Podcast on The Way

Learning the Way - Romans 7:1-6

In this week’s passage, Paul compares our relationship with God to a husband and wife. In an ideal marriage, we do things to take care of our spouse - to help them and show them they are loved. We don’t do these things out of obligation or guilt (at least we shouldn’t) but instead, we do them because we love our spouse. In your relationship with God, what love-inspired actions are you taking? Do you do things for Him out of obligation or guilt? For the married crowd: how’s your marriage? Do you take action to show your spouse that you love them? Have you become complacent? Do you take your spouse for granted? When others see your marriage, do they get a glimpse of heaven or hell?So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. - Romans 7:4-5What fruit are you bearing? Do you see evidence of God working in your life? Be honest, but humble bragging is discouraged.Do you struggle to express joy and happiness with regards to your relationship with God? When we worship corporately, do you feel awkward and unable to join? If so, could it be that you’ve traded the freedom of a relationship with God for living under a law that you created yourself?

In this week’s message we learned that the imperative always grows out of indicative. As an example, we don’t love others so that God will love us. Instead, we love others because He first loved us. What is the motivation behind your behavior? In what areas of your life are spurred to action out of guilt or obligation?In what areas of your life do you have only an intellectual understanding of God rather than an intimate understanding?How would you respond to someone who says, “I don’t like Christianity because it restricts my freedom” or says “why do you bother to obey God if He already accepts you?”

Learning the Way - Romans 6:1-14

We learned in the message that as believers we are no longer under the reign and rule of sin. Sin can no longer dictate, but can still cause us harm. Are there sins you have grown tolerant toward? Will you confess these to your group? Aren’t we really just easing into the new year with these questions?It’s a mistake to think the main way we live our new life is simply looking at sin and its desires and saying to ourselves: don’t. Our new life in Christ is about living positively and proactively: do! Paul encourages us to “offer yourselves to God” and, “offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” Talk about ways that you can encourage each other as a group to offer yourselves to God.Paul is showing us in this text that sinning comes not from a lack willpower, but from a lack of understanding our position and a lack of reflection and rejoicing. How would your life change if you thought like this:-I am bought with Christ’s blood.-I have been delivered out of the dominion of sin.-I was saved by Christ specifically so I would not sin.

Learning the Way - Romans 5:12-21

In the message we learned that death reigns not because we sin like Adam sinned, but because of Adam’s sin. Talk with your group about how this makes you feel.We also learned that in the same way, because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, His righteousness can be imputed to us. Contrast and compare the persons of Adam and Jesus. Talk as a group and help each other understand this concept.As the Christmas holiday approaches, it can be easy to forget the reason we celebrate. Share ideas as a group about how you can weave the true meaning of Christmas into your celebration of the day.

Learning the Way - Romans 5:5-11

In what way do you allow your relationships with people to change the way you view your relationship with God? Do you live as though it is God who has reconciled you to Him? Does it frustrate you to know that this reconciliation is completely through Him, or does it free you?An important part of our walk with God is having sin revealed to us, confessing and repenting from it, and growing in our relationship with God. Do you have anyone in your life that is close enough to you to show you areas in your life where you need to confess and repent? If not, why?Name at least one criticism of the person sitting to your right. Be kind, but be honest.

Learning the Way - Romans 5:1-4

Our justification through faith ends our conflict with God. But it isn’t just an end to conflict. Instead it’s the beginning of peace and a relationship with Him as we are ushered into His presence as sons and daughters of the King. Do you live as though this is true? When difficult times come, do you revert back and flee from His presence as one who is still fighting Him? Or do you run to Him seeking repentance and forgiveness?The scripture taught us that suffering leads to endurance, endurance to character, and character to hope. Think of a time when you went through a period of suffering. What was your response? What does this tell you about your understanding of justification? Is there an area of suffering or disappointment in your life which you are seeing as punishment from God, instead of God working to bring you closer to Him?

Learning the Way - Romans 4:10-25

Paul seems to be addressing a disunity among Gentile believers and Jewish believers in Rome. They both were following Messiah, but there were other issues that were causing division. What are issues in our church, specifically, and in the larger church, generally, that cause division fruitlessly and/or over open-handed issues? What should your role be within these conflicts?For Paul believing in God means have faith not in what we can see but what God has promised. How is having a hope that goes beyond all human hope of particular encouragement or comfort to you today? Can you think of ways recently that you have acted in faith when it was hard? Are you being called to do so right now?Throughout this text, Paul uses Abraham as an example to prove his point regarding salvation and the law. For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness… It was not after, but before he was circumcised. So, Abraham’s faith came first, then his obedience through circumcision. It isn’t circumcision (keeping the law) that saves him, just as it isn’t our works that save us. How does it make you feel knowing that there isn’t anything you can do that will make God love you more or less? Is your initial response positive or negative? What does this say about your view of God and your view of salvation?As we make our way through the book of Romans, do you find yourself understanding more clearly our natural state apart from God, and the overwhelming steps He has taken to bring us back to Him? Does this clearer (hopefully) understanding make it easier for you to tell others about this good news? Do you think about God’s actions both corporately (the steps He has taken to bring us back to Him) and personally (the steps He has taken to bring me back to Him)? Reflect on this as a group.

Learning the Way - Romans 4:1-9

Romans 4:3, quoting Genesis 15:6 - “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” We learned from the message that this righteousness is a status that is conferred to us, but doesn’t inherently belong to us. How does it make you feel, knowing that it isn’t something you do?The first of two key points from the message: A believer does not work for his or her salvation. How does it make you feel knowing that there isn’t anything you can do that will make God love you more or less? Is your initial response positive or negative? What does this say about your view of God and your view of salvation? The second of the key points: A believer trusts God who justifies the wicked. The message described this as a trust transfer, when we stop trusting in ourselves and shift that trust to God. We now trust Him for our salvation and not ourselves. Do you agree with this in theory, but fight it in your everyday life? Does your behavior betray where your trust actually lies?

Learning the Way - Romans 3:27-31

In light of the events of the election, what are ways you can be showing the love of God regardless of your personal political beliefs? In the message we learned that boasting and believing are complete opposites. Discuss with your group why this is true. In what ways are you guilty of boasting? When your sin is revealed to you, does it move you closer to God or further from God? Does it move you into community or isolation?

Learning the Way - Romans 3:21-26

Romans 3:24 - "...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" The message was clear that your faith is not the cause of your salvation, instead it's the instrument of your salvation. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Thinking that your faith causes your salvation gives us glory rather than God. Where do you struggle with this? Have you had a time in your life when terrible circumstances made you question God? Romans 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Understanding that God is both the just and the justifier gives us a clear picture of both God's holy, wrathful anger, but also His love, kindness, and forgiveness. The just God is the one who is cannot turn a blind eye to sin. The justifier God is the one who loves, is kind, and forgives. Which of these two ends of the spectrum do you focus more on? Why? How does this change your perception of God?