Verse 24 starts with the word "Therefore," which means "consequently." Everything that Paul has been writing about has a consequence, and Paul writes in verse 24 is that the consequence is becoming consumed with our lusts, or over-desires. We talk about the difference between desires and over-desires.

Flowing from the fork-in-the-road verse about choosing between God and futile thinking, Paul gives three "exchanges" we make, and this is the first of those "exchanges." This verse talks about how we exchange God for images of mortal man, and we talk about what that means in today's terms.

A seven-word verse follows the big fork-in-the-road verse we discussed yesterday. Paul cuts down the so-called wise philosophers in the culture at the time. We talk about that.

In the ESV translation, Paul has six verses in a row that start with "For." This is the last of those six verses--the verse they all build to. And this final verse perfectly encapsulates a fork in the road for humans and each of us: honoring God and futility. We talk about that fork and which ones humans have chosen.

Verse 20 picks back up with Paul's contention that the Gentiles should have sought God just from seeing his world, ending by saying that all are without excuse.

After writing that God's wrath comes to all, Paul anticipates an objection by the Gentiles in the church in Rome that they didn't know any better. Paul counters that objection by pointing out that God is plain to all. We talk about what that means.

After writing about the righteousness of God, Paul flips to the unrighteousness of men, which Paul writes draws the wrath of God.

One of the most profound, complex, and debated verses in Romans is verse 17. I do my best to unpack double meanings and talk about how we might meditate on this verse to help us realize that all righteousness we receive in God is for one reason: faith.

There's a reason this verse is underlined in my old NIV bible. Paul packs two big messages into this verse: (1) that the gospel may be offensive to some, but that he is not ashamed of it; and (2) that the power of God for salvation is available to everyone who believes.

Paul ends his section on his longing to visit the church in Rome. To whom is Paul eager to preach the gospel? To everyone, including you.