Friday, November 30, 2012

Opening: What food is definitely “off-limits” for you, something you will never eat?

Scripture: Read Romans 14:1-12.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• As he nears the end of his letter, Paul addresses a specific dispute, probably over whether Christians need to abide by Jewish food and Sabbath laws. For him, these are “gray areas” – issues over which equally committed Christians can disagree. What are some controversial, gray areas in your life, family, the church?
• Paul clearly sides theologically with the “strong” (who did not feel compelled to follow those laws), but he encourages them not to despise or scandalize the “weak.” Are you more likely to believe, behave, and react with a strong conviction or mindful of the weak?
• When has your “freedom” been a stumbling block to someone else? What happened?

Prayer Focus: That everything we do – living or dying – we would belong to the Lord (see verse 8).

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Opening: What was the occasion of your first debt or loan?

Scripture: Read Romans 13:8-14.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• We live in a society of debt: credit cards, mortgages, second mortgages (to pay off another debt), national debt. Paul tells us “Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.”[1] How can you eliminate your financial debt?
• “Love People.” Ever heard that before? Who do you owe a debt of love to? Who do you need to start investing your “love currency” into?
• How would your life be different if you consciously tried to “wear” Jesus Christ? What must change to ensure a better fit?

Prayer Focus: That we would fully love people (and of course, love God).

---

[1] Romans 13:8 (MSG)

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Opening: When was the last time you got a traffic ticket? How did you feel about the police officer?

Scripture: Read Romans 13:1-7.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Who are the authorities in your life: family, occupation, church, government, etc.? Why does Paul say we should submit to governing authorities? How do you understand this passage in lieu of the context of Paul’s time, where pagan Roman rulers were preparing to martyr Christians?
• What principles do you find in this passage that help you deal with authority?
• Paul does not advocate blind obedience when faced with conflict with your beliefs. He was eventually martyred for “violating” Roman laws regarding who is Lord was, Jesus or Caesar. How do you find the balance between submitting to authorities and peaceful civil disobedience?

Prayer Focus: That we would submit to our leaders in obedience to God.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Opening: As a child, who was the troublemaker in your family? Who was the peacemaker?

Scripture: Read Romans 12:9-21.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Today’s reading is a description of the life that is pleasing to God (see verses 1-2). Take a piece of paper and individually list the descriptions.
• Not surprisingly, love heads the list, for all that Paul says is embraced by the call to love (also see John 13:34–35).
• Of the commands listed here, which two are easiest for you to keep? Which two are most difficult?
• What relationship in your life most needs the teaching in this passage?

Prayer Focus: Take a moment to ask for God’s forgiveness, understanding, patience, and power for this relationship?

Monday, November 26, 2012

Opening: What is the thing you are most proud of – accomplishment, talent, position?

Scripture: Read Romans 12:3-8.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Are you inclined to “think of yourself more highly than you ought” (verse 3) or put yourself down? Healthy self-esteem is important because some of us think too little of ourselves; on the other hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. The key to an honest and accurate self-evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth—our identity in Christ. Apart from him, we aren't capable of very much by eternal standards; in him, we are valuable and capable of worthy service. Evaluating yourself by the worldly standards of success and achievement can cause you to think too much about your worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your true value in God's eyes.[1]
• How clear is your sense of the gifts God has given you? If you do not know what spiritual gifts are, or what your gifts are, plan to attend the First Sunday: Spiritual Gifts class on February 3, 2013.
• What holds you back from using your gifts more fully?

Prayer Focus: That we would be fully devoted and fully functioning members of Christ’s body.

---

[1] Life Application Study Bible, Romans 12:3

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Opening: As a teen, how did peer pressure affect the way you dressed? How you acted (any former hippies out there)? What entertainment (music, TV, movies, parties) did you take in?

Scripture: Read Romans 12:1-2.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Sound familiar? It should. Verse 1 has been our theme verse for our message series “Living Sacrifices.”
• How can you offer your “body” as a living sacrifice?
• What does verse 1 add to your understanding of true worship (also see Romans 6:13 and 8:13)?
• In what ways do you tend to conform to the world? How does the “renewing of your mind” happen (see verse 2)?
• Are you asking any “What’s God’s will for me” questions right now? How can you discern His direction and purpose for you?

Prayer Focus: That we would be holy and pleasing to God.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Opening: Have you ever planted a garden? What do you like to plant?

Scripture: Sunday’s message comes from today’s text. Read Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• What does your offering to the church mean? Do you see it as an obligation? How can it be more of an act of worship (and that doesn't mean a part of the Sunday morning worship celebration)?
• What have you reaped by being generous to others?
• How can God’s promises enable you to be more generous?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would really see our offering as worship – vibrant, praise-filled, honor-bestowing – worship!

Message Series: “A Living Sacrifice”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “Worship“

Friday, November 23, 2012

Opening: If you were recognized and called forward to receive a life-time achievement award, who would be the first person you would thank?

Scripture: Read Romans 11:11-36.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• How is it possible for someone to try so hard to please God that they actually resist His love for them? When have you experienced this?
• Paul uses imagery reminiscent of Jesus in John 15:1-8.
• Paul writes, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”[1] What have you sensed God’s call on your life to be? Your spiritual gifts? How does this passage inform that call and those gifts?

Prayer Focus: That we would be fully confident that “For everything comes from [God] and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.”[2]

---

[1] Romans 11:29 (NLT)

[2] Romans 11:36 (NLT)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Opening: What moments of rejection in your teen years do you remember vividly? Getting cut from the team? Not being invited to a big party? Turned down for a date?

