The Great News of the Gospel – Part 1

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The Great News of the Gospel – Part 1

a series in Romans

January 29, 2023

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one book of the Bible with you, a great choice might be… Romans. What an incredible overview of the entire Gospel message!

Here’s the opening message to my new series on Romans called “The GREAT News of the Gospel.” It addresses important questions like: Why did Jesus have to rise from the dead? What is “the obedience of faith”? Is the Gospel for everyone or only the “elect”?

There’s nothing more important than understanding righteousness by faith. It reminds me of the Italian expression il dolce far niente (meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing”). Not sure where I’m going with this? Let Romans help you with the art of doing nothing: “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

Are you doing nothing to get right with God? Nothing to get more forgiven? Nothing to get closer to Him? I sure hope so, and you’ll discover why in this powerful and liberating message.

Discussion Questions for Romans 1:1-17:

1. Read verse 2. What was promised beforehand? Can you think of any place in the Old Testament it was promised?

2. Read verse 4. How specifically has Jesus proven His identity?

3. Read verse 5. What is the obedience of faith?

4. How should we understand the use of the word “called” in this chapter? How does this jive with “For many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)?

5. Read verse 11. What does “impart some spiritual gift” mean here in context?

6. Read verse 13. Was God telling Paul where to go and when so he would not waste time? In your opinion, why or why not?

7. Read verse 16. Who is the Gospel for? Who can get saved? How does this verse help us understand the true meaning of predestination later in Romans?

8. Read verse 17. What does it mean to you to be righteous by faith?

The Great News of the Gospel – Part 2

February 5, 2023

The truth is all around us! We see it in the mountains and in the stars. It’s evident in the animal kingdom and in our own bodies. We are not the product of random chance. We have a Creator! While this is obvious, some still suppress the truth, making foolish speculations about our origins. As a result, they don’t recognize God or give thanks to Him. Therefore, God gave them over… but not randomly one day because He was angry. No, humanity chose first to go rogue and live independent of Him. His response was to allow them the consequences of their choice. Romans 1 showcases this reality and even presents a controversial passage about sexual sin. This heinous sin is listed right alongside “disobedient to parents” – which says a lot. All of us – young and old – show up on the Planet in need of the same solution. And realizing our dilemma then puts the focus on the power of God’s grace – right where it should be! Enjoy this weighty message from Romans 1 and let us know what you think! Discussion Questions for Romans 1:18-32: 1. Read verse 18. What does “men who suppress the truth” mean? How do they suppress it? 2. Read verses 19-20. How are God’s attributes evident through what has been made? 3. Read verses 21-22. What are some of the futile, foolish speculations of people without God? 4. What are the three things God gave people over to? What do these mean for our core problem? 5. Read verses 26-27. What sin is defined here? What words and phrases help define it? 6. Read verses 29-31. Heinous sins are listed alongside “disobedient to parents.” What does this say about “levels of sin”? What does it say about God’s grace?

The Great News of the Gospel – Part 3

February 12, 2023

Here’s the bad news: We’re all in the same boat! That’s the message of Romans 2 – we’re all equally doomed. And there’s no partiality with God. Whether it’s a Jew trying to keep the Law, or a Gentile trying to obey their conscience, there are exactly zero people on the planet who can meet God’s perfect standard. Here’s the good news: Therefore, God intervened. And He did so through Jesus Christ. As a result, anybody and everybody can be made perfect before God – for free. It’s about receiving, not achieving. This is where the book of Romans is headed. So, check out this important piece of the puzzle, as Romans 2 sets the stage for everything to come! Discussion Questions on Romans 2:1-16: 1. Have you ever found yourself judging another person when you've done the same thing? Discuss. 2. React to this statement: The kindness of God leads you to repentance. 3. Who has an unrepentant heart? Why is knowing the audience important here? 4. How many “doers of the Law” are there who persevere in doing good and merit eternal life? Why is this key to understanding Romans 2? 5. Why do you think Paul mentions that there’s no partiality with God? 6. Why are the Gentiles also accountable to God if they weren’t given the Law? 7. Take two minutes to summarize the point of this entire passage in one sentence. Then share your sentence with others.

The Great News of the Gospel – Part 4

February 19, 2023

The Law only breeds two things – defeat if you’re honest and hypocrisy if you’re not. In this tongue-in-cheek passage, Paul is calling all hypocrites to the carpet. Paul even goes as far to say that obedient Gentiles could rightfully judge disobedient Jews. Ouch. I’m sure that one ruffled some feathers! But Paul is simply trying to show that obedience to the Law is what really matters, and no one is able to be obedient to it. Once we’ve seen our inability, we can see Christ’s ability. Once we see our failure, we can see Christ’s success on Calvary. This is where Paul is leading us. So, buckle up for this blistering rebuke of hypocrites and the beautiful revelation that everything we need with God must be absolutely free! Discussion Questions for Romans 2:17-29: 1. Read verses 17-20. How are these verses written with “tongue in cheek”? 2. Read verses 21-23. What are the five ways Paul calls out so-called Law keepers for hypocrisy? 3. Read verse 24. Do unbelievers still look at religious people as hypocritical today? Give examples. 4. Read verses 25-27. Who actually “practices” or “keeps” the Law? So, why is Paul saying what he says in these two verses? 5. Read verses 28-29. How does this speak to our identity? What is the circumcision of the heart? What does this mean for your spiritual desires?