Bible Study Snacks, Romans 12:9-21

Hi, everyone!

I would like to thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all is well in your life! It is also my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God. In this session, we will be studying Chapter 12, verses 9-21.

Here is this week in summary...

He (Paul) began with a plea to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they could demonstrate in themselves that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect. He then encouraged them to fulfill their proper place in the Body of Christ with proper humility and passion.

Finally, there are a list of commands which are to govern the Christian's life and attitude towards love, good and evil, brethren in the Lord, service to God, and response to persecution.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 12:9-21. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. What does Paul say our love toward others should be like (Romans 12:9a)?
2. What does “cling to what is good” in Romans 12:9 mean?
3. What two other ways does he describe a Christian’s love in Romans 12:10?
4. List the counsel Paul gives in Romans 12:11-13 for our spiritual lives? Circle the ones that you consider to be ‘difficult’ to carry out consistently.
5. How are we to respond to those who persecute us (Romans 12:14)?
6. How do Romans 12:15 and 16 compliment each other? How do they say the same thing?
7. Can we ever pay back evil for something someone has done to us or someone else we love (Romans 12:17)?
8. What does Paul say regarding making peace between you and everyone else (Romans 12:18)?
9. List a few attitudes or thoughts we should have toward our desires to take our own revenge {from Romans 12:19-21}. {At least give one principle per verse}.
10. Think about the exhortation (or urgent plea) to godly living that you have most difficultly with as listed in Romans 12:9-16. What are you actually doing or not doing which puts you in the wrong? What is keeping you from doing what is right
11. Many people live bitterly hoping for a chance to take revenge. Using the verses in this section, what could we say to them to urge and encourage them to get rid of bitterness? Do you think they would listen to you? Why or why not?

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 12:9-21. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 12:1-8

Hi, everyone!

I would like to thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all is well in your life! This week, we will be studying Chapter 12, verses 1-8. It is my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

This week in summary...

Having concluded his sermons concerning the gospel (chs. 1-8) and God's dealings with the nation of Israel (chs. 9-11), Paul now inspires his readers to full service in the kingdom of God.

He begins with a plea to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they can demonstrate in themselves that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect. He then encourages them to fulfill their proper place in the Body of Christ with proper humility and passion.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 12:1-8. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. What does Paul urge his brothers and sisters to do (Romans 12:1)?
2. What do you think the difference between a living sacrifice and a dead sacrifice is (Romans 12:1)?
3. So how does Paul define “spiritual worship” in verse 1?
4. What are we not to pattern our lives after (Romans 12:2)?
5. How do we transform our lives (Romans 12:2)?
6. As a result of transforming our minds, we will then “be able to _______ and _______ God’s will is” (Romans 12:2).
7. What three ways does Paul describe God’s will at the end of verse 2?
8. How are we not to think of ourselves (Romans 12:3)?
9. How are we to think of ourselves (Romans 12:3)?
10. How do verses 4 and 5 relate to the way we think of ourselves (Romans 12:3-5)?
11. List the analogy (illustration) of the church in Romans 12:4-5?
12.In which way are the different gifts spread out among the members of the church (Romans 12:6)?
13. List the different gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8, and describe the way we are to use it.
14. What is the difference in the way Paul talks about our view toward ourselves (Romans 12:3-5) and the way the world or friends understand “self-esteem”?

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 12:1-8. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Letter to Our Faithful Readers

A letter to our faithful readers...

If you are a regular follower of our ministry blog you have probably noticed a recent reduction in our usual weekly entries. I would like to assure you that we are still up and running and doing God's wonderful work! The reason for the sudden drop in our production is due to us giving our wonderful contributors some well-deserved time off to rejuvenate and refresh themselves, both personally and spiritually.

During this time, some of our ladies have been serving the Lord in different capacities other than writing. They have been actively attending conferences, retreats, preaching, teaching, conducting mini-seminars, and of course spending time with family and friends. Meanwhile, a few members of our staff graciously volunteered to keep things going for us. I would like to personally thank Sheri and Rochelle for being such beautiful examples of God's work. "Thank you ladies, we love you!"

We will return in full force once again at the beginning of October totally re-energized and ready to serve the Lord and spread the Word around the world. Until then, you are welcome to continue following our blog and searching our blog archives. We will definitely be back. May God bless each and every one of you!

Love,

~Eve

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 11:25-36

Hi, everyone!

I would like to thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all is well in your life! This week, we will be studying Chapter 11, verses 25-36. It is my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

This week in summary...

