Community Group Discussion Guide
Jesus for President, Week 4 – Weekend of September 10 & 11
I. Sermon Discussion:
1. What were your major takeaways from the sermon about Christian priorities within the scope
of our engagement with policy and party politics?
2. What should be the posture towards others as Christians who may view things different?
II. Discussion of Scriptures:
1.
Romans 13:1–7
Romans 13:1–7 — 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore
whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur
judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of
the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is
God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in
vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of
conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God,
attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed,
revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is
owed.
Brief Explanation: Paul’s teaching in this paragraph appears to be quite straightforward
and is, indeed, paralleled in other NT books.1 Paul consistently teaches that believers
must submit to established authority in the contexts of the household and the
government, since these institutions are ordained by God (Eph 5:21). Paul’s teaching
here parallels that of Peter in 1 Pet 2:13–14. Jesus also teaches about respecting
authority (Matt 22:15–22).2
For Discussion: What is Paul's view of civil power and those who have it (1-5)? How
would Paul's view of governing authorities apply to unrighteous and perverse rulers?
What are ways we can submit to the government? What are reasons for us not to
submit to government? How does submitting to the government display the gospel?
Douglas J. Moo, “Romans,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester,
England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1152.
2
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 13:1–7.
1
2.
Romans 13:8–14
Romans 13:8–14 —8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves
another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You
shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are
summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the
hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first
believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of
darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies
and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Brief Explanation: As Paul began this section on general Christian ethics with a reminder
of the new situation in which believers now live—no longer ‘of this world’ (12:2)—so he
concludes it. Believers must understand the present time: a time in which we expect
imminently the dawning of the day (12), that ‘day of the Lord Jesus’ that will bring our
final salvation.3 Paul turns from his discussion of authority to address relationships with
others. The primary ethic that should govern all Christian relationships is love. Here,
Paul cites the Old Testament law to underscore how acting in love fulfills the true intent
of the law (v. 10). His comments reflect Jesus’ teaching about love (Matt 22:37–40; John
13:34–35).4 Within v14, victory over the flesh may be always ours through personal
dealings with Christ. To “put on Christ” is not imitation of Christ, but assumption of His
righteousness.5
For Discussion: Does v8 mean that Christians should never incur any type of debts? Why
or why not? Paul uses some visual comparisons to describe “the present time,” in In 11–
14. How does each one give us a picture of how we should (or shouldn't) live? In what
ways do you need to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ?”
IV. Responding in Prayer:
1. What ways can we pray in thankfulness for our governmental situation?
2. How can you pray for God to supply you with the motives to submit to government and His
Kingdom?
3. How can you pray for God to make you a messenger of His good news?
Douglas J. Moo, “Romans,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester,
England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1153.
4
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 13:8–14.
5
Keith Brooks, Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software,
2009), 46.
3