Study session scripture: Romans 13

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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 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, 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 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.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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. 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. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Study session topics:

• Marks of the Christian Community, Part 3

• The Christian’s relationship to the government (vv. 1-7)

• Governmental authority is from God

• The legitimate role of the government

• A positive reason to obey the law: conscience

• Scriptural limits on government power

• The Christian’s relationship to all people (vv. 8-14) -“Owe no one anything”—The Christian’s financial responsibility

• Love: the sole exception to not owe anything

• Paul’s exhortation to live the Christian life now, and not put off serving God

Study session scripture: Romans 14:1-12

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Study session topics:

• Mutual acceptance between strong and weak, part 1

• A call for the “strong” in faith to accept those “weak” in faith (v. 1)

• Dietary differences (vv. 2-4)

• 4 principles to keep us from scorning fellow believers

• Other Christians answer to God

• God has accepted other Christians as they are

• Other Christians stand by the grace of God just as you do

• You too are accountable to God

• Differences in special days (vv. 5-6)

• 3 principles for how Christians should conduct themselves in disputable matters

• Be convinced in your own mind

• Serve the Lord

• Give thanks

• Further calls to unity (vv. 7-12)

• Paul’s reason for speaking as he does: unity

• Modern-day disputable matters

Study session audio:

Study session scripture: Romans 14:13-23

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Study session topics:

• Call for m utual acceptance between strong and weak, part 2

• The guiding principle of liberty: consideration of others (v. 13)

• Legalism vs. responsible consideration

• Paul’s parenthetical: the strong are correct (v. 14)

• Nothing is unclean of itself

• For the one who believes something is unclean, it is unclean

• The strong’s responsibility:

• Abstain for the sake of weaker brothers (vv. 15-16, 20-23)

• Three reasons why the strong should forgo privileges for the sake of the weak

• Two important caveats

• The ultimate reason for the strong to abstain: the Issue is not the issue (vv. 17-19)

Study session audio:

Study session scripture: Romans 15:1-13

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Study session topics:

• Call for mutual acceptance between strong and weak, part 3

• Paul’s summation to the strong (vv. 1-2)

• The strong have a responsibility to tolerate and support the weak

• Each believer should seek the good of his neighbor to build him up

• The example of Christ (vv. 3-12)

• The humility of Christ

• The timelessness of the scriptures

• Paul’s prayer for his audience

• Paul’s true point in putting forth the example of Christ

• Paul for the last time attacks the issue of division between Jew and Gentile

• Benediction (v. 13)

• The reason for a benediction here

• A comprehensive benediction about the Christian life

Study session audio:

Study session scripture: Romans 15:14-33

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Study session topics:

• The extension of God’s righteousness through Paul’s mission

• Paul’s contentment with the Roman Church (vv. 14-15)

• Despite tensions between Jew and Gentile, Paul gives the church 3 compliments

• Paul’s boldness in writing

• Paul’s description of his mission (vv. 15-21)

• Paul’s calling as Apostle to the Gentiles

• Paul’s pride in his work

• The Gospel as Paul’s singular focus

• The scope, nature, and power behind Paul’s work

• Paul’s future plans (vv. 22-32)

• Paul’s desire to visit Rome, and from there to Spain

• Paul’s immediate plans: returning to Jerusalem

• Paul asks for prayer as he completes his journey

• Paul’s second benediction (v. 33)

• Peace is a great blessing for the Christian

Study session audio:

In this two-week special study session during Justin’s absence, Rev Rogers leads a two-part series: ‘Discussing the Diversity of ‘Church.’’ This episode is part two, focusing on Ephesians.

Study session audio:

In this two-week special study session during Justin’s absence, Rev Rogers leads a two-part series: ‘Discussing the Diversity of ‘Church.’’ This episode is part one.

Study session audio:

Study session scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Study session topics:

• Marks of the Christian community, part 2

• The Christian's relationship to other Christians (vv. 9-13)

• Love: genuine, discriminating, brotherly kindness, honoring others, zealous service, persistent hope, meeting one another's needs

• Commands given for Christian unity

• The Christian's relationship to the world (vv. 14-21)

• Response to persecution

• Response to unbelievers: empathy, amicability, humility, response to conflict, upright and ethical, peaceable, charitable

Study session audio: