Beyond Sunday - Week 8
Beyond Sunday
Week of March 10, 2024
“Really, it’s free!” When in Rome, Week 8, Romans 4:1-25
Thought: “It’s surprising how hard it can be to give someone something for free.”
That was said by one of two young men from RHC who spent last Saturday handing out bottled water to partiers at Manhattan’s “Fake Patty’s Day” festival. We discussed how their story compares with sharing the gospel with skeptics who don’t know Jesus yet. It can be difficult because some just can’t accept that it is truly free, with no strings attached; because some don’t believe they need it; because some feel they must earn everything they get…the list goes on, but you get it.
These young men took a late afternoon break to participate in a church gathering. The group prayed for them and their mission. Returning to Aggieville after darkness fell, they felt a change. There was an oppressiveness surrounding them as they encountered still greater resistance to receiving these free gifts. By the end of the evening, they felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Only then did they realize that the church group had shielded them with their faithful prayers.
The righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to us freely when we put our full faith and trust in Him. We must guard that free gift by taking up the shield of faith daily, so that we may share it with others.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20-21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 6:10-17, Titus 3:4-7
Discussion Questions:
· Jared made the point that the credit that we receive when we put our faith in Jesus is greater than the debt that He paid on our behalf. Put another way, our “bank account” went from hugely overdrawn not just to being zero. No, it suddenly had a huge positive balance (see 2 Cor 5:21 and Titus 3:4-7). What does that reveal to you about God?
· Romans 4 tells us, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” How would you describe the difference between believing in God and believing God?
· Living the Christian life and sharing your faith requires perseverance and courage. How do you yourself go about putting on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17)?
· The Gospel message is transformative. In Romans 4:17, God is described as “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” (Emphasis added) What transformation would you ask God to call into being in you?
Pray: Start by thanking God for being who He is, and for all He has done for, in, and through you. Ask Him to reveal to you any way in which you are still trying to earn His grace, or where you mistakenly think you don’t need it. Ask God to transform your life through the power of His Word, the Bible, and by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Next Steps:
· If you haven’t already, start your faith journey today by accepting Jesus as your Savior[i]. If you want more info or help with taking that step, or just want to share your news, reach out to the church by calling (785) 775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com
· Develop and/or deepen your own faith by setting aside time each day to spend with God in reading the Bible and praying.
· Think of people you know who need to hear the gospel message. Pray for them, and ask God for opportunities and courage to share the gospel with them.
[i] If you want to receive the salvation that is available through Jesus, place your faith in Him. Fully trust His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins. Completely rely on Him alone as your Savior. That is the biblical method of salvation. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, say a prayer to God. Tell God how thankful you are for Jesus. Offer praise to God for His love and sacrifice. Thank Jesus for dying for your sins and providing salvation for you. That is the biblical connection between salvation and prayer.
Week of March 10, 2024
“Really, it’s free!” When in Rome, Week 8, Romans 4:1-25
Thought: “It’s surprising how hard it can be to give someone something for free.”
That was said by one of two young men from RHC who spent last Saturday handing out bottled water to partiers at Manhattan’s “Fake Patty’s Day” festival. We discussed how their story compares with sharing the gospel with skeptics who don’t know Jesus yet. It can be difficult because some just can’t accept that it is truly free, with no strings attached; because some don’t believe they need it; because some feel they must earn everything they get…the list goes on, but you get it.
These young men took a late afternoon break to participate in a church gathering. The group prayed for them and their mission. Returning to Aggieville after darkness fell, they felt a change. There was an oppressiveness surrounding them as they encountered still greater resistance to receiving these free gifts. By the end of the evening, they felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Only then did they realize that the church group had shielded them with their faithful prayers.
The righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to us freely when we put our full faith and trust in Him. We must guard that free gift by taking up the shield of faith daily, so that we may share it with others.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20-21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 6:10-17, Titus 3:4-7
Discussion Questions:
· Jared made the point that the credit that we receive when we put our faith in Jesus is greater than the debt that He paid on our behalf. Put another way, our “bank account” went from hugely overdrawn not just to being zero. No, it suddenly had a huge positive balance (see 2 Cor 5:21 and Titus 3:4-7). What does that reveal to you about God?
· Romans 4 tells us, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” How would you describe the difference between believing in God and believing God?
· Living the Christian life and sharing your faith requires perseverance and courage. How do you yourself go about putting on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17)?
· The Gospel message is transformative. In Romans 4:17, God is described as “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” (Emphasis added) What transformation would you ask God to call into being in you?
Pray: Start by thanking God for being who He is, and for all He has done for, in, and through you. Ask Him to reveal to you any way in which you are still trying to earn His grace, or where you mistakenly think you don’t need it. Ask God to transform your life through the power of His Word, the Bible, and by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Next Steps:
· If you haven’t already, start your faith journey today by accepting Jesus as your Savior[i]. If you want more info or help with taking that step, or just want to share your news, reach out to the church by calling (785) 775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com
· Develop and/or deepen your own faith by setting aside time each day to spend with God in reading the Bible and praying.
· Think of people you know who need to hear the gospel message. Pray for them, and ask God for opportunities and courage to share the gospel with them.
[i] If you want to receive the salvation that is available through Jesus, place your faith in Him. Fully trust His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins. Completely rely on Him alone as your Savior. That is the biblical method of salvation. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, say a prayer to God. Tell God how thankful you are for Jesus. Offer praise to God for His love and sacrifice. Thank Jesus for dying for your sins and providing salvation for you. That is the biblical connection between salvation and prayer.
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