// Sermon Application //

1. How does the book of Romans aim to categorize ALL people? Can you show that category from the Scriptures? How does this one category (sinners) inform how we treat all people?

2. What competing worldview(s) have you encountered in evangelistic interactions with others? How have you sought to lovingly inform them of the Bible's worldview that "all are sinners and in need of the grace of Jesus?"

3. Can you define (in your own words) "critical (race) theory?" What two categories does this aim to put all people into? (oppressed & oppressor) How do these categories undermine the one primary category that the Bible gives for understanding our primary identity?

4. Critical race theory aims to liberate oppressed people from hegemonic powers, whether that individual has exercised those abuses or not. What is "hegemonic power?" How does God, through the gospel treat these categories? How ought Christians to resist the cultural trend to understand people according to hegemonic powers and categories rather than the Bible's category of God being the King ruling over all people -- lifting up all who are sinners?

5. In what ways does "critical race theory" and "hegemonic powers" lead to an abandonment of all being sinners and in need of Christ's salvation? In what specific ways is the Biblical worldview of "all being sinners & wrongs being reconciled through Christ" more helpful and needed to truly reconcile racial, gender, and cultural differences and hurts for the oppressor and the oppressed?

6. Have you experienced the gospel bringing about "unlikely" reconciliation between you and another brother/sister that is uncommon and unlikely in our day? Can you describe the ways in which this has been hard? In what ways are you growing in this? How would yo like to see the gospel more deeply shaping your current personal relationships?