NOTE: There will be no Bible Study on Thursday, March 4. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Does/will God save the Jews who do not believe in Christ? (See Paul’s answer in 11:25-29)
Why does Paul believe that some Jews are “enemies” of the Gospel despite their divine election? (cf. 11:28) Why then should Gentiles continue to be faithful to the Gospel?
What does this mean for inter-religious dialogue and relationship between Jews and Christians? (See Paul’s discussion in 11:17-24)
Do you / have you ever known a faithful Jew? If so, what have you learned from him/her? What do you hope s/he has learned from you?
Why is it so important to Paul to emphasize God’s relationship with the Jews? What implications does he understand God’s relationships with the people of Israel to have for Christians?
Do you trust God? How is / would your life be different because of your trust in God?
What stumbling blocks do you encounter that make it difficult for you to trust God? How do Paul’s words in these chapters give strength and encouragement to you as you stumble?
What do you make of the “divine election” that Paul speaks of? To what has God elected us? How does/should this effect the way we live our lives? The way we relate to others?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Romans 6:1-8:39 (for 2/11)
If we are saved by God’s grace anyway, why don’t we just continue to live in sin?
With the above question in mind, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Cost of Discipleship, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” In contrast, he suggests, “Costly grace…is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” In what ways do you experience God’s grace as costly? In what ways do you experience God’s grace as cheap? Can (or should) it be both?
If you cannot achieve your own salvation by good works, what role do good works have in a Christian’s life? According to Paul? According to Bonhoeffer? For you?
Think of the baptisms you remember witnessing. Think about what you may have been told about your own baptism (or ask someone to tell you). Why do we baptize? According to Paul, what happens in baptism? What does this mean for us who are baptized? Read again 6:3-14.
What symbols do we use to represent baptism in the church? Which symbols holds the most meaning for you? Why?
Lutherans teach that the law functions as 1) a mirror (to reveal sin), 2) a measuring stick (to order society), and 3) a guide (to direct Christian living). Read again 7:7-13 – what function of the law does Paul describe? If we agree with what Paul says here, how might we live and act differently as Christians saved by God’s grace who have been gifted with God’s law?
In 8:15-17 Paul describes us as children of God. In what ways does/has your family reflected on you? Influenced you? In what ways does/can/should your membership in God’s family do the same?
With the above question in mind, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Cost of Discipleship, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” In contrast, he suggests, “Costly grace…is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” In what ways do you experience God’s grace as costly? In what ways do you experience God’s grace as cheap? Can (or should) it be both?
If you cannot achieve your own salvation by good works, what role do good works have in a Christian’s life? According to Paul? According to Bonhoeffer? For you?
Think of the baptisms you remember witnessing. Think about what you may have been told about your own baptism (or ask someone to tell you). Why do we baptize? According to Paul, what happens in baptism? What does this mean for us who are baptized? Read again 6:3-14.
What symbols do we use to represent baptism in the church? Which symbols holds the most meaning for you? Why?
Lutherans teach that the law functions as 1) a mirror (to reveal sin), 2) a measuring stick (to order society), and 3) a guide (to direct Christian living). Read again 7:7-13 – what function of the law does Paul describe? If we agree with what Paul says here, how might we live and act differently as Christians saved by God’s grace who have been gifted with God’s law?
In 8:15-17 Paul describes us as children of God. In what ways does/has your family reflected on you? Influenced you? In what ways does/can/should your membership in God’s family do the same?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Romans 5:1-21 (for Feb 4)
Recall your past (and present) sufferings. In what way(s) have these produced endurance, character, and hope? How is God at work in the midst of your suffering? How do you respond to Paul’s suggestion that we “boast in our sufferings”?
What meaning does Paul attribute to Christian suffering? What do you think he might have meant when he talked about suffering in this way?
Read again 5:6-10. What do we / have we done to earn God’s salvation? Contrast this to an understanding of “accepting Jesus” into one’s life?
What does the term “original sin” mean to you? Read Genesis 1-3. What does Paul mean when he says that sin came into the world through one man? How (if at all) are we inheritors of Adam’s sinfulness?
Read again 5:18. According to Paul, who is saved on account of Christ’s righteousness?
How does God show his great love for you? Take some time alone to contemplate God’s love for you and for all of humanity. If you take this love seriously, how might it change the way you live – change your life?
What meaning does Paul attribute to Christian suffering? What do you think he might have meant when he talked about suffering in this way?
Read again 5:6-10. What do we / have we done to earn God’s salvation? Contrast this to an understanding of “accepting Jesus” into one’s life?
What does the term “original sin” mean to you? Read Genesis 1-3. What does Paul mean when he says that sin came into the world through one man? How (if at all) are we inheritors of Adam’s sinfulness?
Read again 5:18. According to Paul, who is saved on account of Christ’s righteousness?
How does God show his great love for you? Take some time alone to contemplate God’s love for you and for all of humanity. If you take this love seriously, how might it change the way you live – change your life?
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