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Bible LessonUpdated weekly, the Bible Lesson is written by our Teaching Pastor on the passage of scripture that our church is studying for that particular week. [Currently we are in a series in the book of Romans - The Gospel of God's Righteousness.] Then on Sunday our Bible Discussion Groups share answers and insights from their prepared lessons; and our pastor teaches from that same passage in the Worship Celebration that follows.
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BIBLE DISCUSSION GROUP STUDY QUESTIONS
In preparation for Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 Passage: Romans 1:17 Memory Passage: Romans 1:16-17 (Review)
DAY 1 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom 1:16-17 & Rom. 12. Today, begin by writing: (1) Any questions you have about chapter 12, (2) The verse(s) that stands out to you most in the chapter, & (3) Why it stands out. Be ready to share your observations with your class. (b) We will study 1:17 this week, but today, prior to our study, write down your answer to this question: To what does the “righteousness of God” refer? Try not to look at any commentaries, the notes in your study Bible, or any other tool. Only use Scripture, and make sure your answer takes into consideration the context of 1:17. (c) Family: Today you will read through Romans 12 twice. Once, read it with each reader in your family alternating reading one verse each until you read all 21 verses. Next, tell you family that you will read the same chapter aloud by yourself, and every time someone has a question about what you are reading they are to raise their hand. When they raise it, stop reading and answer the question to the best of your ability. If you don’t know the answer, say, “I don’t know, but I will find out and bring you an answer” (write it down so you don’t forget!) If no one asks a question, choose one of the verses and ask, “What do these verses mean?” to start a dialogue about that verse in its context (v. 21 might work well for this discussion). DAY 2 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Ps. 98:1-2, Is. 46:13, 51:1-8 & Rom. 1:16-17. It is imperative that we understand how some OT writers looked at God’s righteousness if we are to understand how Paul used the term in 1:17. According to Ps. 98:1-2, to what does the psalmist say God’s righteousness refers? What other language is common to both Ps. 98:1-2 & Rom. 1:17? (b) How does Isaiah in 46:13 interpret the righteousness of God? Is the revelation of this righteousness something past, present, or future? What is God’s purpose in bringing near His righteousness? (c) In Isaiah 51:1-8, to whom is God speaking? What is the context of these verses? What words/phrases describe God’s people in these verses? (d) To what does the righteousness of God refer (vs. 4-7)? How can God’s righteousness refer to 2 seemingly opposite acts? (e) Family: Ask your family: “What does the word ‘righteousness’ mean?” Be ready to give the answer if they don’t answer correctly or fully (e.g. to be right, just, acceptable to God). Fill in any other blanks that may be present in their understanding as you listen to their input. Then ask, “To what does the phrase ‘God’s righteousness’ refer?” and be ready to explain to them that God’s righteousness is His perfect, just and right character. Then Read Ps. 98:1-2 and ask, “What does the psalmist say God’s righteousness is in these verses?” Show them that the psalmist sees the righteousness of God as His work of bringing salvation to His people. Then ask, “Why would God need to save His people?” and remind your family of the effects of sin and why we need a Savior, Jesus Christ, and that as we continue to study Romans we will learn more about salvation. DAY 3 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1:16-17 & Rom. 13. How does v. 17 connect with v. 16 (notice the “for” that (should) begins v. 17)? How did v. 16 help you to come to the answer you gave on Day 1 (b)? How does v. 17 connect with v. 18 (again, notice the “for”)? (b) Review yesterday’s OT study. How does this inform your understanding of what Paul meant when he used the phrase “the righteousness of God?” The OT usages should have led you to the conclusion that, in the passages you studied, the righteousness of God referred to His act of salvation for His people. Does this fit with the context of vs. 16-17? Why/why not? (c) What other ways could one interpret the phrase, “the righteousness of God” in v. 17? (I buried an answer to this question in Day 4 (a) in case you need help, but think, use your own mind before just jumping to the answer!) Which possibility do you think is most likely Paul’s meaning here in v. 17, why, and what Scriptures can you cite to support any of these possibilities? (d) Family: Read Prov. 11:16-17. Remind your family of what they learned last night, and then help them to connect verses 16 & 17, pointing out the word, “for” that begins each verse and show them how Paul’s thought progresses. Ask questions to assess your family’s understanding and explain in a different way the truths you are trying to convey if they don’t understand. DAY 4 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1:16-17. (Answer to Day 3 (c): Three possible answers are, righteousness from God, righteousness done by God, or righteousness that belongs to God.) We have established that the righteousness of God refers to God’s saving activity on behalf of His people, but now we have another question before us: Is this a forensic (legally declared) righteousness or a transformational righteous? What do you think? Can it be both (as Tom Schreiner says, “both gift & power”)?
(b) Read Rom. 4:3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 5:11, & 8:33. In these verses, which meaning is taught: forensic or transformational?
(c) Read Rom. 6. Which meaning do you find in these verses (Note: In vs. 7, 18 & 20 the phrases, “has/having been set free,” and “you were free” are all translations of the verb form of “righteous” and can be translated “have been justified.”)?
