Week 13: Romans 15:14-32
March 31- April 6
Overview: Service is the example Jesus gave in John 13:1-16. Service is born out of our love for Jesus and a desire to emulate Him. Jesus’ entire life was about serving mankind. He said that when we do these things—feed the hungry, visit those in prison, care for the widows and orphans, and serve the least of these—it is as if we’ve done them for Jesus. We are saved to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. Compassion can be defined as “caring concern” for others. There are many who do not know Jesus in the truest sense. They are blinded by the lies that Christ-followers are hateful and haughty. When they see us serving the needy, caring for those who are suffering, and meeting the physical and emotional needs of our neighbors as well as strangers, they see Jesus in His glory. We are being obedient to the Word by our actions, and in doing so, they see Jesus in action through our deeds, as well as understand that Jesus came to serve, even by giving His life as payment for our transgressions.
Day 1: Romans 15:14-32
What do we learn about God?
What do we learn about people?
What is the key/main point?
Are there any truths/points regarding the gospel?
Optional Going Deeper: Choose a Bible study method/activity from the list below to deepen your knowledge/understanding of how God is speaking to you today.
Day 2: Romans 15:14-32
Note that not every text will have each of these. Please don’t force the text to make it fit. Simply look for what is there.
What sins are we called to avoid?
What commands/principles are we given to obey?
What promises can we claim?
What examples are there to follow?
Optional Going Deeper: Choose a Bible study method/activity from the list below to deepen your knowledge/understanding of how God is speaking to you today.
Day 3: Romans 15:14-32
Take about 30 minutes in prayer and ask God to reveal an area or need outside of the church body where you can use your skills and talents to honor and glorify Him. Write it down in the space below.
Next, write three or four specific actions you can take to leverage your skills and talents to meet that need.
Ask your Life Group or D-Group to join you in this effort, help you get started, and hold you accountable to follow through.
Take an index card, Post-it note, e-note on your phone, or another method, and write a daily reminder to keep this burden at the forefront of your mind.
Optional Going Deeper: Choose a Bible study method/activity from page 6 to deepen your knowledge/understanding of how God is speaking to you today.
Day 4: Romans 15:14-32
M-O-P
Meditation
Pray and ask God for insights as you meditate on today’s passage
Read through the passage for the day a couple of times.
Observations
Write as many observations as you can from the passage.
Write out word for word the key verse of the passage in which God spoke to you and include the scripture reference.
Prayer
Pray and ask God to remind you during the day about what you just learned and through the power of the Holy Spirit, how you will apply these principles to your life.
Spend time just talking with God; take some time in Adoration, some time in Confession, some time in Thanksgiving, and some time in Supplication (making requests).
Optional Going Deeper: Choose a Bible study method/activity from page 6 to deepen your knowledge/understanding of how God is speaking to you today.
Day 5: Romans 15:14-32
Reread the passage for the week and ask God to give you eyes to see His truth and how He wants it to specifically impact your life. Review each day of notes and highlight/identify what stood out to you most and why.
Summarize what you think God is teaching the original readers through this week’s reading.
Write out key applications and action points from this passage for your life.
Who is someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus that you can share a biblical truth from this passage with?
Take time praying for that person and try to set up an appointment to meet up with them.
Going Deeper:
Because God created us all with different personalities and spiritual temperaments, we each have our own unique ways to worship, grow, and connect with Him. Choose a Bible study method/activity from the list below that helps you connect with God and deepens your knowledge and understanding of how God is speaking to you today.
• Meditate on Scripture in nature
• Write a poem related to this text
• Sing the Scripture
• Do a word study on some words in the text
• Listen to a worship song related to this text
• Draw a picture related to this text
• Look up parallel verses
• Reach out to a friend and talk about what you are learning this week
• Listen to this text of Scripture (audio Bible)
• Paint related to this text
• Memorize your favorite verse in the text
• Journal
• Pray the Scripture
• Write a letter of encouragement to someone sharing what God is teaching you
• Do a prayer walk as you pray through this Scripture or something God spoke to you about in this text
• Read Scripture out loud
• Choose a main idea/repeated word or phrase from the text and look at how it is carried out throughout the verses this week
Sermon Notes:
Disclaimer: “Unless otherwise noted, the overviews and questions were taken in part from smallgroup.com, a curriculum writing division of LifeWay Christian Resources.”