Romans 13 "Navigating New Relationships" Rev. Greg Meyer

 

 

                                                         

                                 Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) Being a Jesus follower changes us but also changes all of our relationships. Which relationships in particular does Paul address in this chapter?

 

 2) What are our responsibilities in regards to our state?

 

 3) What does Paul say about our neighbor and how we are to treat them?

 

 4) How does a believer respond to the culture?

 

 5) Bulletin quote: "Law and love need each other. Love needs law for its direction, while law needs love for its inspiration." (John Stott) How does this help us understand our reaction to live out Romans 13? 

Romans 12:9-21 "What's Love got to do with it?" Rev. Chris Smith

 

                                       Sermon Discussion Questions

 1) What does Paul say about love throughout this passage?

 2) Why is it difficult for our love to be sincere and genuine sometimes?

 3) What type of "competition" is Paul describing in Romans 12?

 4) What does John 4 say about love? Who is our source of love?

 5) How has the love of God changed the way you live and love others?

                                                                      

Genesis 18:9-15 "The Gospel and our Shame" Rev. Ed Dunnington

 

 

                                                          Sermon Discussion 

 

 1) What does the Lord say to Sarah in this passage?

 

 2) How does Sarah respond? Why do you think Sarah responds this way?

  

 3) What had God told Abraham in the previous chapter (17)?

 

 4) What is the significance of the Lord addressing Sarah by her name?

  

 5) How do we respond to God when we have felt our shame in the past? How can the hope of the gospel inform our response to shame when it pops up in our daily lives?  

Acts 10:34-43 "Resurrection Hope" Rev. Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

                                                     Sermon Discussion 

 

 1) Why should we believe the resurrection is true? What are the 3 reasons given?

 

 2) Why is the resurrection so important? 

 

 3) The world's message is "The better you are, the better your life will go." Why do Christians reject that philosophy? What does this passage have to say about that mentality?

 

 4) How does the truth of the resurrection change our lives now? 

Romans 12:1-8 "Changed Lives" Rev. Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

 

                                                        Sermon Discussion 

 

1) What does Paul write about the sanctification process in this passage? How do we grow/change as believers?

 

2)  What is the posture of a Christian in the process of sanctification? 

 

3) Do we wait on others to do the "right" thing or another act of mercy before we act? 

 

4) What are ways that we give our lives to Jesus currently? What does trusting Him look like in your daily life at work, school, relationship etc?

 

5) Sermon quote: "To become a self, I need the community of believers." How can this be challenging? How can this be encouraging?

 

Romans 11 "Make No Room for Spiritual Pride" Rev. Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

                                             

                                           Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) What was Paul reminding the readers of in this passage?

 

  2) What does spiritual pride look like in practice? How can it be damaging?

 

  3) Was God rejecting the Jews in His plan of salvation?

 

 4) How do we see these dynamics at work between Christians of various traditions now? What are ways we can meet these dynamics with the truth of the gospel message?

 

 5)   Do we think of our salvation as a gift? What is challenging about that? What are areas of growth in our lives in this regard?

Romans 10:1-21 Preach the Gospel Rev. Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

 

                                                                 Sermon Discussion

 

 1) What does Paul remind us about the gospel in this passage? 

 

 2) What is our message to others when we preach the gospel?

 

 3) What is our role as believers in sharing the gospel?

 

 4) Who is the message of the gospel for? Why is it challenging to share the gospel?

Romans 9:1-33 The Sovereign Mercy of God Rev. Chris Smith

 

 

                    Sermon Discussion Questions

  1) What does this passage remind/teach us about God's sovereignty?

  2) What are the questions about God that Paul writes in this passage? Do those questions resonate with you at all?

 3) How many times is the word mercy referred to in this section? What about God's mercy and sovereignty was Paul trying to communicate?

 4) What about God's sovereignty can we find comforting as His people?

 

James 5:13-19 "The Heart of God" Dr. Paul Kooistra

 

 

                                                    

                 Sermon Discussion Questions

 

1)  What does this passage remind us about prayer?

 

2) "Prayer is the most important thing we can do in missions." Have you thought of prayer as a resource? What about this is challenging?

 

3) When should we pray? What situations cause you to pray? What area of prayer would you like to grow in?

 

4) Do we approach prayer as our greatest resource of power? How is prayer being a resource different than what our culture says? 

Romans 8:12-30 "From Groaning to Glory" Rev. Chris Smith

 

 

                                                 

                                                               Sermon Discussion Questions

 

1) What does the text say teach us about the Spirit of God?

 

2) What does the power of the Spirit enable us to do as believers? What is our relationship status as believers with God?

 

3) How is the sovereignty of God explained in this passage?

 

4) How do we see the Trinity working together in this passage?

 

5) Is it challenging to see yourself as a child of God? What is comforting about this reality of being the children of God as believers?  In what ways would you like to grow in this reality?

Romans 8:1-11 Life in the Spirit Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

 

                                            Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) How many times is the "Spirit" used in this  passage? Why do you think Paul is wanting to draw our attention to the Spirit?

  2) What does the Spirit do for the life of a believer that the Law cannot do?

  3) "The ministry of the Spirit is to direct our lives. It is a gift to us with direction." (sermon quote) How does the Spirit direct our lives? Is it a challenge to see this as a gift?

   4) In Romans 8:10-11, what does it say about the Holy Spirit? How does He empower the believer?

 

   5) Bulletin quote: "You can't say that the law is the power of God unto salvation. The law is the will of God., but it is certainly not the power of God to save people. (Jack Miller) Does this help you understand the difference between the law and the power of the Spirit? 

2 Timothy 1:8-14 "He is Able" Dr. Tom Gibbs

 

 

 

                                          Sermon Discussion Questions

 

 

 1) What does Paul say about Christ in this passage? What does Paul say our response should be?

2)  Who's sufferings to we share in? Are we active participants in the work/suffering of Christ?

3) Where do we put our confidence when it is not in the Lord? (status, finances, etc?)

 4)  Bulletin quote: "The strength of the dangers ranged against us often make us despair or at least tempt
us to distrust God. However, for our defense, we are armed with the knowledge that we have adequate protection in God’s power. So Christ, encouraging us to be confident, uses the argument, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all” (John 10:29). By this he means that we are out of danger since the Lord who protects us is well able to resist everyone." Is this helpful to you as you reflect on this passage? Do you agree with Calvin's words?

5) How are we able to celebrate the love of our God in the midst of our darkest tragedies? What does that look like?

Acts 20:28-38 "The Deeply Rooted Church" Rev. Greg Meyer

 

 

                                                                Sermon Discussion Questions

 

 1) "Our stories are woven together like forests and trees. That is the way God intended it." (sermon quote) Yet being connected to each other isn't always easy. How we can we be better rooted here at Covenant? Where can we set our attention to help us grow?

 

 2) All good things we have, God has given us. How can we care for those things better? How can we care for ourselves better in light of taking care of what God has given us?

 

3) In response to what God has given us, how does that gratitude translate into serving others/good works?

 

4)  What gifts, time, resources, knowledge, presence can you be using here at Covenant with our church family?

 

5) Love is inherently personal. God is the source of our love. His grace (unmerited favor) has been lavished on us. How does that truth of the gospel change the way you interact with our church family?