Study Questions: Mission Minded [1] Romans 1:1-17

Date: April 30, 2006
Passage: Romans 1:1-17
Message: The Message
Series: Mission Minded [1]

As the world looks at the Church from a distance, what do they think of us?
What do they think are our priorities?

1. The Gospel is a MESSAGE
Read v1-4; 8-10; 14-15
- ..agnosticism has grown into something desirable.
It's a sort of cerebral anaemia, a religious neutrality that excuses us from taking the gospel seriously.!
What is so appealing about agnosticism?
How does the message of the gospel confront the agnostic?

- Classic post-modern thinking doesn't like to be propositioned.
It prefers shades, nuances, variables, possibilities, feelings.
It would have the gospel seen not as a message but a mystery that is subject to our interpretations.!
Discuss

2. The Gospel is a message FROM GOD
Read v1 ...gospel of God
If it is God's message, we are not at liberty to change it!
How has the gospel been changed by some?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The preaching of the Cross is as offensive today as it was then.
Why is the Cross so offensive to us as people?

3. The Gospel is a message ABOUT JESUS
Read v1-4

- The message today seems to be that whatever you worship is good psychotherapy even if it's not true, so why knock it? The question is: does it matter if the boy is deluded in his adoration of this picture of the horse, as long as it's beneficial?

There are those today who want to consign the gospel to this kind thinking.
'It doesn't really matter who Jesus is or what he did, as long as it helps you somehow!'!
Discuss

- Paul leaves us in no doubt that the heart and soul of the gospel is Jesus!
..promised by prophets
[as far as human nature]...a descendant of David
[as far as divine nature]...declared with power to be the Son of God through the resurrection from the dead
Far from being some mythological figure that makes us feel better about ourselves, Paul tells us that it is only through Jesus that ...the righteousness of God is revealed [v17]

In simplest terms, we need more than a DIVINE PARDON to get into heaven, we need to be CLOTHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS to stand before the living God!

In vv17 Christ's righteousness being offered to us in place of our sinfulness!
That is the gospel!!

What does the gospel reveal about us?
What does it reveal about God?
Why cannot Jesus just be a 'magical' figure that we worship in the light of the above?

4. Gospel is a message we are OBLIGATED TO SHARE
Read v14

The gospel, by its nature places us under obligation!
Mission has no other motivation than the gospel itself!
You cannot manufacture obligation.
You cannot teach obligation.
You cannot coerce obligation

Why are Christians often so slow to fulfil our obligations to make the gospel known?
Why do often have good intentions but little else?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

5. Gospel is a message for EVERYONE
Read v16
Some things may be equally true but not equally relevant!
Eg.
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
It is physically impossible to lick your elbow.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our ears and noses don't stop growing.
And finally, almost all of you will try to lick your elbow after reading this!

All those things are true, but are they relevant!
Here is something that is also true, but very relevant.
We need to be saved!

In this day and age that wouldn't register in the top 100 needs of humanity!

What do people think we need most today?
How different are we as Christians?
Are we people who 'believe' the gospel or are we 'gospel people'?
Is there a greater reality about what we need?
Is there a greater contentment about what we do have 'in Christ'?
Read Romans 5:1-5