Paul’s thoughts in this passage can be organized as follows (please fill in the points):

a. Since we have been justified by faith we (vs1-5): i. vs.1 have peace with God ii.vs. 2 iii.vs. 2 iv.vs. 3 rejoice in suffering, knowing that

• vs. 3 suffering produces perseverance • vs. 4 • vs. 4 • vs. 4

v. vs. 5 b. Description of God’s love for us (vs. 6-8) c. Since we have been justified by his blood we (vs 9-11):

i. vs. 9 are saved from God’s wrath ii. vs. 11 have received reconciliation with God

Word definitions !Reconciled – put an end to the hostility between man and God.

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Week 3: Romans 1:8-17 Paul’s Heart for the Church in Rome !!!

After Paul starts his letter with a summary of the Gospel, he gets personal and describes his desire to strengthen the believers in Rome. Those with a more discerning view of human relationships may see hints of the weaknesses in the Roman church that Paul will address in his letter. !Icebreaker: Have you ever had to write a letter to someone you did not know and ask for a favor? How did it turn out? !Observe: Read the entire introductory section of the letter, Rom1:1-17, as if you were sitting in a meeting hall in Rome, hearing it read for the first time. What is your first impression of this man who persecuted believers, but later became one of their most well known champions? !Understand:

1. What does Paul thank God for? !2. What does Paul pray for? !3. Why does Paul want to visit the saints in Rome? Do you

suspect the saints in Rome are not acting like they are holy? !4. List the reasons why Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel. !

Find Meaning: 1. Based on this first part of Paul’s letter, would you want to

continue listening to him? !2. What do you learn about Paul? Mark the word ‘I’ each time

it appears in the text. Noting repeated words and ideas is a key to understanding a passage. It gives you clues about what is important to the author. !

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Notes ! !!

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3. Paul writes that the faith of the Roman church is being reported all over the world (1:8). What might have been so famous about their faith? (It probably was not their orthodox understanding of the Gospel, or he would not have spent the majority of his letter on the subject. You will get clues from the list of people he greets in 16:3-16 and his final comments after that.) What does this tell you about the nature of true faith in God? !

4. How is righteousness revealed by faith? (Whose faith? Faith in whom? To whom is it revealed?) !Respond:

1. Ask God to show you opportunities where you can be less inhibited about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. !

2. Who can you meet with on a regular basis so that you can encourage each other in the faith?

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Find Meaning: 1. The flow of thought in Romans is: 1) all have sinned,

2) faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection brings righteousness, 3) God gives us eternal life and new life now through the Holy Spirit, and 4) therefore, we are now free to live like a child of God. Describe David’s flow of thought in Psalm 51. Is it similar to Paul’s flow of thought in Romans? What does this say about the relationship between man and God in the Old versus the New Testament? !

2. Hyssop was used for applying blood to the door posts in the Passover (Ex 12:21-22) and for applying blood for ceremonial cleansing from disease (Lev 14:3-7. Does this foreshadow something in the Gospel? (David was also a prophet!) !

3. As a youth, David had been chosen by God, yet he wrote Psalm 51. What does this say about sin in the life of believers? !

4. How does David describe God’s ongoing work in the life of His children? What is David’s part in this? !

5. How would you translate verses 18 and 19 in New Testament terms? (If you get stumped on this one, read Matt 6:9-13.) !Respond:

1. Close your discussion this week with a time of praise for all that God has done in your life.

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Notes !!!

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Week 9: Psalm 51 The Faith of David !!!!!

Abraham’s faith is the main subject of Romans 4. He is the premiere example of an Old Covenant believer who understood that righteousness is not something we achieve. He knew he was considered righteous only when he had confidence in God’s ability to save him. But he was not the only one who understood this. Remember last summer when we read in Numbers that only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go into the Promised Land, because they believed God could defeat the Canaanites. Paul also quotes David in Psalm 32 as one who knew this. This week, we will read Psalm 51, David’s other main song of repentance, where he seeks God after Nathan the prophet confronts him for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband. !Icebreaker: Did you ever misbehave in school and get caught? What happened? !Observe: David was a warrior, a man of action. Keep this in mind as you read Psalm 51. This song is well suited to being read antiphonally, i.e., have one-half of the group read the odd verses and the other half read the even verses. !Understand:

1. What could David do to warrant God’s forgiveness? !2. How does he describe the true nature and effects of sin in

verses 3 – 12? !3. What words does he use to describe the basis for God

forgiving him? !4. Although David can do nothing to deserve God’s forgiveness,

he does say he will take action. What will he do?

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!!A Comment on Natural Revelation

and General Revelation !!Paul makes the claim in Romans 1:19-20 “…since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” We call this natural revelation; in other words, God is revealed in the attributes of the world He created. In Paul’s time, this was a convincing argument, because nearly everyone believed that a god created the world. The discussion was about which god was creator. Today, some people believe our world and life evolved from a disorganized mass. They have no need for a god. !However, Paul’s argument for God revealing himself in His creation still seems to have credence today. Even the popular TV shows about nature are riddled with comments about evolution that describe nature with words like beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and even miraculous. At a heart level, people still see the world has a quality beyond what an uncaring mechanical process can instill. !Natural revelation is part of the concept of general revelation that also includes God’s work in the history of humankind. An example of this is that His chosen people, the Jews, have survived, as He promised, in spite of a continuous onslaught of oppression. They have been persecuted by Egyptian pharaohs, Babylonian kings, Roman emperors, the medieval church, Russian czars, Hitler, and Muslim zealots, and yet they still exist as a small but cohesive people. !Another aspect of God’s hand in history is seen in the ways He has used the Church to bring about peace. Admittedly the Church has had its share of failings in this area, but think about what our world would be like if Jesus had not sent his Spirit to empower the Church. For starters, consider the involvement of Christians in the women’s suffrage movement in the US, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the downfall of the Medellin drug lords, as well as the more commonly known charitable and educational institutions begun by Christians. What would our world be like if

God had not worked through His people to demonstrate His love for creation?

Notes ! !!

