Christ Church Studies

Paul, in Romans 11, concludes his dense, scripturally rich meditation on the people of Israel and the purposes of God. He announces that God shall not abandon his chosen people, and though God's historical plan is shrouded in mystery, he is overwhelmed by the glory of God. In this session, we look with Paul's astonishment at the wisdom and ways of God.

At first, the gospel of Jesus Christ may seem like a radical departure from Israel's experience of salvation. Yet Paul affirms in Romans 10 that the gospel, in fact, fulfills and continues God's dealings with his people. In this session, we'll explore how the Christian experience of salvation by grace through faith exists in harmony with Israel.

At first, the gospel of Jesus Christ may seem like a radical departure from Israel’s experience of salvation. Yet Paul affirms in Romans 10 that the gospel, in fact, fulfills and continues God’s dealings with his people. In this session, we’ll explore how the Christian experience of salvation by grace through faith exists in harmony with Israel.

Paul's discussion of God's sovereign election of his people in Romans 9 has generated numerous and heated debates over the course of Christian history, yet we have often lost sight of why Paul addresses this topic in the first place. For what is at stake here is nothing less than the security of God's love.

Paul’s discussion of God’s sovereign election of his people in Romans 9 has generated numerous and heated debates over the course of Christian history, yet we have often lost sight of why Paul addresses this topic in the first place. For what is at stake here is nothing less than the security of God’s love.

In Romans 8, Paul describes the new life which those who have died and been raised with Christ now inhabit, a life lived no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit. What is this new life? Does our idea of it match our experience? In this session, we explore the three virtues of this life: faith, hope, and love.

In Romans 8, Paul describes the new life which those who have died and been raised with Christ now inhabit, a life lived no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit. What is this new life? Does our idea of it match our experience? In this session, we explore the three virtues of this life: faith, hope, and love.

New Testament scholar Dale Bruner calls Romans 7 the single most difficult chapter to interpret in the book of Romans. The claims Paul makes seem puzzling. Why does he suggest that he is still held captive by sin and unable to resist its influence? In this session, we explore what Paul truly means.

New Testament scholar Dale Bruner calls Romans 7 the single most difficult chapter to interpret in the book of Romans. The claims Paul makes seem puzzling. Why does he suggest that he is still held captive by sin and unable to resist its influence? In this session, we explore what Paul truly means.

"You're gonna have to serve somebody," Bob Dylan sang in 1979, and the apostle Paul wrote something very similar two millennia ago. In Romans 6, Paul writes that those who have been joined to Christ through faith have already been freed from one master and made servant to another. Our only choice is to live accordingly.