Monday, November 12, 2012

Opening: What is the closest you have come to losing your life?

Scripture: Read Romans 6:1-14.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Sounds like Paul is arguing with someone from the 21^st Century. “Keep on doing whatever it is you want to do; God will still forgive you.” Have you ever seen this in someone’s life? In your own? Where does this mindset lead? How about in the Christian? How does it reflect upon Christ and the church?  
• What part of your “old self” still hangs around? How does the knowledge of your death to sin affect your struggle with sin, or how can it?

Prayer Focus: That we would consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (see verse 11).

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Opening: Who do you take after? Whose eyes do you have? Which parent or relative is your temperament most like? How about musical ability or mechanical skills?

Scripture: Read Romans 5:12-21.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Before we discovered the role of DNA, Paul was saying that the disease of sin came from a single source: Adam. What was Adam and Eve’s first sin? How has their sin affected their present day descendants? How would you describe it in medical terms: a disease? An epidemic? An infection that attacks the immune system?  
• The main theme of this section continues to be the future hope of those who have trusted in Christ. Adam brought sin and death into the world, but those who have believed in Christ are full of hope, for Christ has reversed the consequences of Adam’s sin and has given his own life and righteousness to secure their eternal glory. What are the sources of hope for you? List as many as you can.  
• Paul wrote, “But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.”[1] What a wonderful gift: grace and forgiveness! Why don’t you write a prayer of thanksgiving.

Prayer Focus: That we, like Christ, would be obedient to God, so that many will be made righteous (see verse 19)

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[1] Romans 5:15 (NLT)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Opening: What is one lesson about money you can recall learning from your parents?

Scripture: Sunday’s message comes from today’s text. Read Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9, and Luke 9:23-24.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• How have you benefited from the self-denial and generosity of others? What have you reaped by being generous to others? How can God’s promise in 2 Corinthians 9:8 enable you to be more generous?  
• Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”[1] What does this mean? Remember that Peter denied his Lord; that is to say, he said of Jesus, “I do not know the man.” To deny ourselves is to say, “I do not know myself.” It is to ignore the very existence of oneself. It is to treat the self as if it did not exist. Usually we treat ourselves as if our self was far and away the most important thing in the world. If we are to follow Jesus, we must forget that self exists.[2]

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would trying desire to be Jesus’ disciples in all facets of our lives, including our finances.

Message Series: “A Living Sacrifice”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “Self-Denial”

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[1] Luke 9:23-24 (NLT)

[2] Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, Luke 9:23-27.

Friday, November 09, 2012

Opening: Think back to the most difficult period or experience in your life. Did it suddenly happen to you, or was it something you contributed to? In what ways did it change you?

Scripture: Read Romans 5:1-11.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Romans 5 contains two more steps on “The Romans Road.” These verses, and the others we will memorize, give us a simple, yet powerful explanation of the Gospel. Memorize Romans 5:1 and 5:8. And by the way, we will encounter others as we continue to walk through Romans together.  
• Though not part of “The Romans Road”, verses 3-5 are very challenging, yet comforting words. Do you see the truth of these verses as you reflect upon your most difficult time of your life?  
• What are your feelings as you reflect upon verses 10-11? Might you write a prayer of thanksgiving with these verses in mind?

Prayer Focus: Thank God that He came “just as the right time” (see verse 6).

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Opening: When you were growing up, what chores were you expected to do around the house? Did your parents pay you? If you grew up in the church as a child or teen, did you have a sense that there were certain things you were supposed to do?

Scripture: Read Romans 4:1-25.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Paul’s wonderful chapter about Abraham’s faith uses the Jewish peoples’ high esteem for the Patriarch, while arguing that it is Abraham’s faith, not his genes, which saves us and credits us with righteousness. What would Paul’s Jewish readers think about this? His Gentile readers?  
• Remember our study in the book of Acts, particularly Acts 15. The issue of whether new believers should be circumcised could have divided the Early Church. What would have happened to Christianity if Paul had given in on the issue of circumcision?  
• In some religions, forgiveness or grace as a free gift is a foreign concept. You “earn” your way to heaven by doing good deeds. Is this a mindset you have? Do you have the assurance of everlasting life? If not, why not? And if not, isn’t it time you did? Talk to Pastor Gary if you have any questions?

Prayer Focus: That we would depend “entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it…”[1]

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[1] Romans 4:16 (MSG)