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!!!Week 4: Romans 1:18-2:16

Condemnation of the Non Jew !!Paul now begins a systematic argument to demonstrate that all of us have been hopelessly separated from our Creator. The reprobate and the moralist, the Jew and the Gentile are all in danger of eternal death. !One caution: It is very easy to read Rom 1:18-32 and envision all the people who have hurt you or are different from you and say,” I knew it, God is going to fry them.” God specifically tells us it is not our job to decide who makes it into heaven (i.e., in the parable of the wheat and the tares, Matt 13:24-30). Paul wants each reader to apply his comments to himself, not to others. !Icebreaker: What was your family’s view of drinking alcohol when you were a kid? What is your view now? !Observe: Read Romans 1:18 – 2:16. Think about how this passage applies to you before you were a believer. !Understand:

1. Why and how do people suppress the truth that is revealed to them? !

2. What are the effects of suppressing the truth? !3. What type of person is Paul addressing in 2:1-16? !4. Does Paul really expect people to be declared righteous in

God’s sight, because of their right behavior? Explain. !Find Meaning:

1. What is the relationship between verse 1:17 and the next section 1:18-32? !

2. Does God restrain people’s behavior? If you answer yes, how does He restrain people who do not overtly recognize Him? !

3. Describe Paul’s view of the human conscience. ! 14

Find meaning: 1. The concept of ‘righteous by faith, not by works’ sets

Christianity apart from all other religions. Why is this a big deal? !

2. When have you trusted in God’s promises and seen them fulfilled? What promises are you trusting God for today? !

3. What is the difference between trusting God for something and asking Him for something? !4. Abraham’s faith challenge is described in verses 18-22.

When is it hard for you to trust God? !5. What helps you trust God in difficult circumstances? !

Respond: 1. Who was your spiritual parent, the one who led you to Christ

or helped you grow in your understanding of grace? What are you doing now to be someone else’s spiritual parent?

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4. List the behaviors of immoral people in 1:18-32. Next to each behavior, write the opposite righteous behavior. Do you always do what you’re supposed to do?

!5. What is the key characteristic of people described in 2:1-16? What

are the differences between the people described in 1:18-32, especially verse 32, and those described in 2:1-16? What are the similarities? !

6. How can we, as Christians, not condemn unbelievers who do not follow God’s commands for right behavior, yet stand for right living? Do we take a different approach for fellow believers who do not follow God’s commands? !Respond:

1. One of the best ways to learn to not judge people is to get to know them. Ask God to show you and your Community Group ways you

can rub shoulders with unbelievers. ! !!!

SHOUD NOT DO SHOULD DO SHOUD NOT DO SHOULD DO

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Understand: 1. The Jews in Rome were very familiar with Abraham and the

promises God made to him. In order for us to understand better, look up the following verses and record God’s promises to Abraham and his response to the promises. Does James’ discussion about “faith without works is dead” fit Abraham’s situation? !

Genesis 12:1-4 ! Genesis 15:1-6 ! Genesis 17:1-8 (The remainder of the chapter describes

circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham.) !2. In the following texts, what arguments does Paul use to show

that Abraham was justified by faith? ! 4:3-5 ! 4:9-12 ! 4:13-15 !3. Why is it so important for Paul to demonstrate that Abraham

was justified by faith? !4. Paul speaks of Abraham as father. Whose father did the Jews

consider him to be? Whose father is he? (vv. 11-12, 16-17) !5. What does this tell us about the recipients of God’s promise

to Abraham? (13-16) !!!!

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Notes ! !!

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Week 8: Romans 4:1-25 Abraham Justified by Faith !!

This chapter is a case study in justification by faith. In the last chapter, Paul is clear that, apart from Jesus, “no one is righteous,” “no one understands,” and “no one seeks God.” But what about Abraham, the very father of the Jews? They believed that he was credited as righteous because he obeyed God. They believed that he kept the Law perfectly, even though the Law was given through Moses several hundred years later (Galatians 3:17). In this passage Paul gives a scriptural and a logical argument that salvation only comes by grace through faith. Even Abraham was justified by faith and we will see he is actually the father of all believers, not just Jews. !Icebreaker: How old were you when you first started earning a wage? What did you do? !Observe: Read Romans 4:1-25. The detailed arguments show Paul’s’ training as a religious scholar. Closely follow his line of reasoning.

Word definitions !Credited (NIV), counted (ESV) – A term from the market place meaning ‘to put into someone’s account’. !Faith – In the New Testament, the word we translate as ‘faith’ conveys two basic ideas. It means to believe what someone says is true and it means to personally trust in someone. Although it is often portrayed as a human response to God, faith is a gift from God. Synonyms are: trust, belief, confidence, conviction. !Transgression - (NIV), lawless deed (ESV) – a violation of the law.

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Week 5: Romans 2:17- 3:20 Everyone Stands Condemned Before God ���

Having aimed his finger at people who follow no laws and people who condemn those who follow no laws, Paul now points at the Jew. At the conclusion of this section, no one will be able to hold his head high before the presence of God and say he is innocent. No one! �Icebreaker: How do you feel about people who break the speed limit? Do you always follow it? �Observe: Read Romans 2:17 – 3:20 and imagine what people in the Roman church are thinking after hearing this. �Understand:

1. What does a Jew think about his non-observant neighbor and how does this trap the Jew? �

2. What type of circumcision does God value? �3. Describe what Paul says about people’s thoughts, direction in

life, words and actions in 2:9-18. �4. What is the purpose of the Law? ��

Find Meaning: 1. God describes the purpose of circumcision in Gen 17:9-14.

How was the practice of circumcision being misunderstood by the Jews? �

2. In 3:3-8, Paul responds to arguments he expects will arise from his comments in the previous verses. What do these arguments tell you about some of the people in the Roman church? �

3. How does Paul’s view of mankind compare with that of most people? How do you explain the differences? ���17

Notes � ��

26

4. Paul was an experienced and effective speaker. What was he expecting his audience to feel after 3:20? Does this approach work with people in our culture? Are there other approaches we can use to convince people of their position before God and the unsurpassing value of the Gospel? !

5. How does this section make you feel about yourself? !Respond:

1. Frankly, this section is a clear reminder that we all sin. This is a key concept that grounds us in the importance of what God does in the life of his children. Ask if anyone would like to confess a sin that has been pestering them. Hearing friends tell us that our sins have been forgiven is a powerful tool for healing. Recite the Lord’s Prayer as you close.

18

Understand: 1. According to vv 21-31, where do righteousness and

justification come from? How are they obtained? Who receives them? !

