4. What is your favorite OT story, book, or chapter? How does
that passage give you hope? Explain.
3 words that summarize “How to church.”
Romans 15:1-6
September 27, 2015
1. Pleasing others (1-3a)
God-pleasers focus on doing His will and enjoy . . .
Continual presence of God (John 8:29)
Confidence in prayer (1 John 3:21-22)
5. Agree/disagree
If a diverse* gathering of Christians is united around Christ,
then the world will find their witness about Jesus believable.
*different ages, sexes, races, politics, income, etc.
Healthy, functional families (Col. 3:20)
Holy lifestyle (1 Thes. 4:1-3)
God-pleasers are willing to defer what they prefer
Adopt a kingdom perspective (Rom. 14:17-18)
God-pleasers give up personal rights for others
Salvation is in the front, not the background
(1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1)
Why should the strong seek to please the weak?
6. Of the three words emphasized in Romans 15:1-6, choose one
and tell the difference it would make in “How to church”
§
For their good (God’s goodness is moral perfection)
§
To build them up
a. Pleasing others, in order to please God and do His will
§
This is what Jesus did
2. Building hope (3b-4)
b. Building hope through our Savior and the Scriptures
“The insults of those who insulted you [God] have fallen
on me [David]” (Psalm 69:9)
What do you want God to do when you are insulted?
c. Expressing our unity in Christ and encouraging others
£
justice (Psalm 69:22-23)
£
forgiveness (Luke 23:34)
Christ suffered humiliation, torture, and death to save us.
So, can “we who are strong” put up with the “weak in faith?”
My only Hope is Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:1)
Furthermore, the Hebrew Scriptures (OT) give us hope.
In Christ, we can read the OT and finally get it
(Luke 24:44-45)
o
instruction (teaching, as in 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
o
endurance (Romans 5:1-5)
o
encouragement (comfort)
LifeGroup Homework
What insight, observation or principle did you find eye-opening,
helpful, or troubling?
1. Read 1 Thess. 2:1-6. List the things that Paul said he would not
do in order to please people when he preached the gospel.
3. Expressing unity (5-6)
Unity is packaged with endurance and encouragement
Unity is a gift to be guarded (Ephesians 4:3)
This is practice-able “as you follow Christ Jesus”
o
Unity is an answer to Jesus’ prayer
(John 17:23)
o
Unity is a credible witness to the world
(John 17:21, 23)
Unity is a heart attitude that gets expressed out loud
Differences are drowned out as we praise God together!
2. What’s the difference between being a self-centered “people
pleaser” and an other-centered God-pleaser? Discuss this chart.
People pleasing
God pleasing
Who is built up?
Self
Others
X
X
Who’s approval is sought?
God
Others
X
X
Unity is glorifying to God
3. Read Romans 14:21. Where does Paul draw the line when it
comes to deferring his own preferences?
4. Read 1 Cor. 8:9-13. How does Paul bring Christ into this?