Podcast on The Way

Learning the Way - Romans 3:9-20

Romans 3:9 - For we have already charged that all ... are under sin." The message made it clear that you can be better at not sinning, but you are still under sin. What are specific sins that you struggle with? What specific sins have you struggled with this week? Have you confessed and repented from these? If not, why not? Romans 3:10 - "None is righteous, no, not one..." Romans 3:12 - "no one does good, not even one." The message talked about the importance of our motives. Describe a time when you did a good thing, but with a poor motive? What is the motivation of your heart? Will you confess these motives to your group? Romans 3:11 - "No one understands; no one seeks for God." Are you seeking God or seeking things from God? What are the things you are seeking or have sought from God? Do you think you deserve those things? Why? Romans 3:18 - "There is no fear of God before their eyes" Do you have a fear of God? Psalm 111:10 tells us "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Describe to your group what you think the fear of God looks like?

Learning the Way - Romans 3:1-8

In Romans 3 we see Paul speaking to a group of Jews that began to think that God's faithfulness was equivalent to Him upholding the nation of Israel. That began to translate into "we are the most important people in the world." This is a man-centered view of God and it ignores a variety of God's character traits like His judgment, wrath, and righteousness. This can lead us to completely miss our need for a Savior. In what ways do you see this happening today in our culture and in what ways are you guilty of this in your own life?The message pointed out that this passage could be removed from Romans and Paul's point would still be made. But he adds this point to address a very specific issue that he knew some of this letter's recipients would question. He goes out of his way to speak to his audience. This is an important principle for us to follow! Are you willing to do the hard work of understanding the objections of other people (ages, people groups, races, denominations, anyone who doesn't think identically to you)? Are you willing to learn their language and speak Gospel truths to them? What does this look like practically in your everyday life?The message talked about some believers having a false sense of security (whether Jews in the first century or Christians today). As believers, we aren't called to a life of complacency and solitude. Instead we're called to live in community, bear fruit, and finish the race (James 2:26, 2 Timothy 4:7). Do you simply fall back to your promise of eternal security or are you actively fighting the good fight? Is being a follower of Christ an active, daily pursuit, or a prayer that you said once?

Learning the Way - Romans 2:17-29

Romans 2:17, “But if you call yourself a Jew…” Paul begins this passage by slowly but deliberately calling out the Jewish believers at Rome. He reminds them that while they’ve been boasting in a variety of things (their Jewish heritage, their knowledge of the Torah, etc.) they’ve been neglecting one of their primary callings: showing the rest of the world the one true living God. While Paul is speaking specifically to Jewish believers, his message is still relevant to us. Discuss with your group the ways we are guilty of doing the same thing as a church, as a small group, and as individuals. In other words, if Paul were to write a letter to Church on the Way, what would he call us out on?Romans 2:21, “you then who teach others, do you not teach yourselves?” When you read scripture or hear it preached, how do you actively apply it to your own life, or are you like the man who looks at his face in the mirror, but goes away and at once forgets what he looks like?The sermon spoke a lot about moralism which can be described as the belief that the Gospel can be reduced to improvements in behavior. Moralists often want to keep their lives nice and neat, which often leads to them separating themselves from the things of this world to avoid being ‘contaminated’. Are there areas in your life that this is true?Romans 2:24, “...The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” As mentioned above, these Jews had become so distracted in their boasting, that they’d neglected their true mission. We likewise can be guilty of this, and this can lead to us becoming the kind of Christian that no one wants to be around. But God calls us to lead lives that make others wonder what is different about us! (1 Peter 3:15) Our lives should be attractive to the lost! (Have you ever considered that?)We’ve probably all encountered a Christian who made us want nothing to do with Christianity because of their lack of love, but have you ever encountered another believer that was such an encouragement to be around that you just wanted to spend more time with them? To learn from them and grow with them?Which of these do you consider yourself to be? Do people far from God seek you out because they see something in you that they can’t explain but want to know more about? If not, what needs to change? Would you admit that to your group and ask for their encouragement and prayer? Romans 2:29, “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” Take some time as a group to meditate and talk about Christ’s ultimate circumcision, being cut off completely from God as he bore the weight of our sin on the cross. How does this move you to praise and love Him?

Learning the Way - Romans 2:1-11

Learning the Way - Romans 1:18-32