2. What does the phrase, “there is no difference,” tell us about the Gospel? (v.22) !

3. How does the death of Jesus demonstrate God’s justice? (vv. 25-26) !

4. How does the principle of justification by faith “up hold the Law”? (v.31) !Find meaning:

1. People sometimes use the expression ‘blind faith’. Is faith in Christ a blind faith? !

2. Why couldn’t (or didn’t) God simply declare people righteous without the need for Christ to be put to death? !

3. Verse 25 tells us that in the time before Christ, God exercised forbearance by temporally withholding punishment for sin. Is God doing the same thing today? What will be the eventual outcome? Explain. !

4. Do you ever try to gain God’s favor through performance? Explain. !

5. The crux of the Gospel is described in verses 22-25a. Put this section in your own words, without using any of the words in the definition box. !Respond:

1. What impact are verses 22-25 having on your life right now? !

25

Notes ! !!

Week 7: Romans 3:21-31 Righteousness Through Faith !!

This passage concludes the portion of the letter (1:18-3:20) in which Paul makes the point that all men, Jew and Gentile alike, are sinful and deserving of God’s condemnation. This point is essential to the message of Romans. We need to understand our guilt in the eyes of a holy God. But Paul does not leave us in desperation. He goes on to describe how God graciously sent his Son to repair our relationship with him. This section changed the lives of Martin Luther and John Wesley and the world has never been the same. !Icebreaker: As a child, who were your heroes, whether fictional or real? Why did you want to be like them? !Observe: In this section, Paul used concepts from the legal system, the slave trade, and the temple sacrifices to describe the work of Christ. They are key ideas in Christian theology and need to be carefully understood to grasp the exact nature of what Christ has done for us. Please read the definitions before reading the passage.

Word definitions !Faith in Christ – Complete trust or confidence in Christ and what He accomplished. Fall short of the glory of God – Mankind fell short of what God intended him to be, the glory he had before the fall. Justified – Declared righteous or not guilty because the penalty for a crime has been paid in full. Law and the Prophets – The complete Old Testament Redemption – Release by payment of a ransom. A term used in the slave market and the legal system. Sacrifice of atonement (NIV), propitiation (KJV, NASB, ESV) and expiation (RSV) – This phrase relates to the temple sacrifices made for sin. An animal was killed to cover sin (atone), to remove a person’s guilt (expiate), and to satisfy God’s justice (propitiate).

19 24

Week 6: Romans 3:21; Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

Moses and all the Prophets Point to Jesus !!This is our 6th week together. We are half-way through our study. Do you remember how Paul starts the book of Romans? He writes in Romans 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures…” In the very beginning of his text, Paul claims that God promised the Gospel in the Old Testament. In Romans 3:21, he says the exact same thing. !The Old Testament reveals that this was God’s original plan. Jesus confirmed this to His disciples in Luke 24:27, “…beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” From the very beginning (Gen 3:15), the Father planned on sending His son Jesus to die on our behalf, so that through faith, all humankind can be made right before a holy God. !There are 60 major prophesies about the Christ that were fulfilled in Jesus. There are an additional 270 events that point to Jesus’ life and ministry. (Josh McDowell, Beyond Belief to Convictions p.67). This week we will look a few of the Old Testament scriptures that describe the Gospel and show it has always been God’s plan. !Icebreaker: In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle that keeps people from believing God? !Observe: Read Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12. This is the longest of the four servant songs in Isaiah and was written about 700 years before Christ’s birth. Notice it is divided into five stanzas with three verses each. Think about the ways this song predicts the life of our Savior.

Notes ! !!

2023

Find meaning: 1. Use this passage from Isaiah to describe the Gospel. Does it

leave out any essential points of the Gospel? !2. What does fulfilled prophecy reveal about God and the Bible? !3. Jesus said a servant is not above his master, basically

meaning we will be treated like our Savior was treated. In what ways does this passage discourage you and encourage you? How does it affect your outlook on life? !Respond:

1. Clearly God has only had one plan for us. He wants us to be part of his family and He sent His Son to accomplish this. When everyone whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life has entered his family, Jesus will return and bring a new heaven and earth. How is the Gospel message central in your thinking and in your life? !

a. At work? ! b. In your home? ! c. In your leisure time? !2. Describe an area of your life that needs more Gospel

influence? !3. Is there an area in your life that is contrary to the Gospel and

needs to be removed? Explain.

Understand: 1. Use the following table to write out how Jesus fulfilled each verse

of Isaiah 52 & 53. Use a study Bible to find specific Gospel references to each verse.

2. Read the following additional prophesies concerning Jesus. What is the probability that all of these events could happen in just one person? !

Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:21-25 Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15 Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5 Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:7 Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24 Zachariah 12:10; John 19:34 !!!!

52:13

52:14

52:15

53.1

53.2

53.3

53.4

53.5

53.6

53.7

53.8

53.9

53.10

53.11

21 22

Find meaning: 1. Use this passage from Isaiah to describe the Gospel. Does it

leave out any essential points of the Gospel? !2. What does fulfilled prophecy reveal about God and the Bible? !3. Jesus said a servant is not above his master, basically

meaning we will be treated like our Savior was treated. In what ways does this passage discourage you and encourage you? How does it affect your outlook on life? !Respond:

1. Clearly God has only had one plan for us. He wants us to be part of his family and He sent His Son to accomplish this. When everyone whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life has entered his family, Jesus will return and bring a new heaven and earth. How is the Gospel message central in your thinking and in your life? !

a. At work? ! b. In your home? ! c. In your leisure time? !2. Describe an area of your life that needs more Gospel

influence? !3. Is there an area in your life that is contrary to the Gospel and

needs to be removed? Explain.

Understand: 1. Use the following table to write out how Jesus fulfilled each verse

of Isaiah 52 & 53. Use a study Bible to find specific Gospel references to each verse.

2. Read the following additional prophesies concerning Jesus. What is the probability that all of these events could happen in just one person? !

Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:21-25 Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15 Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5 Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:7 Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24 Zachariah 12:10; John 19:34 !!!!

52:13

52:14

52:15

53.1

53.2

53.3

53.4

53.5

53.6

53.7

53.8

53.9

53.10

53.11

21 22

Week 6: Romans 3:21; Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

Moses and all the Prophets Point to Jesus !!This is our 6th week together. We are half-way through our study. Do you remember how Paul starts the book of Romans? He writes in Romans 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures…” In the very beginning of his text, Paul claims that God promised the Gospel in the Old Testament. In Romans 3:21, he says the exact same thing. !The Old Testament reveals that this was God’s original plan. Jesus confirmed this to His disciples in Luke 24:27, “…beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” From the very beginning (Gen 3:15), the Father planned on sending His son Jesus to die on our behalf, so that through faith, all humankind can be made right before a holy God. !There are 60 major prophesies about the Christ that were fulfilled in Jesus. There are an additional 270 events that point to Jesus’ life and ministry. (Josh McDowell, Beyond Belief to Convictions p.67). This week we will look a few of the Old Testament scriptures that describe the Gospel and show it has always been God’s plan. !Icebreaker: In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle that keeps people from believing God? !Observe: Read Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12. This is the longest of the four servant songs in Isaiah and was written about 700 years before Christ’s birth. Notice it is divided into five stanzas with three verses each. Think about the ways this song predicts the life of our Savior.

Notes ! !!

2023

Notes ! !!

Week 7: Romans 3:21-31 Righteousness Through Faith !!

This passage concludes the portion of the letter (1:18-3:20) in which Paul makes the point that all men, Jew and Gentile alike, are sinful and deserving of God’s condemnation. This point is essential to the message of Romans. We need to understand our guilt in the eyes of a holy God. But Paul does not leave us in desperation. He goes on to describe how God graciously sent his Son to repair our relationship with him. This section changed the lives of Martin Luther and John Wesley and the world has never been the same. !Icebreaker: As a child, who were your heroes, whether fictional or real? Why did you want to be like them? !Observe: In this section, Paul used concepts from the legal system, the slave trade, and the temple sacrifices to describe the work of Christ. They are key ideas in Christian theology and need to be carefully understood to grasp the exact nature of what Christ has done for us. Please read the definitions before reading the passage.

Word definitions !Faith in Christ – Complete trust or confidence in Christ and what He accomplished. Fall short of the glory of God – Mankind fell short of what God intended him to be, the glory he had before the fall. Justified – Declared righteous or not guilty because the penalty for a crime has been paid in full. Law and the Prophets – The complete Old Testament Redemption – Release by payment of a ransom. A term used in the slave market and the legal system. Sacrifice of atonement (NIV), propitiation (KJV, NASB, ESV) and expiation (RSV) – This phrase relates to the temple sacrifices made for sin. An animal was killed to cover sin (atone), to remove a person’s guilt (expiate), and to satisfy God’s justice (propitiate).

19 24

4. Paul was an experienced and effective speaker. What was he expecting his audience to feel after 3:20? Does this approach work with people in our culture? Are there other approaches we can use to convince people of their position before God and the unsurpassing value of the Gospel? !

5. How does this section make you feel about yourself? !Respond:

1. Frankly, this section is a clear reminder that we all sin. This is a key concept that grounds us in the importance of what God does in the life of his children. Ask if anyone would like to confess a sin that has been pestering them. Hearing friends tell us that our sins have been forgiven is a powerful tool for healing. Recite the Lord’s Prayer as you close.

18

Understand: 1. According to vv 21-31, where do righteousness and

justification come from? How are they obtained? Who receives them? !

2. What does the phrase, “there is no difference,” tell us about the Gospel? (v.22) !

3. How does the death of Jesus demonstrate God’s justice? (vv. 25-26) !

4. How does the principle of justification by faith “up hold the Law”? (v.31) !Find meaning:

1. People sometimes use the expression ‘blind faith’. Is faith in Christ a blind faith? !

2. Why couldn’t (or didn’t) God simply declare people righteous without the need for Christ to be put to death? !

3. Verse 25 tells us that in the time before Christ, God exercised forbearance by temporally withholding punishment for sin. Is God doing the same thing today? What will be the eventual outcome? Explain. !

4. Do you ever try to gain God’s favor through performance? Explain. !

5. The crux of the Gospel is described in verses 22-25a. Put this section in your own words, without using any of the words in the definition box. !Respond:

1. What impact are verses 22-25 having on your life right now? !

25

Week 5: Romans 2:17- 3:20 Everyone Stands Condemned Before God !!!

Having aimed his finger at people who follow no laws and people who condemn those who follow no laws, Paul now points at the Jew. At the conclusion of this section, no one will be able to hold his head high before the presence of God and say he is innocent. No one! !Icebreaker: How do you feel about people who break the speed limit? Do you always follow it? !Observe: Read Romans 2:17 – 3:20 and imagine what people in the Roman church are thinking after hearing this. !Understand:

1. What does a Jew think about his non-observant neighbor and how does this trap the Jew? !

2. What type of circumcision does God value? !3. Describe what Paul says about people’s thoughts, direction in

life, words and actions in 2:9-18. !4. What is the purpose of the Law? !!

Find Meaning: 1. God describes the purpose of circumcision in Gen 17:9-14.

How was the practice of circumcision being misunderstood by the Jews? !

2. In 3:3-8, Paul responds to arguments he expects will arise from his comments in the previous verses. What do these arguments tell you about some of the people in the Roman church? !

3. How does Paul’s view of mankind compare with that of most people? How do you explain the differences? !!!17

Notes ! !!

26

Notes ! !!

16

Week 8: Romans 4:1-25 Abraham Justified by Faith !!

This chapter is a case study in justification by faith. In the last chapter, Paul is clear that, apart from Jesus, “no one is righteous,” “no one understands,” and “no one seeks God.” But what about Abraham, the very father of the Jews? They believed that he was credited as righteous because he obeyed God. They believed that he kept the Law perfectly, even though the Law was given through Moses several hundred years later (Galatians 3:17). In this passage Paul gives a scriptural and a logical argument that salvation only comes by grace through faith. Even Abraham was justified by faith and we will see he is actually the father of all believers, not just Jews. !Icebreaker: How old were you when you first started earning a wage? What did you do? !Observe: Read Romans 4:1-25. The detailed arguments show Paul’s’ training as a religious scholar. Closely follow his line of reasoning.

