Paul closes this section on God's just judgment by telling us that God shows no partiality. We talk about how humans are partial even when we try not to be, but how God's impartiality is perfect.

The flip side of verse 9 (trial and tribulation for the evil) is found in verse 10 (glory and honor and peace for those who do good). 

Paul writes that for those who do evil, God brings tribulation and distress. We talk about what that means and how we can avoid that fate.

After writing about the destination of those who seek God's glory, Paul then writes about what happens to those who choose the other path--those who are self-seeking are bound to suffer God's wrath. 

Paul tells the church in Rome how they can receive from God eternal life, and it harkens back to the parable of the talents told by Jesus in Matthew 25. We talk about how to live a life that results in hearing "well done, good and faithful servant."

Paul writes that on judgment day, we will be judged. How we'll be judged, as we'll read in coming verses, is according to our works. We'll talk about the interplay between this verse and other parts of the Bible that say we're not saved by works but by faith alone.

Paul switches from God's kindness in verse 4 to talking about God's coming wrath in verse 5--from carrot to stick (which I boneheadedly refer to as a switch for some reason). We talk about how we store up wrath by not being honest with God.

Paul writes about the presumption that so many of us make when we experience God's blessings--that the blessings are the end-point of God's love. But really those blessings are meant to drive us closer to God and to repent.

Paul writes in verse 3 perhaps his most pointed attack on the hypocrisy of the Jewish members of the church in Rome, noting that hypocrites will not escape the judgment of God.

Paul continues his flipped script by noting that God's judgment will come on those who judge others. We talk about the parallel between this verse and Matthew chapter 7.