DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
YOU: Of the various ministries outlined in the sermon, which do you identify with the most? In which do you lack the most?
BIBLE: What did Paul want/expect from the church in Rome regarding his pending journey to Spain [vv.28-32]?
WORLD: What role(s) can you play in helping the Lord raise up workers for the mission field?
What was most helpful/challenging to you in this text and/or the sermon on this text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In what ways in our passage do we see the priority of
Paul in reaching unreached peoples? How much has this priority been in your mind as you have followed Christ? What has contributed either to its absence or emphasis in your life?
What are the greatest challenges to you either being a committed sender or goer? What about the character/ ways of God and/or the promises of God in this text can give you strength to overcome those challenges?
What do you think we can do as a church and individual Christians to keep the priority of taking the gospel to the unreached always before us? In what specific way is God calling you to shape your life so that you can be a faithful sender or goer?
What was most helpful/challenging to you in this text and/or the sermon on this text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What would be a picture of Christian church that is “full of goodness”? (14) How can a Christian life be “acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”? (16) How is your spiritual walk of being sanctified by the Holy Spirit? What are
the things we can do to make our church be “full of goodness”?
What are some false teachings that you have faced in your previous church experience, if there is any? What would be a picture of Christian church that is “filled
with all knowledge”? (14) How is your comprehensive understanding of the Christian faith? What are some ways that you can improve this?
What was the main reason that Paul was proud of his work for God? (17-18) What was his main ambition? (20) What would be a picture of Christian church that is “able to instruct one another”? (14) How are your doing with evangelism and discipleship?
What was most helpful/challenging to you in this text and/or the sermon on this text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt hopeless? Why? How did that sense of hopelessness impact every other part of your life? Why do you think hope is so vital the Christian life?
In Romans 15:13, Paul calls our Maker and Savior, “The God of Hope.” Drawing on the larger context of Romans, what does it mean that God is a God of hope? How does this encourage you in your Christian walk?
From the sermon, how does our community life together (the “joy and peace” in Romans 15:13) impact our experience of God’s hope?
What was most helpful/challenging to you in this text and/or the sermon on this text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
YOU: When were you most welcomed by other(s), and felt very cared for? Would you care to share that experience with others?
BIBLE: According to [Psalm 69 & Romans 15:1-12], why have King David and Jesus “endure” the reproaches of others?
OTHERS: Who are your “goyim/others” that you don’t care much about, that you are not likely to welcome normally? How does the Bible’s/example of Jesus/sermon inform you or motivate you to accept those who are different from you? Will you do it, for Christ’s sake?
1. In vs. 12, Paul says that he has not “obtained this” and he presses on to “make it my own”. Based on vs. 7-11, what is it that he presses to make it his own? How can we move forward together by making this our own?
2. Who was Paul before his conversion (vs. 5-6)? What are the bad things (or even the good things) that happened to you that stops you to move forward with the church? How can we move forward together by straining forward to what lies ahead?
3. What does vs. 15 say about how the mature should think of themselves? What does it mean to “join in imitating” Paul in vs. 17? Who do you consider as mature Christians around you? How can we move forward together as we keep our eyes on them?
4. What are the main characters of those who turned their back on Jesus (vs.19)? How can we set our minds on heavenly things as we try to move forward together?
How vivid is your understanding of your union with Christ? In other words, how real is your death and resurrection in Christ emotionally as well as your life application? Let’s talk about it!
How does resurrection in Christ renovate your inner-life?
How does resurrection in Christ impact the way your plan your outer-life?
What was the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
Can you think of an example where your theology or actions have been judged, rebuked, or corrected by another Christian? Was it done well or badly, and how did it impact your Christian journey?
Read Romans 14:1-19. What reasons does Paul give for not judging a fellow Christian? Look particularly for things connected to the fellow Christian, God’s part in things, and how we ought to live.
In our church and your community group, how can we promote ‘righteousness, peace and joy’ (14:17) foster ‘peace and mutual upbuilding’ (14:19) and walk in love (14:15)? What practical things can we do or change? What can you do or change?
YOU: How long have you been a Christian? Have you ever been hurt/stumbled by other Christians? Would you care to share?
BIBLE: How did the sermon explain the phrase “weak in faith”? How can the “weak” become strong? What are some biblical prescriptions?
OTHERS: How can you improve your service, whether as an “old” towards the “new”, or as a “new” to the “old”? Please share and pray for Spirit’s instruction and strength.
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
Why do we still need to fulfil the law (Rom 13:10) even though we are released from it (Rom 7:6)? How can we fulfil the law based on Rom 13:8-10? Why is it so hard to love others? How does the gospel help us with this struggle?
When is ‘the time’ and ‘the hour’ that Paul is referring to (Rom 13:11)? What does it mean to ‘wake up from sleep’ (Rom 13:11), ‘put on the armour of light’ (v12) and ‘walk properly as in the daytime’ (v13)? What are the three categories of sin listed in verse 13? What are the sins that you are struggling with?
How does ‘putting on the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v14) help us with our sin struggles? What do you desire the most? Is Jesus at the centre of your inner most desires?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
In what ways have you struggled to understand the role of government and how a Christian should participate in it or relate to it? What about other Christians you know?
In what ways does this text challenge the way you think about and live in response to your local and federal government?
What truths about God and the gospel in this text and the larger context of Scripture help you to apply the instruction of this text?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
YOU: What is your general attitude towards leadership and authority? Share some personal experiences from the past.
BIBLE: What is the function of church leadership, and how should your attitude be towards them according to [Heb.13:7 & 17]?
OTHERS: How should we speak of the elders and how should we treat them according to [1Tim.5:17-20]? What is the meaning to “double honour”?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
Who are the enemies in your life? How does the culture teach us to respond to our enemies? How have you been responding to them?
What gospel truths in this passage give motivation and enablement to love our enemies?
What are some practical ways that we can love our enemies as a demonstration of the gospel?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
1. Read Romans 12:15-16. Which commands do you find hardest?
2. Consider your Community Group. Are there things you could do within your group to make it easier to share joys and sorrows? Are there things you could do/do better to be like-minded, accepting and welcoming to outsiders?
3. Consider your non-Christian friends, neighbours and colleagues. If their life falls apart, are you in a position to be able to show generosity and kindness to them? What might it look like for you and your Community Group to show Christian empathy and self-sacrifice love to them?
4. What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
YOU: Would you say you have a clear sense of “good vs. evil” in your daily consciousness? Do you tend to see the world in “black & white”, or in “shades of grey”? Give examples
BIBLE: Look up [Phil.4:8-9] once again, and consider how you are actively pursuing these good things of God. Also, as you recall the sermon, why is Good considered “powerful”?
OTHERS: Would you warn others of the powerful advancement of God’s Goodness? What is the consequence of preferring evil instead of good?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
Do ever find yourself comparing yourself to either “less gifted” or “more gifted” people? How does that make you feel?
Why should being one body in Christ free us from human comparisons and lead us to serve in joy and humility?
How should the example of Christ’s humility transform the way that we exercise our God-given gifts?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
YOU: What are you learning about a Presbyterian Church? How is it different from other church(es) you’ve experienced in the past?
BIBLE: Can you recall or review the many ministries and functions of church elders?
OTHERS: How is the Lord leading you to emulate such godliness and leadership? As you consider our HCC congregation, is the Lord showing you certain individuals as candidates for eldership? Do not make specific reference or gossip.
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?
In 1 Timothy 3:15 we see how significant the church is to God’s plan. How have you thought of the significance of the local church? How is this being reflected in your life?
As we looked at the Convictions and Character of elders as an example for all believers, what areas did you identify in which you need the grace of God to grow you in?
We looked at the good gospel result of having qualified men to serve as elders. What are positive examples
that you have seen of the effect of good leadership in a local church? What are some negative examples of bad leadership in a local church?
What is the most helpful thing to you in this text or the sermon on the text?