This is a small group that was following the plan to read through the Bible one chapter at a time with Good Morning Girls. Good Morning Girls is on an indefinite break. But will we continue reading through the Bible.
Each Monday go to the Weekly Reading Plan or the Bible Study Thread for our current book to see the introductory post for the week and the weekly reading passages, discussion questions, and memory verse.
Be sure to come here each day to see what the members of the group are sharing. Try to participate in the discussion with a post at least once each week to share with us what God is teaching you. Posting on the forum helps motivate all of us to keep reading by seeing the others persevering and it provides additional insight and learning.
Each Friday we will attempt to share a Friday Devotional that addresses some of the topics we have read that week.
Please also take time to read the Group Overview post that provides some ideas on how to get the most out of your study here! You can find this post in the the "Bible Study" section of the board.
1 | Bible Study » Romans » 9/23/2017 4:17 am |
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Romans 12-13
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13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who love another has fulfilled the law.
It is our obligation to love others. This fulfills the law. This is not even a command, but an obligation, what we owe, our appropriate payment, what is due.
12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast (cling, clasp, don’t let go, glue together, cleave to) what is good. Love one another with brother affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (In honor, give preference to one another, take delight in honoring each other.)
So our obligation to love others should be genuine, sincere, without hypocrisy. This is not external niceness, or acts not felt in the heart, or even just kindness. It should exhibit itself in us having tender loving affection and a natural inclination to love our brothers with intense, devoted attachment. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Application
Sadly, even among Christians, myself included, when relationships get uncomfortable, or people become difficult we don’t want to deal with the negativity or tension, so we just pull away. We are not unkind in our attitudes, we just kind of distance ourselves. I always thought this was the appropriate way to do things, to just graciously create distance. I did not want the drama or negativity in my wonderful life. It is not unkind or ugly and does not even create discord.
But it seems to me that Christians need to be the ones who have devoted loving connected relationships with each other even across differences and personality preferences. We should be the ones who love those whom society considers difficult to love.
It is not about maintaining my comfortable life, but living a radically Christian life and living in the radical love of Christ. (not talking about people who are dangerous or emotionally harmful to you or who are inten
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/16/2017 5:53 pm |
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Week of September 18
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This Week’s Reading Assignment
Post your input below this post.
S.O.A.K. any verse of your choosing.
Stop by the forum at least once this week and post your input, what verse stood out to you, or your discussion question response.
This video provides an overview of the remaining chapters in Romans.
Reading Schedule
Application: The Behavior of God’s Righteousness
Monday: 12:9-13
Tuesday: 12:14-21
Wednesday: 13:1-7
Thursday: 13:8-14
Friday: 14:1-12
Verses of the Week
Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 13:8 - Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Discussion Questions
One of the marks of a believer is peace. What are some ways that you show Christian love and peace to those who are being difficult in your life today? (Chapter 12)
The second g
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/16/2017 12:39 pm |
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Romans 11
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11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
Do I long or the depth and riches of God’s wisdom? Do I yarn for the knowledge of God? Or, do I long for all these temporary transient things that can’t save and don’t satisfy?
If I don’t, then trust in His sovereignty, goodness, wisdom, truth and love. Abide in Him and walk in His ways and in His presence!
Romans 12
12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ESV
12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. NASB
(Therefore) Because of everything that has come before this, because God chose us by grace out of this world, because we can accept His kindness, because of the depth and riches of His wisdom and knowledge, because Christ fulfilled the law and has grafted us in, because God is he source, the animator and the reason for all things, we are urged, given an earnest request, summons to do something.
Paul pleads, entreats and implores us (by the mercies) to use the strength of God that He gives because of His love to (present) give ourselves to Him. We see other verses like “let the Word of God dwell in you” (Col 3:16), “let not sin rule” (Romans 6:12), and “do not present your members to sin” (Romans 6:13). This implies that there is some type of conscious choice or effort required to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and to allow His leading to control us.
Because of these things, Paul pleads with us to voluntarily give ourselves as living sacrifices. To act
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/10/2017 9:22 pm |
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Week of September 10
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This Week’s Reading Assignment
Post your input below this post.
S.O.A.K. any verse of your choosing.
Stop by the forum at least once this week and post your input, what verse stood out to you, or your discussion question response.
This video provides an overview of the remaining chapters in Romans.
Reading Schedule
Israel’s Reception of God’s Righteousness
Monday: 11:1-24
Tuesday: 11:25-27
Wednesday: 11:28-36
Application: The Behavior of God’s Righteousness
Thursday: 12:1-2
Friday: 12:3-8
Verses of the Week
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:18)
Discussion Questions
Sometimes it is hard to understand God’s ways. God’s ways are so much higher than man’s. How does knowing God’s depth of riches, wisdom, and knowledge comfort you as you seek to follow Him and His word? (Chapter 11)
One of the marks of a believer is peace. What are some ways that y
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/10/2017 9:10 pm |
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Romans 10
10:2-4 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
This is religion: zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, establishing our own righteousness and not knowing the righteousness of God.
