Opening: If you were asked to begin a weekly small group that met to grow in the
faith, which twelve people would you ask to join you?
Scripture: Read
Romans 16:1-27.
Connect
the Text with Your Life:
- Ok, this is kind of a boring reading today. You most likely didn't know a single name, or else you have heard of a few, but don’t know much about them. You might consider looking up names in a Bible Dictionary or go to http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/.
- What are some of the teachings that divide the church today? How do you work for a balance between the desire for unity and the desire to maintain truth?[1]
- What area or circumstance in your life do you need the God of peace to crush (see verse 20)?
Prayer
Focus: That everyone will know of our obedience to God
(see verse 19).
[1] Recently on "CBS This
Morning," Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of “Purpose
Driven Life” said, "The problem is that tolerant has changed its meaning.
It used to mean 'I may disagree with you completely, but I will treat you with
respect. Today, tolerant means – 'you must approve of everything I do.' There's
a difference between tolerance and approval. Jesus accepted everyone no matter
who they were. He doesn't approve of everything I do, or you do, or anybody
else does either. You can be accepting without being approving."
