Call On The Name Of The Lord (Romans 10)

Talk about a time when something so good happened to you that you couldn't wait to tell others about it.

Read Romans 10:9-13.

How would you summarize these verses in one sentence?

Do you think that internal beliefs always produce external actions? Why or why not?

How would you describe the internal beliefs of Christianity?

How would you describe the external actions of Christianity?

Why is it important to believe in the resurrection? Why does the resurrection matter?

What do you think it means to "confess that Jesus is Lord"?

Talk about what it should look like if Jesus is Lord in the following areas of your life:

- Mind

- Word

- Attitude

- Choices

- Finances

- Career

- Relationships

- Future

Which of these areas is the greatest struggle for you? Why?

What steps can you take this week to submit every area of your life to Christ's lordship?

How can this group pray for you? 

Does suffering lead to joy? (John 2)

What are you looking forward to in the coming week?

Read John 2:1-11. Have a few people talk about their favorite verse in this story.

This event happened on "the third day".  What else happened on a third day? How might this event be a symbol of Jesus future resurrection?

In ancient cultures, wine often represented joy. As a group, create a list of ten reasons you have joy today.

Read Romans 15:13. How does our faith in God provide us with hope, peace and joy?

What events in life can cause our joy to run out? How have you experienced suffering which threatened to steal your joy.

Re-read John 2:3-10. As you read, substitute the word "joy" for "wine" and substitute the word "suffering" for "water". How does this help you think about the connection between suffering and joy?

If this story is also a symbol of the future, how does the resurrection create the "best joy"?

Because we currently live in a broken world, our joy is sometimes tainted with sorrow. When we experience resurrection, though, our joy will be made complete.

Read Revelation 21:1-7. When the final resurrection is complete, what are you most looking forward to?

How does your confidence in the future enable you to have joy in present?

What will you do this week to encourage one another and to fill one another with joy?

You Have a Representative That Cares About You (Romans 5)

Have you ever had the opportunity to be a representative for a person or group? How did you do?

Have you ever been represented poorly by someone else? How did you feel?

Do you feel that Adam was a good or bad first representative of humanity? Why?

Read Romans 5:19. Use the previous verses for help answering the following questions.

Who is the first “one man” mentioned in this verse? How do you know?

Who is the second “one man” mentioned in this verse? How do you know?

How did the first man’s disobedience affect everyone who came after him? How did his disobedience impact you? Explain.

If you had been the first man, would you also have disobeyed? Why or why not?

Make a list of all the ways the second man was obedient to God. How did his obedience impact you?

Read 2 Corinthians 15:49. How is this verse connected to Romans 5:19?

What do you think it means that we will “bear the image of the heavenly man?”

When God looks at you, does He think you look more like the first man or the second man? Why?

If you do bear the image of the heavenly man, then God, the Father, must feel about you the same way He feels about Jesus. How would you describe the way God, the Father, feels about Jesus?

Knowing how God feels about you should inspire you to live a certain way. How do you want to live this week as a result of God’s love for you?

What are you going to change in your life to help you live this way?

Open Your Hand (Mark 3)

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Read Mark 3:1-6. Make a list of all the characters in this story. For each character, choose three words which describe them well.

Do you think Jesus knew the Pharisees were watching him? Do you think everyone else knew? Why or why not?

When was a time when you felt people were watching and judging you? How did you deal with it?

Why do you think Jesus made the man with the bad hand stand in front of everyone? How do you think the man felt with everyone looking at him?

What flaws of yours do you try to hide from everyone around you? Why? Why is it difficult to talk about our shortcomings?

Read James 5:16. How do you feel about this verse? What specific steps should people take to apply this verse?

What words in verse five are used to describe Jesus' emotions? Do you think you have ever made Jesus feel that way? Why?

How does Jesus feel about you today? Read Romans 5:8. What did we do to earn Jesus' love?

The man in this story had to stretch out his hand in order to be healed by Jesus. Stretching out our hands often signifies letting go of something. We all have habits, hurts and hangups which we need to let go.

What do you need to let go of in order to experience the fullness of Jesus healing?

What one thing will you do this week in response to this study?