(d) Read Rom. 3:21-26. Find the 4 verses that speak of God’s righteousness. Which meaning is being taught in each verse: forensic or transformational?
(e) How do theses verses inform your understanding of what Paul means in 1:17 by the phrase, “the righteousness of God?”
(f) Family: Read Prov. 11:19. Ask, “How does a person remain ‘steadfast in righteousness?’” Help your family understand that believers must have a righteousness from God that comes through faith (Phil. 3:9) in order to live righteously (i.e. in a way that pleases God). When we are saved we gain Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) and are then considered to be righteous in God’s sight (Gal. 3:6-9). And that same righteousness will produce a life that is not enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:22-23) so that we, as children of God who have received Christ’s righteousness, will live a life that remains “steadfast in righteousness” (Prov. 11:19) and “live” forever. But if a person “pursues evil” continually, which is the fruit of unrighteousness, then that person is giving evidence that they are not saved and will, if they do not repent of their sin and believe in Jesus, “die” (not have eternal life with God). You may want to read each passage and then explain it as you take your family through this study. It is a picture of how “the righteous shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17 & Hab. 2:4).
DAY 5 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1:16-17 & Rom. 14. How is the righteousness of God “revealed” (the answer is right in these verses!)? The verb translated “is revealed” is present and passive, so it might be translated “is being revealed.” What does this tell you about the importance, activity, and power of the action that reveals God’s righteousness? (b) What does Paul mean by the phrase “from faith for faith?” What is it about faith that describes how the saving work of God is revealed? How do the righteous “live by faith?” (c) Read Hab. 2:4 and compare Paul’s quotation in Rom. 1:17 with the verse he quotes. Did Paul quote it accurately? What differences do you see between Hab. 2:4 & Rom 1:17? Did Paul “misquote” the verse? (d) Review what you learned this week and write down at least 3 applications that you will make. Be ready to share these with your class on Sunday so you can encourage others with further application of these theologically rich verses. (e) Family: Read Rom. 1:16-17. As a way to review what you studied this week, prepare a game in which you write questions on cards (cut 3x5 cards in half, one question per card) and write the answers on another card. Turn the cards upside down in 2 different grids, one with all the questions & one with all the answers. Have someone choose a question card, and if no one remembers the answer, have him/her choose an answer card. If the answer is not correct, then both cards are turned back upside down. Repeat with different people choosing a question card. Eventually they will begin to remember the answers as they are read in tandem with the wrong cards and begin to answer the questions without having to turn over an answer card. DATE: January 5, 2012 PASSAGE: Romans 1:17 The Righteousness of God Revealed
BIBLE DISCUSSION GROUP STUDY QUESTIONS
In preparation for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 Passage: Romans 1:18-23 Memory Passage: Romans 8:1-2 (Review)
DAY 1 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom 1:18-23 six times in a row. Now as you read this passage a 7th time, summarize the teaching of each verse with a short, pithy sentence. For example, I summarized v. 18: “ Wrath revealed against unrighteous truth suppressors.” (b) How does this passage relate to what has come before it? After it? How does each of the 6 verses in our passage relate to the verse before and after it (i.e., “How does Paul use each verse to further his thought from and prepare us for what’s next?”)? (c) How do you describe the wrath of God? How is God’s wrath different from/the same as human wrath? Why is God not sinning in His wrath? (d) The section of Romans into which we now enter contains some difficult, frank, and challenging subject matter. Spend some time today in prayer asking God to prepare your heart for the rather dark material Paul will cover, and for the grace to see the glory of Christ even in God’s wrath revealed against men. Also ask him to reveal your heart with regard to your own salvation & sanctification, and your willingness to receive His grace as you examine your heart through the Scriptures. (e) Family: Review last week’s memory verses, Romans 1:16-17 both individually & as a group. Then give a brief review of their meaning, reminding your family of all you learned last week. Then ask, “Why is it necessary for God to reveal His righteousness in the gospel of Christ?” Then Read Rom. 1:18 and teach them that we are in need of the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel because without it, we would not be able to stand before God on judgment day without being condemned for our sin. God is holy, and He must, by virtue of His nature, strongly opposes, express anger toward, and punish sin (i.e. exercise His wrath). All men and women are sinners (Rom. 3:23) in need of the salvation offered in Christ, who died in our place and who provided the righteousness we need in order to stand before God and be counted righteous. DAY 2 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Psalm 78:1-72. Study this Psalm and answer the following questions: (1) Why was God’s wrath kindled against His people? (2) In what ways did God give mercy and longsuffering to His people? (3) What was His people’s response to this mercy? (4) What did God’s wrath look like when He released it on His people? (5) Was God just in releasing His wrath? Why or why not? (6) Would it have been acceptable for a human ruler to treat his people the way God did? Why/why not? (7) Is God justified in showing mercy to His people on some occasions and exercising wrath against them on others? Why/why not? (b) Family: Remind your family of what you learned last night. Then ask your family: “Since we need a Savior to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin, what is sin?” Have them work through a definition and write it on the board. Your definition should include things like breaking God’s law, acting or thinking in ways that violate His character, and that sin can be either omission (not doing what we should do) or commission (doing what we should not do). Sin is referred to in at least 11 different ways in Scripture (doing evil, disobedience, lawlessness, wickedness, transgression, etc.), but tonight Read 1 Pet. 4:18, 1 John 1:9, and Rom. 1:18 and focus on “ungodliness” & “unrighteousness” in relation to God’s wrath toward sin. DAY 3 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1:18-23 & Rom. 15. This passage, as well as many others in Romans, uses terms & imagery that would be used in courts of law. Who are the defendants in these verses (i.e. to whom is Paul referring in these verses: Jews, Gentiles, or both)? What charge is brought against them (i.e. what has their unrighteousness caused them to do [v. 18])? What specific truth are they suppressing (v. 19), and who has revealed this truth to them? (b) What evidence does the prosecutor bring against them (i.e. what specific truth are they suppressing [v. 19], who revealed this truth [v. 19], what specifically should be known about God and how should this be known [v. 20])? (c) The final charge made in v. 20 is that “they are without excuse.” The word “excuse” translates the Greek word from which we derive the English “apology,” which means “a defense,” so Paul is saying that these people are “without a defense” before God’s judicial bench. What “defense” could they have had? What does this have to do with the truths found in v. 17? Spend some time right now writing a psalm of thanksgiving to God for revealing His righteousness to you in Christ, applying it to your life, and revealing His wrath against His Son on the cross instead of you. Jesus will be your defense, and you will be found innocent at God’s judicial bench because of His righteousness credited to your account! Hallelujah to the Lamb! (d) Family: Before this lesson, spend some time writing a short play for your family to act out. This play should be set in a courtroom with the characters of a judge, a defendant, and a prosecutor. Using Rom. 1:18-23 and the role/evidence/charge descriptions in Day 3 above and Day 4 below, write a dialogue which includes the words of Scripture, as well as other dialogue to help your play “work.” Have your family act out the play, and then Read Rom 1:18-23 and explain our passage. DAY 4 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1 (this is the next chapter in our successive reading so re-read the chapter and focus especially on vs. 21-23). What 3 things did the defendant do instead of honoring & giving thanks to God? Does a person progress from futile thinking to becoming a fool, or are these three ways of stating the same thing? Give examples of what each of these indictments look like in the life of someone who suppresses the truth of God in the 21st century.
(b) What was the proof that the defendant had become a fool (v. 23)? What is the importance of the distinction between “mortal” and “immortal” in this verse? How does one exchange God’s glory for an image, and why is this wrong?
(c) Read Ex. 32 and answer the following questions: (1) Does Paul’s description of the idolater in Rom. 1 fit with the actions of God’s people at the foot of Mt. Sinai? How so? (2) How would you evaluate Aaron’s defense (vs. 22-24)? Did God find him to be “without excuse” or did his defense stand in God’s court?
(d) Family: Read Rom. 1:18-23, and explain that the unrighteous defendant suppressed the truth, clearly revealed in creation, that God existed and because of His power and divinity He deserved to be honored and thanked. This unrighteous act led to futile thinking, a darkened & foolish heart, and idolatry, which demonstrated his status as a fool. Then Read Ex. 32 You would be well served to stop and summarize/explain every few verses so your family stays focused. Make sure you focus on the process described in Rom. 1 and Aaron’s “defense” in vs. 22-24. Be a good storyteller and bring this to life!
DAY 5 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Rom. 1:18-23 & Rom. 2. We learned this week about General Revelation (sometimes called Natural Revelation because it is the revelation God gives of Himself revealed in nature), which is different from Special Revelation, the revelation that God gives of Himself that leads to salvation through repentance and faith. Given what you learned, how would you answer someone who asks, “What happens to the person living, let’s say, in the middle of the jungle who has never heard about Jesus?” (b) Another aspect of our learning this week included idolatry (exchanging the glory of God for anything else), what leads to it (suppressing the truth about God), and what results from it (God’s wrath being revealed against the unrighteousness of idolatry). Though you might not be fabricating golden calves, what people, passions, desires, hobbies, etc. are present in your life that surpass God’s glory in your priorities? One way to identify these areas of idolatry is to ask, “If God entered my life and verbally asked me about these people/activities/passions, would I respond, ‘Yes, God, I honor you in these areas and give you thanks for them daily so they bring you glory and don’t exchange your glory!” or would you respond, ‘I didn’t mean to, God, I was just living my life and “out popped this calf!”’”? Ask God to show you how to engage with these people/activities/passions in a way that brings Him glory instead of exchanges His glory. (c) Family: Lead your family through Day 5 (a) & (b) above. Use your own life as an example to describe areas in which you are tempted toward idolatry and explain how you overcome these temptations through the gospel. Then help your family do the same with specific areas of their own life. DATE: February 12, 2012 PASSAGE: Romans 1:18-23 Truth Suppressors Are Without Excuse
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