Beyond Sunday I When In Rome - Week 7
Beyond Sunday
Week of March 3, 2024
“A Life-saving—and Life-changing— Message” When in Rome, Part 7, Romans 3:21-31
Thought: In The Shack by Wm. P. Young, God says, “…you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross, so now listen to me carefully: through His death and resurrection, I [God] am now fully reconciled to the world… All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two-way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship, but it is the nature of love to open the way.” (Emphasis not in original)
The gospel message is life-saving. The moment we accept Jesus as our savior we become free, that is Justified. But it doesn’t stop there. The gospel message is also life-changing.
Jesus opened the way for us to be reconciled, to be in right relationship, with God. By choosing to develop and constantly grow in a relationship with Jesus, we undertake the process of Sanctification or becoming more like Jesus in how we live.
To quote Troy from Sunday’s sermon, “Christianity is not something I do. It is someone I love with all my life.” Jesus gave us the mission of carrying that life-saving, life-changing message to the world, through our living and our words.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 1 Peter 1:13-23, 1 Peter 2:16, Galatians 5:13-15
Discussion Questions:
· God “was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” What does that Truth reveal to you about God? About how He feels about you?
· In what ways—for what reasons—do you still feel that you are not yet reconciled to God?
· In what ways do you struggle to live in freedom?
· What are some ways your life reveals your love for Jesus? What new ways might you develop?
Pray: Start by thanking God for who He is and for all He has done for you. Confess to Him any way in which you do not live freely. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live a new life of complete freedom.
Next Steps:
· To have a relationship with anyone, including God, you must spend time with them. If you don’t already, try setting aside a specific time of day to spend time with God. Start with 5 minutes of worship – 5 minutes reading your Bible – 5 minutes in prayer.
· If you are new to faith and/or need a fresh perspective on the who, what, why, and how of a relationship with God your next step is to sign-up for RHC’s Essentials Class. The next session kicks off April 7! You can find a description of the class and a signup form here.
Week of March 3, 2024
“A Life-saving—and Life-changing— Message” When in Rome, Part 7, Romans 3:21-31
Thought: In The Shack by Wm. P. Young, God says, “…you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross, so now listen to me carefully: through His death and resurrection, I [God] am now fully reconciled to the world… All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two-way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship, but it is the nature of love to open the way.” (Emphasis not in original)
The gospel message is life-saving. The moment we accept Jesus as our savior we become free, that is Justified. But it doesn’t stop there. The gospel message is also life-changing.
Jesus opened the way for us to be reconciled, to be in right relationship, with God. By choosing to develop and constantly grow in a relationship with Jesus, we undertake the process of Sanctification or becoming more like Jesus in how we live.
To quote Troy from Sunday’s sermon, “Christianity is not something I do. It is someone I love with all my life.” Jesus gave us the mission of carrying that life-saving, life-changing message to the world, through our living and our words.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 1 Peter 1:13-23, 1 Peter 2:16, Galatians 5:13-15
Discussion Questions:
· God “was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” What does that Truth reveal to you about God? About how He feels about you?
· In what ways—for what reasons—do you still feel that you are not yet reconciled to God?
· In what ways do you struggle to live in freedom?
· What are some ways your life reveals your love for Jesus? What new ways might you develop?
Pray: Start by thanking God for who He is and for all He has done for you. Confess to Him any way in which you do not live freely. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live a new life of complete freedom.
Next Steps:
· To have a relationship with anyone, including God, you must spend time with them. If you don’t already, try setting aside a specific time of day to spend time with God. Start with 5 minutes of worship – 5 minutes reading your Bible – 5 minutes in prayer.
· If you are new to faith and/or need a fresh perspective on the who, what, why, and how of a relationship with God your next step is to sign-up for RHC’s Essentials Class. The next session kicks off April 7! You can find a description of the class and a signup form here.
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