Healthy, Sick, Righteous, and Sinners. (Matthew 9)

What is the worst illness you have ever endured?  What treatment did you receive? How relieved were you when you got better?

Read Matthew 9:9-13. Do you think following Jesus was a difficult decision for Matthew to make? Why or why not?

What do you think it means to "follow Jesus?"

If this story were to happen in West Michigan in 2012, where do you think it might take place? Who do you think would be the tax collectors and sinners? Who do you think would be the Pharisees?

In verse 12 Jesus suggests that some are "healthy" and don't need a doctor. In verse 13 he seems to say that some are "righteous." If everyone is a sinner (Romans 3:23), than why is Jesus saying that some don't need to be saved?

Who are these "healthy" and "righteous" people?

Why did Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?

What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."?

Sometimes its easy as Christians to find ourselves looking  down on (or judging) the "tax collectors and sinners" of our society. How can we avoid this?

What does "mercy" look like in West Michigan in 2012? What do you think the "sacrifice" Jesus is talking about  looks like in West Michigan in 2012?

What do we need to do to be like Jesus in this story?

Love The Light, Hate the Night (Romans 13)

Key Ideas:

Paul has spent the first 11 chapters of Romans laying out His understanding of the Gospel and the nature of God's salvation. Beginning in chapter 12, he begins to discuss the implications of salvation. In chapter 13, he is giving very simple and practical instructions for life to those who have accepted God's salvation.

Verses 8-14 cover two related issues. The first is "How do we treat our neighbors?" The second is "How do we live among our neighbors?" Our relationship with our neighbors is to be characterized by love because that is what Moses taught in the law, and it is what Christ commanded. Our behavior in front of our neighbors is to be characterized by light, not be darkness (1 John is full of this kind of language). Living in the light is most easily simplified by suggesting that those deeds which we do in private, but not public are most likely the actions of darkness.

Discussion Guide:

What is the best hiding place you ever used when playing "hide and seek"?

When have you had a secret you kept from others? Have you ever been hurt by the secrets of others?

Read Romans 13:8-14.

What do you think it means to "love your neighbor"? Are we required to love everyone around us?

Read verse 9. How are each of these commandments based upon love? How does a lack of love lead to other kinds of sins?

Why do you think Paul talks about evil deeds as being darkness and good deeds as being light?

*Rule of Thumb for life: If you are trying to hide the thing you are doing, then perhaps you shouldn't be doing it!*

What do you think it means to "clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ?" (vs.14) If Jesus had a sports team, what would their jersey look like?

What kind of lifestyle would cause people to immediately identify you as a follower of Jesus? What needs to change in your life so this will be true of you?

How will you demonstrate love to those around you this week?

God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge. Are You Ready? (Acts 17)

What was the best speech you ever heard? What was the best speech you ever gave?

If you could give a speech in front of one group of people, who would it be? Why?

Read Acts 17:24-31. This is the account of one of Paul's most famous speeches.

Clearly Paul is teaching that God is the creator. In your opinion, what rights and privileges does God have because He created the world?

Why do you think Paul says that God has no needs?

According to these verses, God is the sustainer of life. How are some ways that God has sustained your life? What are some of the things He has given you to "keep you alive"? Can you think of specific times when God intervened in your life to provide you with something you needed?

What do you think it means that God determined the times set for people and the places they would live? Do you think that God already knows when and where you will die? How does that make you feel? Does it impact the way you live? Why or why not?

According to verse 27, God wants people to reach out for him. What circumstances did God bring into your life to cause you to reach out for Him? How have you seen God work in other people's lives to cause them to reach out to Him.

According to verse 31, the person who will hand out justice at the final judgment will be Jesus. What do you think will be his criteria for judging people? Are you confident about how he'll judge you? Why or why not?

Should Christians fear the final judgement? Why or why not?

Read Romans 8:14-16. What does this say about fear? Why does being God's child remove fear?

Who do you know that needs to become God's child before the final judgment? What will you do this week to help them along their journey?

The Most Popular Verse in the Bible (John 3)

What does it mean to you to place belief in another person? Who is a person you know that you really believe in? Why?

Read John 3:16.

Why do you think John 3:16 is such a popular verse?