Scripture: Read Romans 11:1-10.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Today’s passage is about a “remnant” from Israel, and it comes from this inevitable question: Has God rejected the people of Israel? What are your thoughts? What are Paul’s?
• Reread verse 6. Do you think it's easier for God to love you when you're good? Do you secretly suspect that God chose you because you deserved it? Do you think some people's behavior is so bad that God couldn't possibly save them? If you ever think this way, you don't entirely understand that salvation is by grace, a free gift. It cannot be earned, in whole or in part; it can only be accepted with thankfulness and praise.[1]

Prayer Focus: That we would always be certain there is someone else out there that can help us walk the Christian life.

---

[1] Life Application Study Bible, Romans 11:6

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Opening: What were some of the hard and fast rules observed in your house when you were growing up?

Scripture: Read Romans 9:30-10:21.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• What is the purpose of Paul’s series of questions in verses 14-17? How does this underscore the importance of evangelism.
• The central affirmation of the early church was “Jesus is Lord.” Everyone else in the Roman Empire was saying “Caesar is Lord.” Who or what are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?
• Today’s passage contains the final steps on “The Romans Road.” First is Romans 10:9-10, and then Romans 10:13. Memorize these verses, then write out each step on “The Romans Road.”

Prayer Focus: That we would always live, always think, and always say, “Jesus is Lord.”

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Opening: When have you won something unexpected? A trip? Award of achievement? Class officer elections? The big game?

Scripture: Read Romans 9:1-29.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• How deeply do you hurt for unbelievers: your friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors? As much as Paul (see verses 1-3)?
• How should each of the benefits Paul mentions in verse 4-5 have drawn the Jewish people to Christ? What benefits and blessings have you received that drew you to Him?
• Even though many Jews have failed to believe, God’s promise to them has not failed. What to you is God’s most important promise? Look up passages in the Bible that relate to that promise.

Prayer Focus: That we will always hold on to the assurance that God’s promises never fail!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Opening: Do you tend to see the glass half full or half empty?

Scripture: Read Romans 8:31-39.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Did you need another incredible passage to get through today? Here it is! And while they might not be a Romans’ Road passage, verse 31 and verse 38 are passages to memorize and hold onto at all times and places in life.
• Do any of the things Paul lists in verses 31-39 specifically affect you, make you feel far from God? How should you respond?
• Reread this passage and consider what Paul says about God’s love. What new insight came to you?

Prayer Focus: That we would agree with E. Stanley Jones: “I can conquer whatever comes because Christ has already conquered. Everything I meet He has already met. When temptation, sin, difficulty, opposition, misunderstanding, criticism, fear, resentment, inferiority, pride, loneliness – yes, when ANYTHING comes upon me to bully me, I ask that thing to bend its neck. When it does so, I exclaim with joy: ‘There I told you so! There is the footprint of the Son of God upon your neck. He has conquered you. I'm in Him and I conquer in His conquering.’”

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Opening: What has been the most pain experience in your life, when you suffered beyond what you ever thought imaginable?

Scripture: Read Romans 8:18-30.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• What a tremendous passage of hope when you feel the hurt of life. There is a future glory! Compare this perspective of hope for the Christian and the wishing thinking of the world.
• But it is more than the promise of eternal life. Even life is so difficult that we don’t even know how to pray, God’s Holy Spirit is there (see verse 26-27). What need is on your prayer list right know that is particularly difficult, that you really don’t even know what to pray? How is the Holy Spirit helping you to pray about this?
• Romans 8:28 from the Message Bible reads, “That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”[1] What detail in your past has God worked towards good? What detail today might God be working?

Prayer Focus: That we would have the complete confidence and assurance that God’s got it all in the palm of His hand!

---

[1] Romans 8:28 (MSG)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Opening:  What were you doing last year at this time which still needs completed?

Scripture: Sunday’s message comes from today’s text. Read Romans 12:1 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• A year before, the Corinthian Christians had learned of a need in the Jerusalem church and started the process of collecting money. They were the first to give. The other Macedonian churches heard about it and followed the Corinthian lead, except the Corinthians weren’t leading any more. They made a commitment, but had failed to fulfill their commitment. So Paul tells about the spiritual lives and commitment of the other churches. Do you think he is trying to shame the Corinthians or something else?  
• Paul talks about the grace of God in verse 1, then follows by describing the faithfulness of the Macedonian Christians. How do you understand the connect between God’s grace and personal faithfulness?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would glorify Him in everything we do: praise, thanksgiving, song, Scripture, message, and yes, giving.

Message Series: “A Living Sacrifice”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “Faith“

Friday, November 16, 2012

Opening: When you were young, who caused you to change your behavior by their powerful influence?

Scripture: Read Romans 8:1-17.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Another Roman’s Road Scripture here: Romans 8:1. Memorize this verse today.  
• There are some that say that everyone in the world is a child of God. Is that what the Scripture says? Reread verse 14. Would you count yourself a member of His family? Why?  
• Αββα is an Aramaic word for “father.” In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews), it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. Αββα is the word framed by the lips of infants, and signifies unreasoning trust. Contemporary equivalents might be “Daddy” or “Papa.” How does it make you feel that you can call God “Papa?”

Prayer Focus: That we would have complete assurance through the Holy Spirit that we are children of God.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Opening: What New Year’s resolution have you started with good intentions, only to have it fizzle out?

Scripture: Read Romans 7:7-25.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• This passage is not confusing when you mentally imagine some life improvement you are trying to achieve: lose weight, stop smoking, be a more loving and generous person, etc.  
• In like of Paul’s own struggles, how does it make you feel about your own?  
• What is the struggle in your spiritual life right now?

Prayer Focus: That our answer to everything in life – good and bad – will always be Jesus Christ (see verse 25).