But believers can slip into this also. We need knowledge with our zeal. We need to really understand and grasps God's righteousness and not be tempted to lean into our own righteousness from works of the law.
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/10/2017 9:06 pm |
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Romans 9
9:2-3 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
9:23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory
Paul had "great sorrow" and "unceasing anguish." He wished he himself could be accursed and cut off from Christ instead of others. Wow.
Not sure I could wish myself cut off from Christ - such hopelessness, emptiness, helplessness and despair. I would not want to live if not for Christ's love, acceptance and sanctification.
But is that not how the lost must feel? They are cut off and need the truth. Even if they don't feel that way, the truth is that they lack true hope.
Yet, God has made me a vessel of His mercy. God's mercy overflows my life. I hold, contain and am filled with the mercy and love of the infinite and eternal I am. God pours His unfailing, unending, overflowing love into me!!
In light of that, how can i not bring a cup of refreshing mercy to others to drink from? How can I not offer them the living water God has given to me as a free gift.
I need to pray for opportunities, be available to be used, I need to be involved and to develop meaningful relationship with those outside of Christ, I need to ask questions to understand them, I need to listen to them share their beliefs and thoughts, I need to love them with the supernatural love of Christ that loves even when things are difficult, messy, and painful.
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/05/2017 7:37 pm |
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esuzannah wrote:I LOVE this chapter (8) I can just feel God's power in me when I read this. It is a place to go to when things seem to be not going well, when I feel hopeless or exhausted by this world. These words bring me something beyond comfort- there is no word for it. Look at this God! He is amazing! He is big! He is powerful! He is going to work it all out, no matter what happens this day; how I might fail, how someone might treat me or what tragedy may occur. He has got this- and it's all going to be so very, very good.
It is hopeful and empowering. He has predestined us to be conformed to His image and to be glorified (vs 29-30), the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (26), and He gives us life and peace as we set our minds on Him (vs 6).
Good stuff!
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/05/2017 7:31 pm |
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Romans 8
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8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The Holy Spirit gives us a law of life; a law that has set us free in Christ.
I am free only as I am hidden in Christ and animated by Christ in the same way I animate my hand.
8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
God has adopted us as sons and has taken us into His house. Why do we go back out and live in the servants quarters?
8:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
To receive our inheritance, we must be willing to suffer discomfort and disappointment.
8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For I reckon - means to tabulate, account
We have added up things and tabulated that our sufferings don't measure up to the side of the ledger with our future glory.
Discussion Question
God is always at work in our lives bringing about His purpose and good. How does knowing that His plans are good for those who love Him bring you peace and comfort today?
I felt like verse 19 ( For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.) and verse 22 (For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.)
I felt like I was straining with the pains of childbirth and that God was wanting to birth something new in me to get me to a new place in refining me and moving me to the next level of imitating Christ. It has been long and frustrating and internally challengi
| Bible Study » Romans » 9/05/2017 9:49 am |
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Week of September 4
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This Week’s Reading Assignment
Post your input below this post.
S.O.A.K. any verse of your choosing.
I have broken the reading down by day based on key points in the scripture.
You can read it in one day, several days, or follow the reading plan.
Stop by the forum at least once this week and post your input, what verse stood out to you, or your discussion question response.
This video provides an overview of the remaining chapters in Romans.
Reading Schedule
Sanctification: Demonstration of God’s Righteousness
Monday: 8:31-39
Israel’s Reception of God’s Righteousness
Tuesday: 9:1-18
Wednesday: 9:19-33
Thursday: 10:1-13
Friday: 10:14-21
Verses of the Week
As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" (Romans 9:25)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Discussion Questions
It is the grace of God that allows us to be called His people a
| Weekly Reading Plan » Week of September 4, 2017 » 9/05/2017 9:47 am |
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Week of September 4
…
This Week’s Reading Assignment
S.O.A.K. any verse of your choosing.
The group discussion thread is under Bible Study » Romans.
I have broken the reading down by day based on key points in the scripture.
You can read it in one day, several days, or follow the reading plan.
Stop by the forum at least once this week and post your input, what verse stood out to you, or your discussion question response.
This video provides an overview of the remaining chapters in Romans.
Reading Schedule
Sanctification: Demonstration of God’s Righteousness
Monday: 8:31-39
Israel’s Reception of God’s Righteousness
Tuesday: 9:1-18
Wednesday: 9:19-33
Thursday: 10:1-13
Friday: 10:14-21
Verses of the Week
As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" (Romans 9:25)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Discussion Questions
It is th