Why do some people believe that God doesn't love the world? How can the life of a Christian be a powerful illustration of how God loves the world? What types of things could you do this week to show the world that God loves them?

Why do you think God chose to demonstrate his love to us by sending His Son to earth?

Are the words "one and only" important in this verse? Why or why not?

Would you allow your perfectly healthy child to die if you knew it would save someone else's life? What does this gift from god teach us about His love? What sacrifices should we be willing to make for the good of someone else?

What does it mean to "believe in Jesus?" Have a few (or all) of the group members talk about why they believe in Jesus.

What does someone need to believe about Jesus in order to have eternal life?
(clue verses: Romans 4:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 6:1)

How does belief in Jesus change your life?

Who do you know that needs to hear the truth of this verse? How can you tell you them?

What Do You Do When You Don't Measure Up? (Romans 4)

Go around the group and have everyone say something they appreciate about the person to their left. When you're done ask everyone how this exercise made them feel. Ask if they feel like they were portrayed accurately by the person who talked about them. Why or why not?

Go around the group again and have everyone give themselves a grade (A-F) on how well they lived this week. Allow them to explain the criteria by which they made their decision.

How well do we have to live to please God?

Based on what you know about Abraham's life, give him a grade for how well he lived his life. Explain your criteria.

Read Romans 4:1-2. What do you think it means to be "justified?"

Did Abraham live a good enough life that he had reason to be proud of himself? Why or why not?

Why do you think this verse say that he had no reason to be proud in God's eyes?

Read Romans 4:3. What do you think it means to be "credited for righteousness?" In your own words, explain how Abraham received this credit.

What specifically do you think Abraham believed? How much do you think Abraham knew about God's plan to send Jesus?

Read Romans 4:4-5. According to verse four, those who seek to be judged by their works will receive their fair payment. How do you think this will end for most people? Why?

According to verse 5, what is the alternative to being judged by works? What does it meant to "trust God?" For what are you trusting him?

Why is it sometimes hard to trust God? Why are some people unwilling to trust God?

Do you think there is a difference between trusting God for righteousness and trusting Him in every day life? Explain your answer.

For what do you need to trust God this week?

Telling Your Story to the World (Acts 1)

What is your favorite courtroom TV show or movie? Why?

In your opinion, what makes someone a good witness? What makes someone a poor witness?

Read Acts 1:6-8. Jesus wanted his followers to be his "witnesses". To what do you think did he want them to testify?

If you had been an eyewitnesses to all of Jesus' ministry, what would have been your testimony about him?

Read Acts 1:3. How important do you think the resurrection was to these witnesses? Why?

Regarding the resurrection, why do you think the testimony of the people in Acts 1 would be credible?

If someone asked you to give an account of what you know about Jesus, what would you say?

Read Romans 6:5,7-8. How should Jesus' resurrection from the dead affect us?

How have you personally benefited from Jesus' resurrection?

If someone asked you to be a witness about Jesus' resurrection, what would be your testimony?

Read Acts 1:8 again. Jesus wanted his disciples to be witnesses first in Jerusalem, then eventually to the whole world. If you applied that idea to your current location, what places would be your Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria?

What steps can you take this week to begin being a witness in those places?

What things might keep you from being a witness this week? How would God want you to deal with those things?

How can this group help you to be a better witness?

Death and Slavery -- The Christian Life!

Have each person in the group describe (in just a few sentences) what it means to "live the Christian life."

Romans 6 is all about "living the Christian" life. In this chapter, Paul uses two pictures to help us understand what it means to live as someone who has been justified by Jesus' work on the cross. The first picture is the picture of death, the second picture is the picture of slavery.

Read Romans 6:3-11. What do you like about these verses? What is confusing about these verses? What is the "main idea" of these verses?

What do you think it means to "die with Jesus"? How does the act of baptism symbolize this death?

If our death in Christ is the end of our old way of life, what kind of things are we now "dead" to?

Having been buried with Christ, we share in his resurrection also. How should our life be different because of the resurrection?

Look at verses 11 and 14. How would you restate these ideas in your words?

Read Romans 6:16-23. What do you like about these verses? What is confusing about these verses? What is the "main idea" of these verses?

