Greetings! Below you will find questions which reference the sermon preached this past Sunday at The Park. I encourage you to begin your group with a time of greeting and introductions. You may choose to reorder the questions below or to write your own. Work hard to facilitate discussion and avoid allowing yourself or another member to speak the entire hour. Ultimately we trust you with leading your group.
Martin Luther says of Roman’s, “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament, It is the purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul.” What’s your relationship to Romans? Do you read it often? Do you memorize it? Why or why not?
- What are some observations you had from this chapter? Were there any new insights you learned about the passage from the sermon?
- What theology was present in this chapter?
- What did you learn about God from reading this chapter?
- This chapter begins with “therefore”. What is the link Paul is making to the previous chapter?
- What does it mean that death reigned from Adam to Moses? What is the significance of each of those characters?
- Give an example of a suffering you have seen come full circle in your life to produce greater hope. What current suffering are you trusting God to redeem now?
- Read verse 6. Explain the use of the word “powerless” in light of the previous chapters on works and salvation. How does our “powerlessness” bring further glory to God.
- Read verse 8. What is (or can start to be) your daily response knowing that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us?”
- Is it fair that God uses a representational model for us in Adam and Jesus (vs 12-15)? How do you understand the theodicy of God, or God’s justice in this? (use Romans 5:8 to assist you)