You will find Life Group questions and other resources for Life Groups that coordinate with the current sermon series.

Romans is an important and powerful book, and in this letter, Paul invites us to mine the depths of the Gospel like never before. As we journey through this book together, we’ll grow to understand God’s righteousness, our unrighteousness apart from him, the significance of God’s Son Jesus Christ, and the implications of the gospel message for our everyday lives.

Romans 1:1-17 Life Group Questions

Read Romans 1:1-7

Before Paul had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, his former life was significantly different; he was running in the complete opposite direction. How does Paul introduce himself at the beginning of his letter, and what does that reveal about how Paul now sees himself?

Paul uses the term “Gospel” (maybe “Good News” depending on the translation) over and over in these few verses. It’s essential as we move forward with our study of Romans that we understand what Paul meant by the “Gospel.” How do you understand what the Gospel is? (It might be helpful to have your every member of your group define it)

What do you think Paul means by the phrase “obedience of faith” in Romans 1:5? What does it look like to practice that obedience in our own lives

Read Romans 1:8-17

In verses 14-15, Paul says that he is “eager” and “under great obligation” to preach the Gospel...why do you think that is? (Think about who Paul was, what he has been given and now how he understand the Gospel) Would you say that you feel like you are “eager” and “under great obligation” as well?

Paul says clearly that he is “not ashamed of the gospel” in Romans 1:16. What would it look like to be ashamed of the Gospel? How have you experienced temptations to hide what you believe about Jesus?  

Verse 17 says, “ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight...” John gave us two terms that helped us understand this, gift-righteousness and alien-righteousness. How did we define these terms?  (Help: gift-righteousness, we are not made right before God because of anything we have done, but we receive his righteousness as a gift. Alien-righteousness means that it comes from outside of us)

·       God declares us righteous before him. Is that a hard reality for you to embrace?

·       Are there areas of your life where you still feel you are trying to win God's approval?

What is one thing you needed to hear from today, and how are you prepared to respond?

Romans 1:21-32

There are a few recurring themes throughout the entire book of Romans that Paul brings up in the first three chapters:

• The profound equality that all of humankind shares in the eyes of God.

• God’s righteous judgment on all those who choose to worship creation over Creator.

• The sharp contrast between righteousness and unrighteousness.

In Romans 1–3, Paul begins his explanation of righteousness by describing what righteousness is not. In other words, in order to help us understand how righteousness works, Paul spends the next few chapters showing how unrighteousness works. And just like you would imagine, it is the opposite of all that is faithful, true, and just.

The following questions are meant to help us wrestle with the text of Romans and see how the gospel displays God’s righteousness/

Read Romans 1:18-23

What words does Paul use to describe the actions of unrighteous people in Romans 1:18–32?  What words does he use to describe God’s actions? Do you see any similarities?

What comes to your mind when you think about the wrath of God, and is it hard for you to think about that side of God?

Read Romans 1:24-31

John talked about a Hebrew term called Kovod - which means weight / glory.  

How do you see this being seen through this passage?  

If your honest with yourself, does God get the Kovod in your life?

What does it mean that “God gave them over” or “God abandoned them” in verse 24?   

What are the implications of this for you?

We waded into some pretty sensitive waters on Sunday, and while this passage list homosexuality as one of many sin in this list we spent a lot of time talking about it.  Historically what kind of job do you think the universal church has done talking about homosexuality?  

Paul list homosexuality as just one of the many that Paul list.  What from the others that Paul list stands out to you?   

When you look at all those that Paul lists, all of them have one core root issue, what do you think that is, and why?  

John showed us that when we give over our God-centeredness to me-centeredness we see the implication in every area of our lives: sexually, economically, families, spiritually and socially.   Why do you think some on those listed are considered “worse sins’ than others, and would Paul agree?

John said that the church gets it wrong when it:

            1.  Believes God doesn’t care about homosexuality - how would you respond to this?

            2.  Thinks its the worst sin - how would you respond to this?

            3.  Does not create space in the community for LGBTQ - how would you respond?

Paul paints a pretty grim picture of what happens in our lives when we say to God “I get to decide what’s good for my life NOT you” things unravel fast!  If your comfortable sharing, what is one area of your life where you have put your desires over God’s design (might be helpful to re-read Paul’s list)?

In Romans 2 Paul, inspired by God, continues to make the case he began in chapter 1 that God makes himself known in the world but all people turn away from God and take on the role of God in determining what is good and what is evil.

Read Romans 2:1-3

Why is it so much easier to notice other people’s struggles rather than admit our own?

How does focusing on other people’s struggles/sins/challenges make us feel about our own? Honestly. 

How does judging others reveal to us the reality of our own heart/soul?

Read Romans 2:4-11

How do you understand the phrase, “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance”?

If you are honest is that normally how you view God’s leading toward repentance in your life? 

What is the difference between God’s righteousness and our self righteousness? How does self righteousness sneak into your life?

In v. 11 it discuss what results from “doing good” or following Jesus, does that sound like your life? What would that possible look like if it was played out in your life?

Read Romans 2:29

What does it look like to “be a Jew” according to this passage, what is the distinguishing factor to be a part of God’s family?

Why is it difficult for your praise to be, not from people, but from God? It sounds nice, but really…

After everything we read and discussed, how are you going to respond this week? Try sharing something that in an I will statement. I will…

Read Romans 3:21-25

Paraphrase this passage in your own words. 

What themes are common in the responses of your small group?

How do the first two words of Romans 3:21, “but now,” tie together everything that has come before in Romans with what Paul is about to say in Romans 3:21–25?

On Sunday, John said that justification has two parts to it.

  Forgiveness + righteousness = justification 

Forgiveness is about receiving a pardon of what we are guilty of, and righteousness is about the removal of our sin altogether. These words, combined together help us understand what it means to be justified. What does a justified life look like?  

How does someone receive the gift of justification according to verse 24? What does that practically look like for you?

How did we define the word redemption on Sunday? (Answer: to buy up) How does Christ redeem us then?

Verse 25 says that God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement. How do you understand what atonement means? (Answer: to bring back into harmony)

On Sunday, we got another clear picture of what the Gospel of Jesus is. If you were struggling with feeling like you never measured up, like you always had to try harder, do better, or God was never pleased with you; what would be the Gospel response?  

What is one thing you needed to hear today, and how are you going to respond? 

Romans 4 Life Group Questions 

As a group go around and read Romans 4:1-17

One of the keywords the pops over and over is the word “credited.” Who is crediting, and what is being credited?

Paul uses Abraham as an example in Romans 4:1–17. In verses 1–5, what does Abraham’s story teach us about being justified by God?

What do verses 9–15 teach us about how faith, righteousness, and obedience work together?

Why was Abraham’s faith not a work that earned the wage of righteousness? Why is it important that God declared Abraham righteous before he was circumcised?

How would you explain what saving faith is and is not from Romans 4:1–17?

How would you go about explaining forgiveness and gift-righteousness?

As a group go around and read Romans 4:18-25

Why does Paul quote the Old Testament in Romans 4:18–25?

John said that faith that saves us is not a general belief in God, but it is rather specific.

Faith’s object: God’s promise

• How is God’s promise seen in v. 23-25
• What does it look like for you to trust in God’s promise, even when it seems hopeless?

Faith’s focus: God’s ability

• How is God’s ability seen in verse 19?
• Is there one area of your life right now that is hard to trust in God’s ability?

Faith’s Feebleness 

• Read verse 20. It sounds strange to say that Abraham didn’t wavier in the faith, but how is Paul able to say that about him knowing Abraham’s story?
• How does that encourage you?

Faith’s result: righteousness 

• Reread verses 22-25. How does faith grant us righteousness?

If there is one thing that you needed to hear from today, what was it, and how will you respond?