Verse 16 talks about two masters, one of which we choose to obey. Give some specific examples of how we might choose or reject each of these slave masters.

Verses 20-22 talk about the "fruit" of obeying each master. If everyone is destined to die, why does Paul say obedience to sin leads to death while obedience to righteousness leads to eternal life? Don't we all die?

How can an "eternal perspective" help someone as they "live the Christian life"?

What is something you are going to think more about this week as a result of this discussion? Is there a clear step you want to take?

How can this group pray for you?

Freedom from Slavery (Exodus 20)

What was the worst job you ever had? What made it so bad?

Exodus 12 is about God's rescue of Israel from slavery. If you had been a slave your entire life, what do you think would bother you the most?

• I can never do what I want to do
• My boss doesn't care about me or my health
  
• All my work is for someone else's benefit
• There is no hope for my children's future

Read Exodus 12:40-42. As the people were leaving Egypt, what kinds of thoughts do you think were going through their mind?

The night God freed Israel, he killed the firstborn son of every Egyptian family. The Israelite children were saved if they sprinkled the blood of a lamb on the door. Why do you think God chose a lamb for this symbol?

Read John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7. Why is Jesus called a lamb? How is the symbol of Jesus as a lamb parallel to the symbol in Exodus 20?

Read Romans 6:16-18

What kind of sins hold people in slavery?

What do you think it means to be freed from sin?

How does someone who is freed from sin live differently than someone who is still enslaved to sin?

Every year the Jewish people celebrate the Passover and their freedom from slavery in Egypt. How do we celebrate our freedom from sin? How can this group celebrate our freedom from sin?

God's Good and Perfect Gifts. (a biblical exploration)

What was the greatest birthday gift you have ever received? What made it so great?

What was the worst birthday gift you have ever received? How did you react when you opened it?

Second to salvation, what is the greatest gift God has ever given you?

Read James 1:16-17 and Matthew 7:7-11. What truths do these passages teach about the gifts of God?

Read Romans 8:28. Is it fair to say that every gift God gives us is a good and beneficial gift? Why or why not?

Read Job 2:1-10. Focus on Job 2:10. What do you think was the point Job was trying to make to his wife?

We very easily accept and praise God for the pleasant gifts He brings into our lives. Sometimes it is a little more difficult to praise and thank Him for the unpleasant gifts He allows into our lives.

Give an example of an unpleasant gift from God that might be beneficial for us.

Read James 1:12-15. Notice that this passage about suffering and temptation directly precede the passage about God's good gifts.

How might it be possible that suffering and/or temptation are "good" gifts from God?

Knowing that God only brings beneficial things into our lives, How should we respond when we have to deal with these kinds of "unpleasant" gifts?

What beneficial but unpleasant gift are you dealing with right now. How can this group pray for and help you in your journey?

Growth Through Suffering (James 1)

Have each person list five things in life that bring them joy.

Have each person talk about suffering they've recently endured.

As a group, read James 1:2-4.

What parts of this passage seem to go against common sense? What parts of this passage make sense?

According to James, what is the purpose of suffering?

What is perseverance? Make a list of synonyms for perseverance.

Have a few people share how their past suffering helped them develop "perseverance".

How can perseverance enable someone to grow in their relationship with God?

List some ways perseverance is a character trait which enables us to better love the people around us.

How would you describe a "mature Christian"? What are the character traits and personal habits of a mature Christian?

Can someone be a mature Christian without suffering? Why or why not?

Think about the ways you have most recently suffered. How can you demonstrate joy in those situations? (if you have time, discuss how "joy" might be different than "happiness". Use Psalm 51:7-12 to guide this discussion if necessary.)

Take a moment for the group members to consider how God might be "completing them" spiritually through their suffering.

Extra Passages for Further Study:
Hebrews 12:7-11
Romans 5:1-5
1 Peter 1:6-9
1 Peter 4:12-19

What Makes Something Right or Wrong

Ultimately, our opinion of "right and wrong" will have the most significant impact on our decision making.  It is actually our decision making that is the practical application of our belief.  This discussion is designed to be a biblical survey of decision making principles.

