Source and Resource- Romans 1:18-32

Intro to Romans: The Roman church is growing with new life and new faith but it’s complicated. The faith had been part of Judaism and now gentiles are coming in. The Jews are telling the gentiles their new faith in Jesus needs to look more Jewish. The gentiles think the Jews are making unnecessary additions to the faith they have found in Jesus. It would be like having liberals and conservatives in the same church. Imagine that! Chapter 1 of Romans he is calling out the gentiles. In chapter 2 he calls out the Jews and in chapter three he starts his argument of putting them all on the same playing field. In this chapter we are only seeing a slice of the argument he is starting to build but he is going somewhere important for us to understand. He is pointing to the fact that we are to look to God as our source and not to the “resources” we often look to in the idols of religion, politics, power, sex, money, etc. Paul is contrasting faith; trusting in the source… and faithless; trusting in the resources.

1. Joel mentioned one of the distinctions of our community. He said we are “rooted in scripture and guided by the Spirit.” Scripture gives us history, story, and the journey of our faith foundations and we work it out now with the Spirit in process and discernment. What does that mean to you? How do you understand that?

2. What area of life is it harder to trust (have faith in) the source than resource? What areas of resource cause you anxiety because you worry about it working out the way you hope?

3. As we move into the Lent season, is there anything you feel you should give up? Is there a fast you feel called to? Do you need time to pray and listen on that question?