Family Study Guide for Romans 13

Family Study Guide for December 15 – December 21, 2005
(Read Romans 12 Online)

Reflections on Romans 13 by Mark Chesner, Coach

pro·cras·ti·nate
1. To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
2. To postpone or delay needlessly.

Sometimes I think there is nothing more human than procrastination. When given a major task, we like to think our first reaction is to plan it out carefully, set a timeline for action, organize our resources, and start working on it methodically. But what happens when you are actually given an assignment for a major paper? If you are like me, you look at the deadline and say to yourself, "Well, I don't have to start thinking about that until next week." Don't think this applies to you? Well, just think about this: How many weeks do you start studying for next week's chapter in Quiz Team, the day before the practice?

Some people even extend procrastination to their spiritual life. "I'll do whatever I want now," They think, "and I'll ask God for forgiveness later, if I need to. After all, I have plenty of time." There is even a slang term used sometimes to talk about people who take this to extremes: "Fire Insurance Buyers." They act like Jesus came to give us "Fire Insurance" to keep us out of Hell, rather than coming to give us a full life in this life AND the one to come.

But scripture, and especially Romans 13, reminds us that procrastination is a BAD IDEA in your spiritual life, because you never know when the Last Day is coming… whether it be the Last Day for the world or just for me.

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11-12

Cynical people will note that Paul thought he was living in the last days, too, and it is now 2000 years later. But the point is exactly this: You have to live like the Last Days are almost here, because you won't have time for a do-over afterward. God is merciful, but He won't be like a teacher giving you an extension on a paper you forgot about. When the Day of Judgment comes, it will be "pencils down and turn in your tests" time.

So, in light of this, how should we react? Stop procrastinating about doing the right thing…

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8-10

…and leave all the bad stuff behind…

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Romans 13:13-14

Questions to Consider:

• What good thing have you been putting off doing?
• What bad stuff have you let continue in your life, because you can always make it right later?
• If you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow morning at 9 AM, what would you spend the rest of the day doing?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

6. God’s Righteousness Revealed in Transformed Living (12:1-15:13)

Finish the Verses for this Chapter:

Everyone // must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. Romans 13:1

Consequently, he // who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:2

Let no // debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

The commandments, // "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:9

Love does // no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

The night // is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

Rather, // clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:14

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. The HOUR has come for you to WAKE up from your SLUMBER why?
2. CLOTHE yourselves with whom?
3. What does no HARM to its neighbor?
4. He who REBELS against the authority is REBELLING against what?
5. Do WHAT, understanding the present time?
6. What is the FULFILLMENT of the law?
7. (Pay) REVENUE if what?
8. 2 Part : He will commend you why?
9. The authorities are God's SERVANTS who WHAT
10. He who LOVES his FELLOWMAN has what?
11. (Pay) honor if what?
12. What if (you owe) REVENUE?
13. Let no DEBT what?
14. RULERS HOLD no TERROR for whom?
15. Do what is right and WHAT?
16. It is NECESSARY to submit to whom?
17. What has come?
18. Do you want to be free from WHAT?
19. It is NECESSARY to what? (What is NECESSARY?)
20. "Love your neighbor as yourself" is how WHAT?

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Family Study Guide for Romans 12

Family Study Guide for December 8 – December 14, 2005
(Read Romans 12 Online)

Reflections on Romans 12 by Mark Chesner, Coach

If you have been raised in the church (especially OUR church), you know this verse very, very well:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

But I wonder how many of us have really seen it in context of the rest of Chapter 12, which is in many ways about how alien the Christian walk is to "this world." Consider these verses:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8

Essentially, these verses tell us to find the gifts God has given us and to use them to their fullest. Compare that to what you see on television every day: models telling you that you are not pretty enough, commercials telling you that you don't have the right stuff and to go out and buy more, television programs telling you the most important thing is the witty comeback, etc. The world is always looking to make us just like everyone else. A copy of whoever is the hot person of the moment. But God wants us to be the best version of ourselves, developing and enjoying the gifts and talents he has given us.

And then, of course, we move into the really radical stuff:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Romans 12:17-19

Not only are we supposed to be the best version of ourselves in our talents, but also in our everyday life. Again, compare this to the world around us. Movies are full of violence from the little (comedies where creative vengeance is taken and "hilarity ensues") to the humungous (action-adventures where the hero is the guy who blows up the most stuff and comes out the other end with perfect hair). The news is focused on explosions, murders, political battles, and scandal. The world loves violence - it is pleasing to the eye and full of drama… so long as it is happening to someone else. But God wants us to love those around us. It is no accident that in the Christmas season we talk so much about the "Prince of Peace" when speaking of Jesus.

The truth is that Christians truly are aliens and strangers in this world. The more we CONFORM, the farther we move from God. But the more we TRANSFORM, the closer we are to our Father, and the more joy we can find in becoming the people God meant us to be.

Questions to Consider:

• When have you felt like an alien and a stranger in this world?
• When in your life has doing what is right meant doing exactly the opposite of what the world would have you do?
• When is it hardest to live “at peace” with everyone around you?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

6. God’s Righteousness Revealed in Transformed Living (12:1-15:13)
a. The basic consecration (12:1-2)
b. In Christian ministry (12:3-8)

Finish the Verses for this Chapter:

Therefore, I // urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Do not conform // any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

For by // the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you, Romans 12:3

Just // as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

Love must // be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10

Never // be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:11-13

Bless // those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:14-15

Live // in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

Do not repay // anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18

Do not take // revenge, "my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ""It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"" says the Lord. On the contrary: ""If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:19-20

Do not be // overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. (Be) patient in what?
2. Reference : According to Romans 12:17, be what?
3. What if he s THIRSTY?
4. (Be) FAITHFUL in what?
5. By the RENEWING of your mind be what?
6. What if it is SHOWING mercy?
7. Practice what?
8. Each MEMBER BELONGS to whom?
9. Situation Who says it? To whom? How?: Do not think of yourself more HIGHLY than you ought, but rather think of yourself with SOBER judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
10. Do not CONFORM any longer to what?
11. Reference : According to Romans 12:12, be what?
12. What if it is possible?
13. Do not repay anyone how?
14. You will be able to test and approve what God's will is when?
15. Reference : According to Romans 12:17, do not what?
16. Reference : According to Romans 12:1, I urge you, brothers, to what?
17. These members do not all what?
18. BLESS those who PERSECUTE you how?
19. LEAVE ROOM for God's wrath why?
20. 2 Part : You will HEAP BURNING COALS on his HEAD how?

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Family Study Guide for Romans 11

Family Study Guide for December 1 – December 7, 2005
(Read Romans 11 Online)
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Reflections on Romans 11 by Matt Chesner, Coach

“I’d Rather Be Lucky than Good”

Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Will Purdue, Craig Hodges, Scott Hastings and Bill Wennington. What do the second group of players have in common that the first group doesn’t? Each player in the first group is a future Hall of Fame player who has never won an NBA Championship. Whereas, the second group is full of players who were lucky just to play in the NBA, but were all also fortunate enough to play with Michael Jordan and win on Championships on his Bulls teams.

We gentiles are lucky like the second group of players. We are lucky that God’s salvation has been offered to us. We reaped the benefits of the Messiah coming to Earth to offer salvation. (First to the Jew, then to the Gentile. -Romans1:16) Romans 11:11 says “…Rather because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” Chapter 11 also goes on to explain our situation as that of a wild branch grafted to a tree with nourishing sap. We were not naturally meant to have this salvation, but God chose to offer it to us so that his people would see our joy and turn to him.

The Jewish People had all the benefits of being God’s people and yet did not accept God’s means for salvation. Because of this, we were shown the way to salvation so that they would see and come to God. How great our joy should be. What ever the reason, how lucky we gentiles are that the salvation that came through Jesus was not just provided to the Jewish people, but to the whole world.

Questions to Consider:

• What was a time in your life that you benefited from being “Lucky” rather than Good?
• What in my life would someone be envious of that could bring them to God?
• How have you thanked God for extended His salvation to you?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

c. God’s sovereign choice fulfilled (11:1-36)

Finish the Verses for this Chapter:

Consider therefore // the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22

Oh, // the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. 3 Part : All things (are) what?
2. What if their REJECTION is the reconciliation of the world?
3. Reference : According to Romans 11:26, what is written?
4. 2 Part : How much GREATER riches will their FULLNESS bring if what?
5. He will not spare you EITHER if what?
6. As a result of their disobedience you what?
7. Kindness to you, PROVIDED what?
8. God did not spare what?
9. May their eyes be what?
10. I make much of what?
11. Who is the apostle to the Gentiles?
12. Who is an ISRAELITE?
13. There is a remnant chosen how?
14. What if it were (by works)?
15. Who will turn godlessness away from Jacob?
16. What Israel sought so earnestly it did not WHAT?
17. Who has been grafted in among the others?
18. What will their ACCEPTANCE be but life from the dead if WHAT?
19. 3 Part : God gave them what?
20. Reference : According to Romans 11:22, consider what?

Any questions about quizzing? Email the coaches at coaches@quizpad.com
* PDF Files may be read and printed by Adobe Acrobat
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