The Faithfulness of Jesus

Week of October 29, 2017

The Faithfulness of Jesus

Romans 3:19-28

Catching Up (10-20 min)

Once you’ve spent some time together, share stories about a time when it felt like the cards were stacked against you.  Whether in a game, or a work scenario, or a family situation.

Prayer and Accountability (20-30 min)

Hopefully your group is growing in depth during this time and more people are sharing. 

Passion: Where did I see God today?

Accepting: How am I building diverse relationships?

Invitational: Who am I connecting with God’s family?

Trusting: Where does God rank?

Active: How am I engaged with God’s work?

Make sure that you actually pray during this section at some point, and don’t simply say that you will pray at the end of the group. 

Bible Study and Discussion (20-30 min)

Either send out for your group to read, or print and have available this article about Why Martin Luther Matters to United Methodists.

            Here are some follow-up discussion questions to that article:

            -What did you learn about the Reformation in this article?

            -Do you think the Reformation is a good thing or a bad thing?  Why or why not?

Turn to Romans 3:19-20 and read it together as a group.

-What do you think Paul’s point is about the Law?

            +Does Paul think that the Jewish tradition and the Old Testament are meaningless

            because of Jesus?

Don’t read this italicized portion aloud.  Paul was a Jew, and so was Jesus.  Paul is setting up the Law as a straw man because Israel couldn’t fulfill the covenant that God had made with them.  Caught in this predicament, humanity had no way to be made right with God.

Continue on and read Romans 3:21-26 together.

Hone in on vv 22-24. 

-How does reading v 22 as “the faithfulness of Jesus Christ” instead of “faith in Jesus Christ” change the meaning? 

-In vv 22-24, what evidence is there in the text that Gentiles (non-Jews) are going to be welcomed into God’s covenant people? 

            The word “all” and “there’s no distinction.”  Paul means to say that Jesus has opened the

            way to God for all people for all time.  He has done this by his faithful obedience.