As Paul draws to a conclusion, he explains that this is how "all Israel" will be saved. Through a "hardening in part" mercy can now be shown to the Gentiles, and by showing mercy to the Gentiles mercy will be available to disobedient Israel. In this way Paul can say that "God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all", proving that God is no respecter of persons and makes His plan of salvation available to all. Paul ends this section with a doxology praising the wisdom and knowledge of God.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 11:25-36. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Why doesn’t Paul want us to be ignorant of the mystery (Romans 11:25)?
2. Either explain this mystery in your own words or quote Paul (Romans 11:25b-d).
3. Will all or part of Israel be saved (Romans 11:26)?
4. How does Paul describe this salvation in verses 26-27 (this is from Isaiah 59:20-21)?
5. Share the two different views of the Israelites expressed in Romans 11:28: From the gospel’s point of view the Israelites are __________. They are His __________ when the Israelites obey.
6. What two things are irrevocable (Romans 11:29)? _________ and __________.
7. The pronouns of Romans 11:30-31 can be confusing. Please fill in what the words stand for: “Just as __________(you) who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of __________(their) disobedience, so____________ (they) too have now become disobedient in order that ___________(they) too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to ____________(you).”
8. For what reason has God bound all men over to disobedience (Romans 11:32)?
9. List at least five of the ways God is described in Romans 11:33-35.
10. Romans 11:36 is an expressive and yet terse summary of God’s power and being. Explain each of the given clauses given in your own words:
1) “from Him”
2) “through Him”
3) “to Him”
11. How does Paul close this message about election and salvation (Romans 11:36)?
12.Look back over Romans 11:33-36. What are some differences between God and yourself. Check and see if you have a tendency to complain or argue with God about something you don’t fully understand?

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 11:25-36. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 11:11-24

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all is well in your life! This week, we will be studying Chapter 11, verses 11-24. It is my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

This week in summary...

Paul magnifies his ministry to the Gentiles, hoping to save some of his countrymen by provoking them to jealousy. Paul then directs his attention to the Gentile believers, explaining that their obedience allowed them to be "grafted" into Israel to replace those removed by their own disobedience. This "grafting," however, is permanent only as long as they remain faithful. In addition, if any Israelites repent of their unbelief, they too can be grafted back in.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 11:11-24. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Who is it that stumbled (Romans 11:11)?
2. What is the difference between stumbling and falling (Romans 11:11)?
3. So then, did Israel ‘fall’ (Romans 11:11)?
4. How is it that pagans, called Gentiles, were given the opportunity to believe (Romans 11:11-12)?
5. What does the last phrase in verse 12 mean? Finish this statement: If God was to use Israel’s sin and failures to bring blessings to the whole world, He will _________when the Israelites obey.
6. What did Israel’s rejection of the Messiah bring to the world (Romans 11:15)?
7. Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles wanted his ministry to have an impact upon his fellow Israelites. How did he hope this might work out (Romans 11:13-14)?
8. What sign of hope for the Jewish nation do we have from Paul in Romans 11:15?
9. Simply share the meaning of this truth through the two illustrations in Romans 11:16.
10. Paul takes the later illustration of verse 16 and enlarges upon it. Write down both the literal meaning (Romans 11:17) and the spiritual meaning (Romans 11:17-18) of this illustration.
11. Who is Paul warning in verse 18?
12. What is the warning (Romans 11:18)?
13. Why is it that the Gentiles (the branches) might become prideful (Romans 11:19-21)?
14. List two attributes of God from verse 22: ____________ and _____________.
15. Who does God treat severely (Romans 11:22)?
16. Who does God treat kindly (Romans 11:22)?
17. Is God able to treat kindly those He has dealt severely with (Romans 11:23-24)?
18. Does the illustration of the olive tree differentiate the church and Israel as two different peoples with whom God deals or one? Is the church here considered part of the true Israel?

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 11:11-24. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 10:16-11:10

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all is well in your life! This week, we will be studying Chapter 10:16 to Chapter 11:10. It is my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

This week in summary...

The problem with the nation of Israel was that not all of them received the gospel message, even when they had ample opportunity. But as Moses predicted, the day would come when God would provoke Israel to jealousy by another people, who Isaiah said did not seek God yet found Him, while Israel was constantly rebelling against Him.

Paul concludes chapter ten with a quotation from Isaiah describing the nation of Israel as "a disobedient and contrary people." Paul begins chapter eleven by giving several examples to show that despite this rebellion God has not totally rejected His people. What God has done, however, is harden the hearts of the rebellious Israelites.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 10:16-11:10. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. What does the gospel (‘glad tidings’ in NASB; ‘message’ in NIV) literally mean (Romans 10:16)?
2. Did everyone believe the gospel who heard it (Romans 10:16)?
3. Copy the OT quote in (Romans 10:16) that gives evidence for this unbelief.
4. Where does faith come from (Romans 10:17)?
5. Is it because Israel had never heard the gospel that they did not believe in Christ (Romans 10:18)?
6. These two verses prove that Israel did hear but as a nation did not believe Christ (Romans 10:19-20)? What is it that God said He would do if Israel turned away from the truth?
7. Does God’s rejection of Israel mean He doesn’t care for them (Romans 10:21)?
8. God hasn’t totally rejected His people Israel. What example does Paul give us in 11:1?
9. Which Israelites did He not reject?
10. What example does Paul give to prove that He has not rejected all Israelites (Romans 11:2-4)?
11. Paul described his own era as being: a) the same, b) better than c) worse than the time of Elijah (Romans 11:5)?
12. What are those chosen and reserved by God called in Romans 11:5?
13. Try to put in your own words the phrase “and if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6)? Do your best!
14. Which one of the following two principles does God use in saving His people (Romans 11:7)? a) Those who work the hardest for Him are saved; b) Those who had not really been seeking received salvation because they were chosen.
15. God uses the ‘hardening’ of hearts and minds as a means of judging people. Describe the various ways Paul describes this process or the results of this hardening (Romans 11:8-10).

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 10:16-11:10. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri