Family Study Guide for Romans 15

Family Study Guide for January 26 – February 1, 2006
(Read Romans 15 Online)

Reflections on Romans 15 by Pastor Randy Matthews, Pastor of Prayer

Having "almost everything" the world could offer, one young man chose to live and die for others rather than enjoy a comfortable, self-centered life. He had graduated summa um laude from a college where he also had received many awards as an outstanding football player. After three years in the NFL, he turned down a $3.6 million contract to play professionally for the Arizona Cardinals in order to serve our country in the Army Rangers. On April 22, 2004, at the age of 27 years, Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan, leaving behind a wife to whom he had only been married for two short years.

If there is one theme that stands out in Pat Tillman's life, it is that he committed himself to living for the good of others. As the oldest of three sons, he took the responsibility of his younger siblings upon himself, and his passion to sacrifice himself for others continued until he died.

This same theme, sacrificing for the good of others, emerges as the main idea of Romans 15. The Apostle Paul stated that maturing Christians increasingly live to "please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (15:2) Rather than living for their own desires, interests and comfort, strong Christians carry the loads others feel pressing upon them. Their weaknesses and infirmities, far from being repulsive, give the maturing believer the very fulfilment of their destiny, which is to become like Christ. Paul clearly paints our ultimate example in the One who did not seek to please himself (John 5:30), but made himself the servant of all (Matthew 20:28).

Bear with each other and "accept one another" (15:7) are the commands of Christ for us. What is at stake is the unity of the body so it is no wonder Paul prays that believers would have "one heart and mouth" with which to glorify God. How wonderful the church of Jesus would be if the members of Christ's body chose this sacrificial way of living for others. We see too many instances of division and fighting among those who call themselves Christians.

As I mentioned before, Pat Tillman died on April 22, 2004; but do you know what killed him? Fratricide. This is the military term for "friendly fire." On that spring evening in Afghanistan, someone had mistaken Tillman for the enemy, and they shot to kill. It was most assuredly a bad mistake, no malice was intended; but the result was the same. Too often Christians are shot with a "friendly fire" of words. Bear with one another and accept one another takes on a whole new meaning when viewed from this perspective.

Living sacrificially for others was our Lord Jesus' lifestyle... and it was that of the Apostle Paul as well. He, a Jew, gave himself completely to reach Gentiles (15:14-22); then, the Gentiles gave of their resources to aid needy Jewish believers in Jerusalem (15:23-30). I wonder how this lifestyle might spread to others in our church if we all lived it more today?

One more thing about Pat Tillman that grieves me and convicts me deeply: It has been reported that he was an "announced atheist." This saddens my heart most, and I can only pray that with his last breath he put his trust in Christ. Yet, one thing in this story plagues my conscience: If one outside of Christ so lived and died for others, what is keeping us back from doing even more?

Paul knew that sacrificing for others (especially to reach the lost) is a battle bigger than his (or anyone's) ability. Is it any wonder he asked for prayer? (15:30-33) Perhaps, where Paul ended this chapter is where we begin: with prayer. Let us pray for other, my friends, so that through the great working of God's Spirit within us, Jesus' sacrificial life for others will be seen and known.

Questions to Consider:

• How could you give up "everything" for someone who is in need? What is something important to you, that you could give up for someone else?
• When is a time that someone else gave up something very important to them, for you?
• Why is prayer so important to Paul?

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:

We who // are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:1-2

For everything // that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4

May the God who // gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6

Accept one // another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:7

May the God of // hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. Reference : According to Romans 15:12, Isaiah says what?
2. All you PEOPLES what?
3. Reference : According to Romans 15:30, I urge you to what?
4. I will go where?
5. Do what by PRAYING to God for me?
6. I myself am what?
7. I glory in Christ Jesus in what?
8. They owe it to the Jews to share with them their MATERIAL BLESSINGS if what?
9. Who be with you all?
10. When I come to you, I will what?
11. Praise the Lord who?
12. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of UNITY among yourselves as you follow Christ why?
13. With one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of whom?
14. Who may glorify God for his mercy?
15. Again it says what?
16. 2 Part : You may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with what?
17. Even Christ did not what?
18. Those who were not told about him will what?
19. I hope to visit you when?
20. 2 Part : I urge you HOW to JOIN me in my STRUGGLE by PRAYING to God for me?
21. The Root of JESSE will what?

