Romans Series Discussion Questions

October 1, 2023 - The Gospel Calls Us To Be All In

1. Have you ever studied the full book of Romans? Do you feel like you studied it through the lens of an individual or a collective? What is the difference?

2. According to Paul’s intro, the Church in Rome seems to be well-established and renowned for its life. What does that mean for the content of the letter?

3. Paul makes it clear that his hope is to strengthen the church. Before jumping into this study, we should evaluate where we are. Is it possible that the point of studying Romans isn’t to learn something new but to be strengthened to do something that we know?

4. A deeper understanding of what we already know should encourage us to love the Gospel and respond to the Gospel in deeper ways. How does this play out when you think about the use of the Old Testament Gospel? Have you thought about the power behind the Jewish family seeing the focus of Jesus and the Gentile family seeing a more profound history to the gospel through the Old Testament?

5. Paul has an inevitable conclusion to our exposure to the Gospel. If we are ALL IN the Gospel then the Gospel will call us to live in an ALL IN manner of life. How does Paul drive this point home?

6. How should being ALL IN become a new filter for studying the book of Romans? How should this constantly challenge your life and response to what you read?

October 29, 2023 - Embracing God’s Righteousness

1. What resonated with you from the message/passage today?

2. In what ways do we fall into the trap of thinking we are better than others because our sins may seem less serious or obvious?

3. How does the idea of God's righteous judgment challenge our tendency to compare and judge others based on their sins?

4. What would it mean if God was not all righteous and just?

5. How does God's kindness lead us to repentance? How does it motivate us to turn away from our own sin? How did God’s Kindness impact your life?

6. What practical steps can we take to respond to God's love and mercy in our lives? How can we show him gratitude and a genuine heart of repentance?

November 12, 2023 - Not - “Not my problem.”

1. Have you met a person (or are you that person?) described by Michael who always finds an excuse?

2. Most first evade the gospel by misrepresenting God’s story. Is there a point to the Old Testament? Why do we need to clearly understand its significance in the gospel story?

3. Next, we would argue that more people would respond to the truth if it were actually true. What does it mean to move to convenience instead of truth? How have we as a people proven that? How do you commonly do this?

4. Finally, we try to put the blame on God! Didn’t God make us sin and does my sin just make His grace more amazing? How does Paul address this accusation?

5. Paul then used the Old Testament to shut us all up. How does this passage of Old Testament Scriptures reveal Jesus’ righteousness and our unrighteousness?

6. Have you hit the point of shutting up and owning your sinful life? Have you hit the point of recognition and desperation in need of a Lord and Savior?

November 19, 2023 - Trading Places

1. Can God be an all loving God and an angry God? What is the tension between His righteousness, our sin, and His grace?

2. How did the law and prophets predict what Jesus would manifest? How is this seen in the festivals and the story of Moses and the bronze serpent?

3. What is the difference between our sin being covered and us being justified through grace?

4. What does redemption mean and why is Jesus the only one able to redeem?

5. What is the scandal found in the propitiation of Jesus?

6. Do you feel like you have faced the sacrifice of Jesus in a life changing way? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What part do your emotions, mind, and will play in belief?

January 28, 2024 - Prolific Grace

1. How would you describe the process of spiritual growth in your life? What have been some frustrating points? What has worked well?

2. How much effort do seeds put into their growth? What are some things they need to allow them to grow? Do you think God has designed you to grow through works or response? What is the difference?

3. Read Romans 4:2-5 and 3:25. What security do you find in knowing what Jesus did when you couldn’t do it? Why do you have nothing to boast in and what does it mean to boast in what He did?

4. We often receive the gift of grace and then feel we need to work to maintain or earn what was given to us. How does this become a weight of evaluation seen in different areas of life and as defining characteristics of other religions? How is it a gift to have that weight lifted in the knowledge of what grace continues to do? How do you hear this in Bono’s quote.

5. Grace is also seen in God’s character as one who fulfills promises. How was this seen in Abraham's life and how did this confidence help Abraham grow in faith? John Newton’s life is a good example of God making beauty out of something ugly. How did John experience what Jesus did, continue to do, and fulfill. How did John respond to grace and grow in grace?

February 4, 2024 - The Missing Piece of Peace

1. What does your primal drive for SHALOM look like? How do you recognize what doesn’t feel right in this world?

2. Where did Shalom start and how did we see it break with Adam?

3. As our family head what becomes true of us in Adam?

4. Jesus is the man of peace spoken of in Genesis 3:15. How did His grace give us a new identity of peace?

5. This new identity helps us interact with the world differently. What does that look like?

6. What is true of you because of what Jesus did to you?

February 11, 2024 - Dead to Sin, Alive to God

In verse 6 Paul states the difference between justification and sanctification. What are these two things?

Our sanctification (the progressive change that brings the body of sin to death) is often addressed through sin management. Has this ever been a struggle in your life?

Paul walks us through a growing relationship with truth through the four words Know, Believe, Consider, and Present. What is the importance of knowing what is true? How is that similar to a seed being baptized in soil? What obstacles usually prevents us from knowing?

Belief is more transactional. How did the gift card analogy demonstrate how we apply knowledge to life? What transaction happens between the seed and soil given time?

Considering the truth calls us to pray, meditate, and “do the math” with God. How does each word demonstrate a different relationship we are to have with what is true?

Paul’s main point in this passage is to show how sin “doesn’t make sense” when you know, believe, and consider what is true. How did you hear this in the way people addressed struggles in their lives? What does it mean for Identity to lead activity?

February 18, 2024 - Identity Leads Activity

1. When have you made an identity change in your life that took a while to feel like a reality? Like the example of becoming a fireman.

2. Paul picks up the same question of sin but addresses it differently. How does Paul use slave language to show how "what is true will lead what you do"? Compare being slaves to Egypt versus being a slave to God.

3. Paul highlights the incongruity of being a slave to righteousness but presenting yourself to old ways of sin. How did it feel to see a healthy plant potted in a place of death?

4. Paul's point was to show sinful behaviors still leading to death in life. How should you process the impact sin can still have in your life?

5. Paul shows that we shouldn't change sinful habits to prove or earn our truth. Instead we should live in what is true to lead to a change in what we do. What is the sanctification of our hearts and minds?

6. How do you see this relationship in Paul's, Peter, John, James, and Jesus' life and writings?

7. How was this indicative/imperative relationship demonstrated in the families testimony of debt?

8. What part of your life do you need to recognize as paths toward death?

9. How do you pull that area of your life further into the truth of who you are in Jesus?

February 25, 2024 - New Life and the Law

1. Studying the law may be one of the most dreaded and daunting things for a new believer. Have you ever been excited to study Leviticus?

2. How did God use the law to form a new identity for Israel as they fled Egyptian slavery? How did the Law have jurisdiction over Israel?

3. In verses 1-6 Paul uses death and marriage laws to help us see this drastic change with the Law. It no longer has jurisdiction over us! What does that mean?

4. Jesus fulfilled the law so that it wouldn’t have authority over us anymore. Read Matthew 5:17-20. What are the different broad categories of the law and how did Jesus fulfill them?

5. Paul shows us that the law still defines sin and provokes certain sins in us. How is this a good thing? How did this happen in Paul’s life? How does the law do this in your life?

6. In verses 12-14 Paul reminds us that the Law is still Holy and can refine Holy love in us. How was this illustrated in the reading of Leviticus 14: 33 and Leviticus 19:9?

7. How does the law challenge us to Holy Love through personal responsibility and generosity?

March 3, 2024 - The Subtle Shift That Matters

1. How did a shift in mindset change Michael’s experience of kayaking from year one to year two?

2. Paul is describing a sin cycle mindset in Romans 7:14-25. We’ve all been there! Take a moment to share the frustration of living in this cycle. Has it ever caused you to want to give up or live in shame and self-defeat?

3. Notice how there is very little mention of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit in these verses. How is this a mindset set on the flesh?

4. Now read Romans 8:1-6. What is the key difference in this mindset?

5. The Dallas Willard quotes sum up what Paul is trying to help us see. Why should you evaluate what you are allowing to have authority in your mind?

6. Paul calls us to walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, and set our minds on the Spirit. How does this mindset shift become powerful in light of who the Holy Spirit is?

7. What place does the Word of God play in allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our understanding of our struggle?

8. Why is it also important to change the way you see yourself through the Spirit's eyes?

9. What does “doing the homework” look like to grow in your understanding of who the Spirit is, applying scripture to your specific struggle, and clothing yourself in Jesus?

10. Remember it’s not about performance. It’s about learning more about your position and the process of the Spirit's work in your life. What is the difference?

March 17, 2024 - Living in the Spirit: Aiming Your Life at the Right Target

April 14, 2024 - Family Matters

1. Paul doesn't think it's too late for anyone to respond to the Gospel. He begins this passage by sharing his compassion and hope for the Israelites who have not responded to the Gospel. How does your heart feel towards those around you who haven't responded to the gospel?

2. Put yourself in the context of the early church. Why was it so important for Paul to address these family issues in light of the question "Did God fail?".

3. Paul goes through the family tree as seen in Genesis 15-50. In Romans 9:4-5 Paul lays the groundwork for God choosing Israel and giving them His identity, His promises, and His purpose toward Jesus Christ. How is this seen in Abraham’s story with Isaac? How did Abraham struggle to walk in God's path? Why was it important for Paul to show God's choosing family not to depend on bloodline?

4. Next, we see Isaac is to receive the family Identity, promises, and purpose. How did Isaac also struggle to walk in God's chosen path? Why was Paul showing us that God's choosing of family does not revolve around works?

5. We see the same theme play out with Jacob and Esau. This quote is from Malachi 1:1-6. Here Malachi uses Esau and the Edomites as an archetype to warn Israel. The same warning is used in Hebrews 12:15-17. Paul is showing us that God's choice of family identity, promises, and purpose don't depend on bloodline or works. However, God's people have often struggled to walk in what God has chosen. How does this play out with Esau and with the Jews of Paul's time?

6. Will we follow in Jacob’s example of prioritizing God's identity, holding onto His promises, and living toward the purpose of Jesus Christ?

1. What is your favorite story (movie or book)? Why is this story so captivating to you?

2. Paul continues to walk through the history of God’s chosen family. He picks up the story by comparing Jacob and Esau with Moses and Pharaoh. How did Moses respond to God’s mercy and how did Pharaoh become hardened?

3. There is a tension found in God’s foreknowledge and our free will. How is this reflected in Exodus?

4. Paul quotes Isaiah 45:9-12 to capture many of our hearts when we ask “Does God know what He’s doing?” Why can we trust God to know what is best and how to strengthen/harden people’s hearts?

5. Paul then quotes Jeremiah 18 and 19 to show the character development of God’s family of mercy and the rebellious family. How does God use both of these to move His purpose forward?

6. Jesus demonstrated the same use of character development to move His purpose forward. Why did Jesus use parables and make it hard for some to respond?

7. Did God fail? Paul brings us all the way to the present in the reader’s life to show that God is still working and the reader finds themselves in this complicated storyline. As a reader where do you find yourself in the story of God’s purpose?

April 28, 2024 - Step Into Purpose

May 5, 2024 - Full House

1. What do you do when it seems like everything is falling apart and you don't see much good in the world? Have you ever struggled with this sentiment? In what ways?

2. In Romans 11 Paul is addressing a small group of people who have responded to the incredible message of Jesus. But most of the Jews and Gentiles were not responding. What must it have felt like to see the world falling apart? What could this make the Church wonder about God?

3. Paul lifts the church's head up to see the big picture. Does God intend to keep his covenant promises and has He proven to continue toward that purpose? Trusting God with the bigger picture should change our attitude! How so?

4. Paul uses Elijah as an example of finding peace when you can't see what God is doing. God was telling Elijah to not despair because He has always and still is preserving a remnant that is responding. What message did that send to a Church that must have struggled to find peace?

5. Paul next draws our attention to the fact that we are not bystanders in God's intent to fulfill His purpose. We play a part in Israel returning to Him! Not only can we trust God and find peace, we also find meaning in being used for God's big picture purpose. How does "playing a part" bring meaning to dark circumstances?

May 12, 2024 - Grafted In

1. Paul is referred to as a missionary to the Gentiles. Which Gentiles is Paul most known to have reached? (hint: part of the answer is found in the names of his epistles)

2. Paul uses the illustration of an olive tree having branches grafted into itself. What or Who is the trunk of the tree? Who are the natural branches? And Who are the many wild branches?

3. Have you ever noticed the theme of "all the nations" that runs from beginning to end of the Bible?

4. What happens in your heart when you hear the statistics of the unreached nations?

5. What part did Paul play in that? What part do you feel you are called to engage in?

6. How do our attitudes often prevent us from participating in the grafting of many nations?

7. How should our worship of Jesus provoke a greater grafting in other nations?

May 19, 2024 - Living Sacrifices

1. How much of our time and attention are we giving to Jesus?

2. Are you conforming to this world more than conforming to Jesus?

3. What is a gift/talent that you have been given?

May 26, 2024 - Serving Reflects the Reality

1. Can you commit to memorizing Romans 12:1-2? Over the next few weeks we will apply these verses to many aspects of our lives.

2. As you think of the overview of the book of Romans how does Romans 12 change the focus of Paul's writing?

3. Early on in Romans we came to understand that our activity should flow from our identity. Our being should direct our doing. If you have a renewed identity you will have new activity in your life. How does this sum up Romans 12:1-2?

