09 Oct 16
ROMANS SERIES, PART 1
“BIG GOD, BIG WORK, BIG WORLD!”
Mark
Kotchapaw
You will note that
the Touching Base is taking on a bit of a new format. In order to leverage this
document for yourself personally or in a group, it will be necessary for you to
take notes, even pictures of various PowerPoint slides, in order to capture key
quotes in order to reflect on the text.
We encourage you to take notes, develop your own questions and engage
with the text as you feed yourself and perhaps those you lead.
This morning we are starting a series in
Romans. We will be covering the first 7 chapters this fall.
Series Title: Good News Bad News
Description: From the moment we wake up to the moment our
heads hit the pillow, we can be bombarded with bad news. Social media has made
our world a lot smaller and exposed us 24/7 to the constant deluge of bad news.
This fall we are starting a study in the book of Romans. In the first 17 verses Paul talks about the
good news, the good news that he will expand upon in his letter to the Romans.
Join us as we unpack the good news, are challenged by it and anchored in it.
To best use this tool, listen to the
message and take notes. If you are not able to join us on the Sunday, you can
listen to the message on our website. It is posted by the following
Tuesday. The teaching will help you
either as a facilitator of a group or for your own personal study to engage
with the text.
Notes:
Big God (v.1-4)
Big Work (v.1-7)
Big World (v.5-17)
Text: Romans 1:1-17
Question: What is the Gospel?
Big Idea: Big God, Big Work, Big World.
Discussion questions:
1.
Big God
How does Paul “dwarf” himself in light
of the main character of the gospel?
What does the word “gospel”
mean and note how many times Paul uses it in the first 17 verses.
What does Paul say that illustrates the
bigness of Jesus?
What is going on in your life these days
that says “I need a big God!”
2.
Big Work
Identify and discuss the key words that
describe the big work God has done in Paul’s life and in the heart of his
listeners.
Read Acts 8:1-3,Galatians 1:13 and contrast with Romans 1: 8-16. How does
this contrast illustrate the big work God has done in Paul’s life?
What is going on in your life these days
that says, “ I need God to do a big work in my life!”
3.
Big World
Note the use of the words “nations”, “Rome”,
“Greeks” and “barbarians”.
What does the use of these terms
indicate about the far-reaching scope of the Gospel?
How might this have created tension for
the original audience?
How do our prejudices against people
hinder us in offering the Gospel to all people?
Wrap
Note that Paul says, “I am not ashamed
of the gospel”. To be ashamed means “to be embarrassed”. What aspects of the
gospel could be a cause of embarrassment today in our pluralistic culture?
What can happen when we are ashamed or
embarrassed of the good news?
How does your reflection on this text
encourage you to pray for the city, the nation and the world?
Mark Kotchapaw
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