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Family Study Guide for Romans 14

Family Study Guide for January 5 – January 11, 2006
(Read Romans 14 Online)

Reflections on Romans 14 by Mark Chesner, Coach

Evangelical Christians (i.e. folks like us) take great pride in standing on the absolute authority of scripture. We know what is right and what is wrong, because "the Bible told me so." And we are right to put God's Word as the authority in our lives. After all, Luke 21:33 says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." But in doing so, we have to also be mindful that there are some matters of life and living, where not everyone's life is required to be exactly the same. On the contrary, Paul shows us in Romans 14 that an action which is sinful for one person, may not be for another.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:1-4

Paul was writing to Christians in a time when Christianity and Judaism were still very close, and the majority of Christians were also Jewish. Thus, when it comes to sin, his mind often turned to the kosher dietary laws. For the Jew, eating shellfish is sinful, as is mixing meat and dairy, as are many other "unclean" foods. In Acts, the Apostles agreed that Christians were not bound by these laws (check out Acts 15 for more info), since Christ was the fulfillment of the Law. Yet many still felt compelled to eat in a kosher manner. Some of those who did felt it showed they were more righteous than those who did not. Some of those who did not eat kosher felt that this showed they were superior, since they were fully able to embrace the freedom of Christ. Paul shows that neither was superior. Each were simply following the path demanded of them by God.

As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
Romans 14:14

So, if God demands of you to avoid doing something, then for you it is sinful. On the other hand, if He does NOT demand this of the person next to you, for them it is not sinful. This is why some in the church, for example, can drink alcohol without feeling any guilt. (So long as it is not to excess.) But for others, drinking is a sin because God has called them to abstain from it altogether.

(We must keep in mind, however, that this does not cover all sin. There are many things in scripture which are black and white, and sin for everyone. Lying, stealing, taking the Lord's name in vain, murder, envy, etc. We must always be careful to weight our actions first against scripture, then against our conscience. If either scripture OR our conscience tells us something is wrong, then we should stay away from it.)

So, Paul concludes that we need only worry about what is sinful for us, right? Nope. After the long discussion of reminding the Roman Christians not to judge, Paul goes on to explain that this means that we should always be considerate of those around us.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
Romans 14:13-16

In other words, always be mindful of those around you. If you are at a party with someone who thinks playing cards is wrong, then don't try to strike up a game of Spades. If you are at school with someone who is sensitive to the appearance of cheating, be sure to clear your desk of anything that could look suspicious. If you are in the van with someone who has a problem with hard rock music, switch to something else.

Christ's command to us is always about looking to others. What has God called us to? How can we serve those near us? But it is also a message of freedom.

Questions to Consider:

• What is something in your life which is a sin for you, but maybe not for everyone?
• What is a case when you had to change your behavior, in order to make someone else more comfortable with something that might have been wrong for them?
• What is an example of something that is ALWAYS wrong? What is an example of something which God may call one person to avoid, and thus is wrong for them?

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:

Accept him // whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1

For none // of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

It // is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12

Therefore let // us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Romans 14:13
Let us // therefore make ever effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19

But the man who has //doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. Reference : According to Romans 14:11, what is written?
2. We will all stand where?
3. Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on what?
4. 2 Part : For this very reason, Christ what?
5. For a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble is what?
6. 2 Part : Make up your mind not to put what in your brother's way?
7. The kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy how?
8. Reference : According to Romans 14:19, let us what?
9. He STANDS or falls to whom?
10. 2 Part : The man who has doubts is condemned if he eats WHY?
11. The man who does not eat everything must not what?
12. Who eats only VEGETABLES?
13. Reference : According to Romans 14:22, blessed is whom?
14. Each of us will give an account of himself to whom?
15. What if we live?
16. Another man considers every day how?
17. What if we die?
18. You are no longer ACTING in love if what?
19. Spirit why?
20. Make every effort to do what?

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* PDF Files may be read and printed by Adobe Acrobat
** RTF Files may be read by Microsoft Word or OpenOffice