Read Exodus 20:2-17 and/or make a list of the 10 Commandments.

How might the 10 commandments serve as a guideline for living rightly today?  Create a list of issues which don't seem to be covered by the 10 commandments.

Read Mark 12:28-24.

How might these 2 commands serve as a guideline for living rightly today?  Create a list of issues which don't really fit under these two commands.

Have someone in your group read each of the following passages.  After each reading, have the group discuss how this passage can serve as a guideline in decision making:

• Psalm 119:105
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Proverbs 15:22
• Romans 14:13-16
• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
• 1 John 2:15-17

As a group, read Galatians 5:18-25.

Have group members discuss which of the items from the first list (vs.19-21) most often represent their decision making.

Have group members discuss which of the items from the second list (vs. 22-23) most often represent their decision making.

Have each group member share something they would like to do differently in their decision making this week.  Pray for one another and look for opportunities during the week to encourage one another.

Cross-Focused: 6 Things Made Possible by the Cross

This study focuses on how the benefits of the cross are applied to our lives.  This is truly a study in how God extended His grace to us through the work of His Son on the cross.  I've listed six words which describe some of the benefits of Christ's death.  Take time to read the passage for each question, and then for each word, answer the four questions below: 

• How would you define this word?  What is an example of this from every day life?
  
• How does this word apply to the relationship between God and humanity?
  
• Did this happen immediately (at the cross), later (sometime after the cross), or is it a future event?
  
• How does this effect me personally?
  

THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS

Restoration. (Revelation 21:5-6)

Redemption. (Ephesians 1:7-14)

Regeneration. (Ephesians 2:1-6)

Reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11)

Ransom (Mark 10:45)

Restitution (1 John 2:2; 4:10)

Once you've finished, spend time in worshipful prayer thanking God for His grace as demonstrated through His Son.

Basics: Redemptive History (Genesis-Revelation)

This study is probably much too long for one session, unless you have 2 hours. It might work to have people go through the first section on their own, or to use these questions to construct a short teaching time in which you can summarize the overview of redemptive history.

In my opinion, it's the five questions at the end that are most important.

Note the illustrated guide at the bottom of the study.

1. How important is Jesus?
2. Why?
3. Have you ever thought, "It wasn't supposed to be this way?" What was going on?
4. Read Genesis 1:31. What are examples of how our world has become less than "good"?
5. How did Adam and Eve's disobedience bring this brokenness about? (Read Genesis 3:11-12,23-24)
6. According to Genesis 4, what were some of the consequences of sin on Adam and Eve's family? How do we still see some of these same consequences today?
7. Over the centuries, how effective have mankind's efforts been to eradicate the effects of sin?
8. Why do you think man is unable to rid himself of sin's consequences?
9. What does it mean that men have fallen short of God's glory?(Romans 3:23)
10. How does Jesus remedy the failure of mankind?(Romans 5:8)
11. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?
12. How does Jesus' death make us into "new creatures?" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
13. How did God intend for his new creation to become ministers of reconciliation? (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Matthew 28:19-20)
14. What are you most looking forward to when God finalizes the new creation (Revelation 21)

----------GETTING PERSONAL----------

1. Have you ever sinned? When did you first "fall"?
2. How has your sin kept you from being the person God created you to be?
3. How have you attempted to remove the effects of sin from your own life? How have you failed?
4. How important is Jesus?
5. Why?

Sin (Genesis 3)

This study is part of the "basics" series. All these studies consist of more questions than a group will be able to address in one setting. However, if someone takes the time to walk through each question and give significant thought to the answers, they will hopefully come away with a fuller understanding of the basic doctrines being taught.

"Sin" is based largely on Genesis 2,3. Many of the questions refer to the story of Adam and Eve which appears in those chapters.

1. From where does sin come?
   
2. What caused Eve to sin? What caused Adam to sin?
   
3. Why was the serpent’s suggestion tempting to Eve? What makes sin tempting to us?
   
4. To what degree are all people sinners? What void in our lives are we trying to fill when we sin?
   
5. How are pride and/or selfishness connected to our sin?
   
6. List all of God’s commands in Genesis 2. Are they reasonable?
   
7. At what point in Genesis 3 do you think Eve sinned? Why?
   
8. Is sin more than just “disobedience to God?” Why or why not?
   
9. According to Romans 3:23, all have fallen short. Fallen short of what?
   
10. What does it mean to be righteous?
    
11. List as many of God’s commands to us as you can. 
    
12. How would you define “sin”?
    
13. Who is affected by our sin? Who is offended by our sin?
    
14. How did Adam and Eve’s sin impact their relationship with each other? With creation? With God?
    
15. How does our sin negatively impact our relationships? Examples?
    
16. What were the immediate effects of Adam and Eve’s sins? What were the long term effects of their sin?
    
17. What are some examples of immediate and long term effects of our sin?
    
18. How many times did Adam and Eve sin in Genesis 3?
    
19. Why does sin seem to multiply itself? Why is sin often addictive?
    
20. What does it mean to confess your sins?
    
21. What is repentance? How is repentance different than confession?
    
22. How do people pay restitution for sins?
    
23. How do these things help to remedy our sins?
    
24. What is the role of Jesus in remedying our sins?
    
25. What impact does Jesus have on the immediate consequences of our sin? The long term consequences?
    
26. Since Jesus has paid for our sins, do we need to make restitution for them? Why or why not? How does the Bible support your position?
    
27. Does sin hold power over Christians? Why or why not?
    

The Creator and the Creation (Romans 1)

This study is based on Romans 1:18-25.  It is important to understand and move toward the understanding that God is the creator and is not to be confused with the creation in any way!  This is a foundational thought for all Biblical understanding.

FOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT “CREATION”:

1. It was made by God
   
2. It points to God
   
3. It is a resource, not a source
   
4. It is incapable of receiving worship or service
   

20 Questions

• Are men really ungodly and righteous? Why or why not?
  
• By whose standards are these judgments made?
  
• What makes someone ungodly or unrighteous?
  
• What truths about God do people suppress? Why?
  
• What are the attributes of God that are clear to everyone?
  
• How can creation point us to God?
  
• Does it matter that God is immortal?
  
• If God is the creator, what –if any– is our responsibility to him?
  
• Why wouldn’t someone want to believe that God is the creator?
  
• What do you think it means to “worship the creature”? Do people worship the creature today?
  
• How does suppressing God’s truth make it easier for people to claim “wisdom”?
  
• What is “wisdom”? Who is someone most non-believers think is wise?
  
• Do people prefer “black and white” wisdom or “gray”? Why? Does God see in black and white?
  
• Why does God consider man’s wisdom to be “futile thinking”? Can you think of an example of this?
  
• In what way are men’s hearts darkened and foolish? Does this apply to everyone? Why or why not?
  
• How are people “without excuse”? For what? To whom?
  
• Why is God wrathful?
  
• Who is in danger of facing God’s wrath?
  
• How is God’s wrath evident today?
  
• How will it be evident in the future?
  

Rescuing Slaves (Exodus 3-4)

WhWhat was the worst chore your parents ever made you do?

-         Read Exodus 1:8-14

 

-         What do you think it means to have a “bitter life”?

 

-         What do you think it would have been like to have been born into a slave family?

o    

-         Make a list of one word answers that describe how the Israelites probably felt when they were freed from slavery.

 

-         Read Romans 6:16-18

 

-         What kind of sins hold people in slavery?

 

-        What do you think it means to be freed from sin?

 

-         Read Exodus 3:7-10

 

-         How do you think Moses felt about the job God gave to him?

 

-         How can you be like Moses and rescue people from slavery?

 

-         Assign the following verses to different people.  After each verse, have the group describe Moses’ excuse for not going to Egypt.  Then have them tell how like Moses, they may be afraid to tell people about God.

 

o       Exodus 3:11

 

o       Exodus 3:13

 

o       Exodus 4:1

 

o       Exodus 4:10

 

o       Exodus 4:13

 

-         Go back through those same verses and determine how God responded to Moses’ fears.  Have the group discuss how God might respond to their fears.

 

Explain to the group that just like God called Moses to do a special job, He has called each of us to do a special job.  Finish this time by having the students reading Matthew 28:18-20 in unison.