Word definitions !Credited (NIV), counted (ESV) – A term from the market place meaning ‘to put into someone’s account’. !Faith – In the New Testament, the word we translate as ‘faith’ conveys two basic ideas. It means to believe what someone says is true and it means to personally trust in someone. Although it is often portrayed as a human response to God, faith is a gift from God. Synonyms are: trust, belief, confidence, conviction. !Transgression - (NIV), lawless deed (ESV) – a violation of the law.

27

4. List the behaviors of immoral people in 1:18-32. Next to each behavior, write the opposite righteous behavior. Do you always do what you’re supposed to do?

!5. What is the key characteristic of people described in 2:1-16? What

are the differences between the people described in 1:18-32, especially verse 32, and those described in 2:1-16? What are the similarities? !

6. How can we, as Christians, not condemn unbelievers who do not follow God’s commands for right behavior, yet stand for right living? Do we take a different approach for fellow believers who do not follow God’s commands? !Respond:

1. One of the best ways to learn to not judge people is to get to know them. Ask God to show you and your Community Group ways you

can rub shoulders with unbelievers. ! !!!

SHOUD NOT DO SHOULD DO SHOUD NOT DO SHOULD DO

15

Understand: 1. The Jews in Rome were very familiar with Abraham and the

promises God made to him. In order for us to understand better, look up the following verses and record God’s promises to Abraham and his response to the promises. Does James’ discussion about “faith without works is dead” fit Abraham’s situation? !

Genesis 12:1-4 ! Genesis 15:1-6 ! Genesis 17:1-8 (The remainder of the chapter describes

circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham.) !2. In the following texts, what arguments does Paul use to show

that Abraham was justified by faith? ! 4:3-5 ! 4:9-12 ! 4:13-15 !3. Why is it so important for Paul to demonstrate that Abraham

was justified by faith? !4. Paul speaks of Abraham as father. Whose father did the Jews

consider him to be? Whose father is he? (vv. 11-12, 16-17) !5. What does this tell us about the recipients of God’s promise

to Abraham? (13-16) !!!!

28

!!!Week 4: Romans 1:18-2:16

Condemnation of the Non Jew !!Paul now begins a systematic argument to demonstrate that all of us have been hopelessly separated from our Creator. The reprobate and the moralist, the Jew and the Gentile are all in danger of eternal death. !One caution: It is very easy to read Rom 1:18-32 and envision all the people who have hurt you or are different from you and say,” I knew it, God is going to fry them.” God specifically tells us it is not our job to decide who makes it into heaven (i.e., in the parable of the wheat and the tares, Matt 13:24-30). Paul wants each reader to apply his comments to himself, not to others. !Icebreaker: What was your family’s view of drinking alcohol when you were a kid? What is your view now? !Observe: Read Romans 1:18 – 2:16. Think about how this passage applies to you before you were a believer. !Understand:

1. Why and how do people suppress the truth that is revealed to them? !

2. What are the effects of suppressing the truth? !3. What type of person is Paul addressing in 2:1-16? !4. Does Paul really expect people to be declared righteous in

God’s sight, because of their right behavior? Explain. !Find Meaning:

1. What is the relationship between verse 1:17 and the next section 1:18-32? !

2. Does God restrain people’s behavior? If you answer yes, how does He restrain people who do not overtly recognize Him? !

3. Describe Paul’s view of the human conscience. ! 14

Find meaning: 1. The concept of ‘righteous by faith, not by works’ sets

Christianity apart from all other religions. Why is this a big deal? !

2. When have you trusted in God’s promises and seen them fulfilled? What promises are you trusting God for today? !

3. What is the difference between trusting God for something and asking Him for something? !4. Abraham’s faith challenge is described in verses 18-22.

When is it hard for you to trust God? !5. What helps you trust God in difficult circumstances? !

Respond: 1. Who was your spiritual parent, the one who led you to Christ

or helped you grow in your understanding of grace? What are you doing now to be someone else’s spiritual parent?

29

!!A Comment on Natural Revelation

and General Revelation !!Paul makes the claim in Romans 1:19-20 “…since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” We call this natural revelation; in other words, God is revealed in the attributes of the world He created. In Paul’s time, this was a convincing argument, because nearly everyone believed that a god created the world. The discussion was about which god was creator. Today, some people believe our world and life evolved from a disorganized mass. They have no need for a god. !However, Paul’s argument for God revealing himself in His creation still seems to have credence today. Even the popular TV shows about nature are riddled with comments about evolution that describe nature with words like beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and even miraculous. At a heart level, people still see the world has a quality beyond what an uncaring mechanical process can instill. !Natural revelation is part of the concept of general revelation that also includes God’s work in the history of humankind. An example of this is that His chosen people, the Jews, have survived, as He promised, in spite of a continuous onslaught of oppression. They have been persecuted by Egyptian pharaohs, Babylonian kings, Roman emperors, the medieval church, Russian czars, Hitler, and Muslim zealots, and yet they still exist as a small but cohesive people. !Another aspect of God’s hand in history is seen in the ways He has used the Church to bring about peace. Admittedly the Church has had its share of failings in this area, but think about what our world would be like if Jesus had not sent his Spirit to empower the Church. For starters, consider the involvement of Christians in the women’s suffrage movement in the US, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the downfall of the Medellin drug lords, as well as the more commonly known charitable and educational institutions begun by Christians. What would our world be like if

God had not worked through His people to demonstrate His love for creation?

Notes ! !!

13 30

Notes !!!

12

Week 9: Psalm 51 The Faith of David !!!!!

Abraham’s faith is the main subject of Romans 4. He is the premiere example of an Old Covenant believer who understood that righteousness is not something we achieve. He knew he was considered righteous only when he had confidence in God’s ability to save him. But he was not the only one who understood this. Remember last summer when we read in Numbers that only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go into the Promised Land, because they believed God could defeat the Canaanites. Paul also quotes David in Psalm 32 as one who knew this. This week, we will read Psalm 51, David’s other main song of repentance, where he seeks God after Nathan the prophet confronts him for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband. !Icebreaker: Did you ever misbehave in school and get caught? What happened? !Observe: David was a warrior, a man of action. Keep this in mind as you read Psalm 51. This song is well suited to being read antiphonally, i.e., have one-half of the group read the odd verses and the other half read the even verses. !Understand:

1. What could David do to warrant God’s forgiveness? !2. How does he describe the true nature and effects of sin in

verses 3 – 12? !3. What words does he use to describe the basis for God

forgiving him? !4. Although David can do nothing to deserve God’s forgiveness,

he does say he will take action. What will he do?

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3. Paul writes that the faith of the Roman church is being reported all over the world (1:8). What might have been so famous about their faith? (It probably was not their orthodox understanding of the Gospel, or he would not have spent the majority of his letter on the subject. You will get clues from the list of people he greets in 16:3-16 and his final comments after that.) What does this tell you about the nature of true faith in God? !

4. How is righteousness revealed by faith? (Whose faith? Faith in whom? To whom is it revealed?) !Respond:

1. Ask God to show you opportunities where you can be less inhibited about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. !

2. Who can you meet with on a regular basis so that you can encourage each other in the faith?

11

Find Meaning: 1. The flow of thought in Romans is: 1) all have sinned,

2) faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection brings righteousness, 3) God gives us eternal life and new life now through the Holy Spirit, and 4) therefore, we are now free to live like a child of God. Describe David’s flow of thought in Psalm 51. Is it similar to Paul’s flow of thought in Romans? What does this say about the relationship between man and God in the Old versus the New Testament? !

2. Hyssop was used for applying blood to the door posts in the Passover (Ex 12:21-22) and for applying blood for ceremonial cleansing from disease (Lev 14:3-7. Does this foreshadow something in the Gospel? (David was also a prophet!) !

3. As a youth, David had been chosen by God, yet he wrote Psalm 51. What does this say about sin in the life of believers? !

4. How does David describe God’s ongoing work in the life of His children? What is David’s part in this? !

5. How would you translate verses 18 and 19 in New Testament terms? (If you get stumped on this one, read Matt 6:9-13.) !Respond:

1. Close your discussion this week with a time of praise for all that God has done in your life.

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Week 3: Romans 1:8-17 Paul’s Heart for the Church in Rome !!!

After Paul starts his letter with a summary of the Gospel, he gets personal and describes his desire to strengthen the believers in Rome. Those with a more discerning view of human relationships may see hints of the weaknesses in the Roman church that Paul will address in his letter. !Icebreaker: Have you ever had to write a letter to someone you did not know and ask for a favor? How did it turn out? !Observe: Read the entire introductory section of the letter, Rom1:1-17, as if you were sitting in a meeting hall in Rome, hearing it read for the first time. What is your first impression of this man who persecuted believers, but later became one of their most well known champions? !Understand:

1. What does Paul thank God for? !2. What does Paul pray for? !3. Why does Paul want to visit the saints in Rome? Do you

suspect the saints in Rome are not acting like they are holy? !4. List the reasons why Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel. !

Find Meaning: 1. Based on this first part of Paul’s letter, would you want to

continue listening to him? !2. What do you learn about Paul? Mark the word ‘I’ each time

it appears in the text. Noting repeated words and ideas is a key to understanding a passage. It gives you clues about what is important to the author. !

10

Notes ! !!

33

Notes ! !!

9

Week 10: Romans 5:1-11 Hope, Peace, and Joy !!!

In this section, Paul moves from the source of and means of justification to its effect on our lives. God heals our broken relationship with him and we truly have a new perspective on life now and in the future. This is the definition of a game changer! !Icebreaker: What is your favorite way to spend a free extended weekend? !Observe: Read Romans 5:1-11. This is a difficult passage to grasp because of the extra emphasis Paul adds to some of the benefits of justification. See if you can determine his main points.

!Understand:

1. Paul’s thoughts in this passage can be organized as follows (please fill in the points):

a. Since we have been justified by faith we (vs1-5): i. vs.1 have peace with God ii.vs. 2 iii.vs. 2 iv.vs. 3 rejoice in suffering, knowing that

• vs. 3 suffering produces perseverance • vs. 4 • vs. 4 • vs. 4

v. vs. 5 b. Description of God’s love for us (vs. 6-8) c. Since we have been justified by his blood we (vs 9-11):

i. vs. 9 are saved from God’s wrath ii. vs. 11 have received reconciliation with God

Word definitions !Reconciled – put an end to the hostility between man and God.

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!Understand:

1. Why do you think Paul started his letter with a description of the Gospel? Is this like the art on the front of a Christmas card, or the subject line of a memo? Or is it intended to be his resume? !

2. What do you learn about Jesus Christ in this section? !3. What does Paul choose to tell the Roman church about

himself? !4. What are the results of the Gospel in Paul’s life and in the

Roman saints? !Find meaning:

1. Write out Paul’s summary of the Gospel in as few words as possible and do not use any of the terms listed above or in the definitions listed in the first week’s section. !

2. Is this description of the Gospel different from his first sermon in Acts 13:32-41? What might account for the differences? !

3. In verse 5, Paul writes that obedience comes from faith. Who or what do we obey? How does faith produce obedience? !

4. Paul uses the word “call” or “called” four times in this section. Who “calls” and what are the “called” people to be and do? Did you include this idea in your summary of the Gospel? !Respond:

1. Discuss how we can most effectively share the Gospel with the people we live and work with. Start by putting it into a story a third grade child would understand. !! !

8

2. What do you observe about the results of justification by faith and by Christ’s blood? !

3. What terms does Paul use to describe our condition prior to salvation in the following verses? Compare this with our position after we have been justified as summarized in the outline above. !

Vs. 6 Vs. 8 Vs. 10 !

4. What part does each person of the Trinity play in our justification? !

God (Father) !Jesus (son) Notice the number of times the

phrase ‘through Christ’ is used. !Holy Spirit !

5. Use the following verses to define the “hope of glory of God” that Paul refers to in vs. 2? !

Romans 8:16-19, 23 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 2 Corinthians 3:18 Philippians 3:21 !

Find meaning: 1. How is God’s love for us so amazingly different than any human love? (vv 6-8) ! 2. What do God’s past actions on our behalf tell us about our future? !

35

!!!Week 2: Romans 1:1-7

The Gospel of Jesus Christ !!

Paul begins his letter by identifying himself and then dictates a long sentence describing the Gospel. He leads with theology! !Icebreaker: Do you think web-based communication (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) is causing us to lose the ability to communicate effectively in writing, as well as in direct conversation? !Observe: Read Romans 1:1-7. Think about the overall message and don’t get stuck on the details.

Word definitions !Gospel – From the Anglo Saxon word ‘godspell’, meaning both good story and God’s story. !Servant – A slave. In Paul’s time, freedom and independence were highly prized. It would be unusual for someone to willingly refer to himself as a servant or a slave. !Apostle - A messenger or representative sent out with a purpose. !Saints - People who are set apart or holy. It does not refer primarily to moral behavior, but rather to the fact that believers belong to God and are set apart to Him. !Grace – God’s unearned gift to humanity. These include the gift of eternal life given by His Son and the daily ability to live a Christian life.

7

3. Why can believers rejoice in the midst of suffering? (vv 3-5; see also James 1:2-4) !

4. Which verse in this passage is the most encouraging to you. Explain. !

5. Is your hope for the future really in the glory of God or something else? How does this affect your joy? !!Respond:

1. How could you apply what this passage tells you about God’s relationship with you to your relationship with other people? !

2. Is your hope for the future really in the glory of God or something else? How does this affect your joy?

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Notes !!!

6

Notes ! !!

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!!Understand:

1. Why do you think God blinded Saul in the presence of witnesses? !

2. How many miracles did God perform in this conversion experience? !

3. Who had great faith in this story? !4. Do you see irony in Paul’s blindness and the way he planned

to enter Damascus, compared to the way he actually entered the city? !Find Meaning:

1. Have you ever had an experience like Ananias, where God asked you to do something that seemed unlikely? How did it turn out? What allowed you to know that God was really speaking to you? !

2. Paul attended the stoning of Stephen, one of the first deacons appointed in the church (Acts 8:1). How might Stephen have affected Paul’s understanding of the Gospel? (If you need more context look at Acts 7.) !

3. What part did Paul play in his own conversion and what part did God play? !

4. What would be Paul’s theology of righteousness and salvation in the weeks after his conversion experience? (You can check your answer by reading Paul’s first recorded sermon in Acts 13, particularly verses 32-41.) !

5. Based on other conversion experiences in Acts (and the stories of group members), can we expect God to be involved in conversion to the extent He was with Paul? !Respond:

1. Virtually every great revival begins with God’s people asking him to bring salvation. As a group, pray for

God to bring a great awakening to our city. !5

Week 11: Romans 5:12-21

Adam versus Jesus !!In the second half of chapter 5, Paul covers a number of theological issues related to sin and justification. He discusses the meaning of original sin, the purpose of the Law, and the free gift of righteousness provided through Jesus Christ. His main focus is on the concept of substitutionary atonement or, more generally, the fact that the actions of a family leader can affect the entire family. We will see this is bad news for mankind, because of what Adam did, and good news for us because of Christ’s actions on our behalf. This idea can seem a bit jarring to us, because we tend to emphasize our individuality. However, most cultures place much more importance on tribe and family, and this idea is quite familiar to most people. !Adam represents us in a number of ways. He, of course, is the first of our kind and, in fact, his name means “mankind” in Hebrew. By selecting him, Paul also emphasizes that sin and redemption are not just Jewish issues. Jews and Gentiles are in the same boat on this one. Icebreaker: How far back can you trace your family tree? Any famous (or infamous) branches? !Observe: Like the first part of the chapter, Paul seems to wander a bit. After we read, we’ll map out his ideas. Read Romans 5:12-21.

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!!!Week 1: Acts 9:1-22

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus !!The first part of the letter to the Romans deals mainly with salvation or how we become righteous in God’s eyes. During Paul’s early life he considered himself to be righteous because of his pedigree and his faultless adherence to the Law (Phil 3:5-6). He was a Jew among Jews. But in Acts 9, we read how Jesus intervened in his life and completely changed his view of salvation and righteousness. He would later write that attempting to be righteous by following the law was “stinking trash” and, in fact, a “loss” (Phil 3:7-9). We start our series with a look at his conversion experience. It describes the genesis of his view of salvation. !Icebreaker: Have several people in your group briefly describe their salvation experience. What is common among the stories? !Observe: Read Acts 9:1-31. Imagine what Paul was thinking during his three days of blindness.

Word definitions Paul uses many words that have specific and important meanings in Christian thought. Each week we will define the important words as we discuss the concepts. !Salvation – Spiritual and physical healing brought by deliverance from sin, death and rejection from God’s presence. !Righteousness – A legal term, meaning morally and spiritually excellent—right and pure.

4

Understand: 1. Verses 12 – 14 – the key idea is: ! Verses 15 - 19 consist mainly of comparisons between

Adam’s sin and Christ’s obedience. Identify these comparisons in the table below

Verses 20 – 21 – The key idea is: !2. Summarize what Paul tells us about man’s condition

apart from Christ. !3. What is the one trespass referred to in verse 18? (see

Genesis 3:1-19) !4. What is the one act of righteousness referred to in

verse 18? (See Romans 4:25 and Philippians 2:8) !5. Paul uses the term “one man” nine times in this

passage—six times to describe Adam and three times to describe Christ. Locate all the occurrences of this term in the text. What do you think Paul is emphasizing through the repeated use of this term? !

6. What phrases does Paul use to indicate that Christ’s act of obedience is more than adequate to overcome the effects of Adam’s sin? !

v. 15 v. 17 v.20 !

ADAM’S SIN CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE

VS. 15

VS. 16

VS. 17

VS. 18

VS. 19

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Romans !

The book of Romans is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome about 57 AD. He had already completed three missionary journeys to Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and was planning a trip to Spain. Paul wanted to visit the believers in Rome on his trip west, but first he needed to go to Jerusalem to deliver a financial gift, so he conveyed his message to them in a letter. He finally got to Rome about three years later, but as a prisoner. !The first believers in the Roman church were likely Jews who heard the Good News at Pentecost or on subsequent travels to Jerusalem. By the time Paul wrote this letter, the church also had many Gentile believers (Rom 2:17 & 11:11-21). He knew several dozen people in the Roman church (Rom 16:3-16) and especially the Jewish couple, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:2-3). !A half a dozen years earlier, the Jews and most of the Christians had been kicked out of Rome because of rioting in Jewish neighborhoods, caused by controversy about Jesus Christ. From the outset, the Church knew the meaning of opposition. !Unlike Paul’s other letters to churches, he does not overtly address specific behavior or doctrinal problems. Rather he systematically summarizes the Gospel. In these early years, the Church as a whole did not have a generally agreed upon understanding of the Gospel. Believers with Jewish backgrounds saw it in terms of the Law. Many Gentiles looked at it from the perspective of their idol worshipping background. Paul’s description of the Gospel informs both Gentiles and Jews about the fallen nature of man, the redemption bought by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the new life in the Holy Spirit. !He discusses the fundamental theological issues of the Christian faith: sin, guilt, salvation, grace, redemption, righteousness, faith, justification, sanctification, death, and resurrection. He finishes the letter with a succinct description of how we should live, considering the gracious gift of new life God has given us. !3

7. Describe the purpose of the Law, v. 20. See also Romans 7:13. (This verse may also imply that our fallen nature reacts to laws by wanting to break them.) !Find meaning:

1. Does Paul mean that we are all punished because of Adam’s sin, or that Adam caused us to be born with the urge to sin? !