4. In verses 9-12 Paul lists out marks of a true believer. What is the difference between this being a checklist and this being what to expect from inner change?

5. Jesus first, Others second, You last was used last week to help us see what our new life should look like. How was this seen in Gabby's story? What is the difference between being fervent in spirit and being slothful in zeal? What do we see most of in Church?

6. What are the different ways we can be fervent in spirit at Cascade? How does your life change direct you to serve and reflect?

7. How is deep change reflected in our attitudes toward money and conflict?

8. Take a moment to pray together and ask God to reveal where your heart is at and what steps you should take to begin to reflect His Gospel more.

June 2, 2024 - Transformative Gospel Living and Politics

1. It's easy to think that we live in the most corrupt and evil moment in all of history. When you think of the Roman Empire, culture, and leaders of the first two centuries what stands out? Was the early church at odds with leaders and the culture?

2. Our most natural response to living in a culture at odds with God's heart can be to conform or wage war. What does this look like and what do you feel most prone to?

3. Why would you say the gospel should lead us to live lives of transformation instead of conforming or fighting?

4. Paul calls us to "do what is good" to receive approval from rulers and culture. How does our "doing good" reveal God's heart? How can our tendency to "raise a banner" keep people from seeing God's heart?

5. Paul calls us to live a life of conviction. This is committing to the long game. Love lived out over time will prove not only conviction but a better way to live. What did this tension look like in the first church with slaves, marriage, children, and the poor? What should this tension look like for us?

6. What will you do with the life you have been given? What is your eternal perspective in life and how should that shape why you apply the gospel to all areas of your life.

7. What is your eternal perspective of the lives of people, leaders, and culture that is at odds with God's heart? What is the difference between being passionate about policies verses compassionate towards people that are lost?

June 9, 2024 - Humility, Unity, and the Gospel

1. It’s not about being less mature. It’s about have a needed narrow scope for your convictions. How did this illustration frame the need for various convictions/opinions?

2. Talk through the categories of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. How does the Bible clearly tell us what is primary?

3. Secondary issues are still important to the health of the church. How are we called to lovingly seek the truth on things that are important to our theology?

4. Why do we divide over seemingly silly things? Days of worship, alcohol, music, going to the movies, having long sideburns… How does the gospel evidenced by humility lead to unity?

5. Pliny recognized this grand social experiment. A group of people worshiping on certain days, eating innocent food together, obeying the law, and living in unity despite gender, social status, and opinions. What kind of letter do you think Monroe would write about our congregation? Would they know us by our divisiveness or our unity?

June 16, 2024 - Sacrificial Unity Works

1. Have you memorized Romans 12:1-2? How have you been applying this scripture to your life love the past several weeks?

2. How is our unity a new activity that stems from our understanding of the Gospel? Why do you think unity is so important? Would you say our church and churches at large are known by the trait of unity?

3. Our primary goal with one another should be to build up and not tear down. How is that fostered in our ability to understand and navigate secondary issues with each other? How can our personal freedom lead to focusing on ourselves instead of the interest of others.

4. How do you strive for peace even when confronting primary issues regarding sin and wrong theology?

5. Paul calls us to live in harmony with each other in accord with Jesus. What does it look like for our goal to be central around discipling each other and becoming more like Jesus?

6. What would the church look like if our primary goal was to truly become like, and help others become like Jesus?

7. Paul drives his point home by quoting several Old Testament passages. Paul's point is that we should be unified around the only mission that matters. How is this mission traced throughout scripture, Jesus' great commission, and Paul's words here?

8. What does it mean to find purpose and relevance in the daily mission of the Gospel?

June 30, 2024 - Stop Attending Church and Start Being the Church

1. Would you want your name in the credits of your favorite movie? Have you ever had the chance for your name to be recognized in a movement?

2. How crazy is it that 29 names get added to the eternal Word of God? These names help us see how we can live a life actively BEING the Church.

3. Phoebe was a woman active in ministry as a deaconess and patron of several churches. We often elevate elders and pastors as being the main thing. How does Phoebe help us shift our attitude regarding influential church movements?

4. Priscilla and Aquilla used their resources to work as a team. What resources do you have that can be used to be the Church?

5. Rufus' Mom was a parent to people in need. How significant is that and how accessible is that for you to be the Church?

6. How important are community groups? How can you bring life to Cascade and live church out in this way?

7. Paul ends his letter with a doxology lifting up the only name that matters. What does it look like for you to live a life worthy of this great name? How is your life a doxology of praise toward Jesus?