Rom 1:1-17 - Paul's purpose, the Gospel, and it's power
The Sins Problem and God's Solution
Rom 1:18 - 2:29 - Our sinful behavior, guilt, and God's wrath
Rom 1:18-32 - against the Gentiles
Rom 2:1-16 - against those who judge others
Rom 2:17-29 - against the Jews
Rom 3:1-20 - the real purpose of Judaism
Guardians of the law
The law condemns: we are God's enemies
The law highlights sin
Rom 3:21 - 4:25 - God's solution: Righteousness by Faith
Rom 3:21- 26 - Bad News / Good News
Rom 3:27-31 - Justification by faith supercedes the law
Rom 4:1-25 - Justification by faith illustrated within the law
Rom 5:1-11 - Experiencing God's solution: enemies no more
The Sin Problem and God's Solution
Rom 5:12-14 - Our sin nature and death sentence
Rom 5:15-21 - God's solution: The Cross and The Resurrection
Explain connection between sin and grace
Rom 6:1-23 - Man's proper response to God's gift
Rom 7:1-25 - The inadequacy of the law
Rom 8:1-16 - Experiencing God's solution: Life by the Spirit
Rom 8:17-39 - Our Destiny
Responding to God's Gift - Rom 6:1-23
Your lifestyle has to change - Rom 6:1-2
What Jesus' death and resurrection accomplished for us - Rom 6:3-10
Explain how identification with Jesus' death ends our bondage
Israelites were slaves in Egypt
The sea wiped out Pharaoh's army
We must master sin - Rom 6:11-14
Don't even play with sin - Rom 6:15-23
Israel's experiences are examples for us - 1Cor 10:1-13
Conquer the land - No Prisoners, no treaties - Ex 34:10-16
Canaan represents those areas of our lives that we must put to death.
Israel's initial wilderness experience was preparation for conquest.
Their rebellion in Paran is a warning to us - take the land!
Don't die in the wilderness.
Sanctification
Live by the Spirit - Rom 8:1-16; Gal 5:16-26
Only the faithful / believing will enter God's rest - Heb 4:1-11
Second Chance: No Prisoners, no treaties - Deut 7:1-8
God to Israel: No fight, no victory! - Josh 17:11 - 18:3; Judges 2:1-5
Not because of your righteousness - Deut 9:1-8
Don't miss God's grace - Heb 12:1-29
Glider pilot riding thermals
Edifying your brothers and sisters - Rom 15:14; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:24-25
We will always have new spiritually immature people coming church.
Some people develop defenses against the Bible because it's been used as a weapon against them in the past.
People who are not willing to change can't serve God in the long term
Teach sanctification for disciple makers.
The faithful must do more than just hold on;
They need to multiply themselves.
They must identify faithful people who they can mentor - 2Tim 2:2
You should either be mentoring someone, or praying for God to show you someone to mentor.
What to do when your brother fails
If your brother sins against you . . . - Mat 18:15-22
Restore your brother gently - Gal 6:1-5
Don't leave this burden to your pastors or life group leaders.
Discussion Questions / Topics
Reflect on Rom 3:21-26; 5:1-11
Describe how you first came to understand God's offer of righteousness by faith. Was there anything about righteousness by faith that you found hard to accept?
Describe the ways in which you've experienced peace with God (Rom 5:1).
Paul refers to us as having been God's enemies and then being reconciled to God (Rom 5:10-11). How has this truth applied to your life?
Reflect on Rom 5:12-21
Describe how you first came to understand that your wrongdoing was the result of a sinful nature within you.
According to Rom 5:19 (NIV) who is the "one man" who was disobedient and who are the "many" who were made sinners?
According to Rom 5:19 (NIV) who is the "one man" who was obedient and who are the "many" who were made righteous?
How were you affected when you first became aware of "the law" (i.e. God's requirements)? How does knowing God's requirements affect you now?
Reflect on Rom 6:1-23
According to this passage, what does Jesus' resurrection do for us?
How has Jesus' death and resurrection affected your lifestyle?
Have you been baptized (immersed in water)? Describe your experience.
Are you experiencing the victory over sin described here?
Reflect on Ex 34:10-16; 1Cor 10:1-13
Based on the Ex 34 passage, have you compromised with any area of your life that God wanted you to completely conquer?
Have you struggled with any of the things that Paul describes as displeasing God in the 1 Corinthians passage?
Based on your current lifestyle, will you enter the promised land or die in the wilderness?
Reflect on John 11 (repeated from last week)
Have you ever felt that God was "late" showing up to take care of your problems?
Have you ever felt that God didn't really care about your problems?
Did Jesus' delay mean that he didn't love Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?
What is the most significant thing in your life that God has resurrected?
Reflect on Acts 2:31; Acts 4:33; Rom 1:1-4; 1Cor 15 (repeated from last week)
How does the resurrection of Jesus fit into the entire Gospel story?
What does Christianity mean if Jesus was not raised from the dead?
What does the resurrection of Jesus mean in your own life?
Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
Review the current prayer partnerships in your life group.
Make sure that everyone has someone to pray with on a weekly basis.
These can be long-term assignments or your can rotate them.
If you rotate them, the assignments should last at least one month.
Review the list of people you are praying for in your life group.
Make sure that everyone knows who to pray for and how to pray for them.
Make sure that the people who need salvation are getting prayed for every day by the members of the group.
Review each person on the list of people you are reaching out to.
Has anyone invited him/her to lunch/dinner or some other informal activity along with at least one other life group member?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group fun event?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group meeting?