2. How do you feel about Adam’s sin being credited to you? How about Christ’s righteousness being credited to you?

3. The “gift” is mentioned five times. Describe the gift

and how to receive it. !Respond:

1. Does the Gospel message excite you? Why or why not? What could help you to experience its life and vitality even more? !!

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Solutions to problems are better left for the time after the group breaks up, when people can talk personally. But always keep attuned to the Spirit. If people mention some serious issues during the initial fellowship, the group can start out with prayer and leave discussion for later. Some weeks may be devoted more to prayer than study. !Groups sometimes have people who are especially needy. Their problems can often dominate discussion and prayer time. If you notice this is beginning to overwhelm the group’s time together, talk with Pastor John. He can be reached at the church office at 916-972-1617. The church has a lot of resources to help people with serious needs. !Look for opportunities to serve. The easiest and most natural situations are needs within the group. For example, if someone has a fence that needs fixing, recruit volunteers from the group to help out. The church will also alert you to service opportunities in the community. Some people have the gifts of mercy and helps, and they are naturally drawn to helping others. Look for these people in your group. They are the natural ones to lead this ministry area. You may see a need that is too big or too complicated for your group. This is an opportunity for people to learn that the church is bigger than their Community Group. Talk with other CG leaders to see if their groups can partner with you. If you need some special skills or talents, talk with Pastor John and see if he can suggest some partners. !Look for opportunities to invite people to your group. One of the key goals of Community Groups is to be a front door to Arcade. Rather than people entering through a few doors in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, we have 50 doors scattered around the city that people can enter and get to know us. !Praise God with the sweet fellowship of your Community Group!

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Notes ! !!

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!!Group Leaders

!!Most people want to meet other people and make friends. Spend the first part of the group time in light fellowship. Providing treats and something to drink is a great way to make people feel comfortable. If you decide to offer refreshments, recruit someone else in your group to coordinate this activity. It’s part of involving everyone in leadership. !The study guide has an added section this time: an “icebreaker” question. Some groups have a good number of gregarious, talkative members, while other groups may have a fair number of reserved people. In either case, an icebreaker can help set the tone for sharing, while helping people warm up to each other. !Most people see the Bible discussion time as the heart of the meeting and this is great. God’s Word is essential to our faith. The discussion guide will help the group understand the text. It is set up to allow almost anyone to lead. All the leader needs to do is read the questions to the group and facilitate discussion, as needed. Let several people try their hand at leading discussion. The group as a whole should take responsibility for ensuring the discussion sticks to the Word and heads in a positive direction. We all share the responsibility for hearing God’s voice in the words He inspired. As you work your way through the resource guide you may find that you will not have enough time to discuss everything. Our value is discussing scripture, not answering all the questions. Feel free to pick and choose the best questions for you group. !Prayer is a key way we support each other in the Lord. Reserve at least 10 to 20 minutes after study to pray. Some groups may spend too much time sharing requests and brainstorming solutions to problems. Remember our goal is to seek God in prayer. !!

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Notes ! !!

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Group Contacts

!!!

The book of Romans has played a key role in my spiritual journey. Throughout my life, God has used the words from the apostle Paul to penetrate my heart, and allow me to understand freedom in Jesus Christ. Every time that I have looked at Romans, I gain a better understanding of grace. Over the last 2 months, I have had the privilege of diving into Romans again. This time it has been in community. It has been a joy to talk and pray through this book with other believers, and I cannot wait to do it again in my Community Group starting this fall.

As you crack open this resource guide, I want you to know that this booklet was a community project. I really appreciate everyone who contributed. I want to thank my friends and family for putting up with the endless conversations about Romans. Thank you, Sonja Warner, for allowing me to bounce ideas off of you and sharing your input. The conversations with everyone have been a joy and I am sure that they will continue in the months ahead. I wish every idea could be included in this guide, but there was simply not enough room.

I especially want to thank Jim Thompson for his gift of being able to convert concepts to paper. His writing abilities are a huge blessing to Arcade. Special thanks also need to go to Mike Rice who helped edit everything, and make things easier to read. I am grateful for Ryan Walton’s creativity, and his part in adding color and graphics to this guide.

As our team explored truth through Romans, we found some helpful resources along the way. Below is a list of a few of them.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Expositions of Romans; Christopher Ash’s series, Teaching Romans; Serendipity Bible published by Zondervan; Millard Erikson’s Christian Theology; Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. We would recommend any of these resources if you wanted to take your study of Romans even deeper.

May you have fun and be stretched as you dive into the great news found in Paul’s letter to Rome.

John Cassidy

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!! Table of Contents

! Week 1: Acts 9:1-22

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus…………….4 !Week 2: Romans 1:1-7

The Gospel of Jesus Christ…………………..7 !Week 3: Romans 1:8-17 Paul’s Heart for the Church in Rome………..10 !Week 4: Romans 1:18-2:16

Condemnation of the Non Jew……………14 !Week 5: Romans 2:17- 3:20

Everyone Stands Condemned Before God…17 !Week 6: Romans Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 Moses and All the Prophets Point to Jesus…20 !Week 7: Romans 3:21-31

Righteousness Through Faith…………….24 !Week 8: Romans 4:1-25

Abraham Justified by Faith………………..27 !Week 9: Psalm 51

The Faith of David…………………………31 !Week 10: Romans 5:1-11

Hope, Peace, and Joy……………………34 Week 11: Romans 5:12-21

Adam versus Jesus……………………….38

Group Contacts

! !

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