“When In Rome”
Small Group Plan
March 11, 2007

Dear Group Leader…

What would it be like to live as a first century Christian in Rome?  As the capital city of the ancient world, imagine what you would see and hear – the languages, religions, politics, and culture.  Would you see opportunity or danger?  Paul saw the opportunity, but we know that it would become his danger.  I guess when real faith meets the real world both danger and opportunity are always present.

OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What was your first introduction to Jesus?
· How did you initially feel or respond?
· When and why did faith eventually take root and begin to grow?

LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …

      The Gospel …
Romans 1:1-4
¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

· What did you grow up hearing about “The Gospel”?  How was it defined?
· What does Paul identify as “The Gospel” here?
· Paul has never visited Rome.  Why does he begin his letter with Jesus?
· Gospel is from the Greek “euangelion” and literally means (eu) “good” angelion “message.”  How is Jesus a good message?
· Why does Paul highlight both the human and spiritual dimensions of Jesus?

      The Apostle …
Romans 1:5-6
⁵ Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.  ⁶ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

· Paul says he was “called” (vs. 1) to “call people” (vs. 5) just as the Roman Christians were “called” (vs. 6).  How would you define being called by God?
· What have you been “called” to do for God?
· What have you been “called” or rescued from?
· How does it feel to live with a sense of purpose or calling?

      The Romans …
Romans 1:7-15
⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.  ⁹ God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.  ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and Non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.  ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

· What is the connection between Rome’s international character and the faith of the Roman Christians being “reported all over the world”?
· What do these verses show about Paul’s relationship to God?
· Why does Paul want to go to Rome?
· What do you learn about Paul’s priorities?
· What about his character?

      The Mission …
Romans 1:16-17
¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  ¹⁷ For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

· Why isn’t Paul “ashamed of the gospel”?  Was he ever ashamed?  Explain.
· When he says he’s not ashamed, what is he actually not ashamed of?
· How does the gospel save people?

USE IT / APPLY IT …
· What positive reports would you want people to say about your faith?
· How would you compare Paul’s attitude about sharing his faith with the general attitude today?
· What would it mean to be ashamed of the gospel today?
· Describe a life that “lives by faith.”

Close by asking God to see more clearly how Jesus is the gospel.