14 Romans 15:14-21,30-33REACH

FOCUSNo city is exactly the same—while many cities have more similarities than differences, each has its own unique people, businesses, traditions, and history. But the city 10 miles from the city where you live probably feels a lot more familiar than somewhere on the other side of the globe. Today, we will see how God placed a burden on Paul’s heart to take the gospel—the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection—to the ends of the earth. God intends to receive more glory for Himself by calling people of different cultures and backgrounds to follow Him and submit to the lordship of Jesus. In this session, as we close out our study of Romans, we will see that God calls us to share the good news with all people, particularly those who have never heard.

God calls us to share the good news with all people, particularly

those who have never heard.

This week’s

TRUTHCentral

Session 14 / 109

14.01 WHAT’S THE MOST DISTANT CITY YOU’VE EVER VISITED?

.02 HOW WAS THIS CITY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR HOMETOWN? HOW WAS

IT SIMILAR?

Talk it out

Begin by reading through the passage.

EXPLORATIONRomans 15:14-21,30-33

14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. My purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but, as it is written, “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” Romans 15:14-21

30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.

33 May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

110 // Explore the Bible: Students

.03 HOW DID PAUL VIEW THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH

AT ROME (V. 14)?

.04 WHAT HAD PAUL WRITTEN BOLDLY TO THEM ABOUT?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH AT

ROME WAS DOING WELL AND STILL NEEDED PAUL TO WRITE

BOLDLY TO THEM?

.05 WHAT WAS PAUL’S PURPOSE IN WRITING BOLDLY TO THE

CHURCH AT ROME (V. 16)? WHAT MIGHT A SIMILAR DESIRE

LOOK LIKE IN YOUR LIFE?

.06 HOW DID PAUL DESCRIBE THE GENTILES IN VERSE 16? WHAT

POINT IS HE MAKING AND HOW MIGHT WE APPLY IT WITH REGARD TO

OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US

IN THE CHURCH?

Romans 15:14-16

CONVERSATION

LITERARY CONTEXTIn Romans 15:9-12, Paul quotes various parts of the Old Testament to reveal God’s plan has always been to welcome the Gentiles into His kingdom. He quotes Law, History, Psalms, and Prophets. In Psalm 18:49, the Messiah stands among Gentiles and offers their praise, along with his own, to the Father. In Deuteronomy 32:43 Moses summons the Gentiles to join Israel in joyful praise to God. Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm, and it calls for all nations to praise God. In Isaiah, the Messiah, is described as the hope not just of Israel but of all the nations (Is 11:10).

Reflect and respond.

Session 14 / 111

14.07 WHAT DID PAUL BOAST ABOUT? SHOULD WE BOAST LIKE

THIS? WHY OR WHY NOT?

.08 WHAT WAS PAUL’S AIM (VV. 20-21)? SHOULD THIS BE OUR

AIM TOO? (SEE MATT. 28:18-20.) EXPLAIN.

.09 WHAT DID PAUL ASK THE CHURCH AT ROME TO DO FOR HIM?

HOW DOES GOD USE OTHERS’ PRAYERS TO STRENGTHEN US?

.10 WHAT DID PAUL HOPE TO DO IN THE FUTURE (V. 32)?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?

Romans 15:17-21

Romans 15:30-33

Journal your response here.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Up to this point, Paul had spent about 10 years sharing Christ with people all over the eastern half of the Roman Empire. Paul would later visit Rome as a prisoner, and some people believe he made a fourth missionary journey to Spain that is not recorded in the Book of Acts. Regardless of whether Paul made it to Spain or not, the picture painted by Acts and what we have studied in Romans is that Paul lived out the aim he mentioned in Romans 15:20, and it deeply shaped his life.

112 // Explore the Bible: Students

NOW WHAT?

.11 WHAT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE US TO

DIVIDE OR LOOK DOWN ON EACH OTHER? HOW CAN WE STRIVE FOR UNITY?

.12 WHY IS UNITY IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO FOLLOWING JESUS AND

LIVING ON MISSION FOR HIM? HOW CAN WE GROW IN UNITY?

.13 HOW COULD WE, AS A GROUP, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO

ARE TAKING THE GOSPEL TO NATIONS AND PEOPLE GROUPS THAT HAVE NOT

HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?

.14 WHAT IS ONE STEP YOU COULD TAKE THIS WEEK TOWARD SHARING THE

HOPE YOU HAVE IN CHRIST WITH SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW JESUS?

CENTRALTRUTH

God calls us to share the good news with all

people, particularly those who have never heard.

How does this apply to your life?

Session 14 / 113

Choose five days this week to set aside time to dig deeper into God’s Word with these devotions. We hope you’ll make this a priority and encourage others in your group to do so as well.

DwellEvery follower of Christ is thriving in some areas and struggling in others; the Romans were no different at the time of Paul’s letter. They were full of goodness, knowledge, and able to instruct. However, they still needed to work on certain aspects of their faith, just as we all do. We are each ministers—earthly representatives—of Christ to the unbelieving world.

.01 WHAT DOES IT MEAN PERSONALLY

FOR YOU TO BE A MINISTER? TO WHOM

DO YOU MINISTER?

.02 HOW SHOULD YOU PRAY FOR

OTHERS AND YOURSELF IN REGARD TO

THIS PASSAGE?

MemorizeWrite each word from this week’s verse on a different index card. Mix them up and then place them in order.

PrayAsk God to show you someone today who needs to know the love and power of Jesus. Show them.

ROMANS 15:14-17

FOR BIBLE READING

Day One

7 Arrows

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE SAY?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE CHANGE

THE WAY I RELATE TO PEOPLE?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT GOD?

WHAT DID THIS PASSAGE MEAN TO ITS ORIGINAL

AUDIENCE?

HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE PROMPT ME

TO PRAY?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US

ABOUT MAN?

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE DEMAND

OF ME?

DEVOTIONSDaily

114 // Explore the Bible: Students

DwellPaul’s aim—to reach people who had never heard the name of Jesus—had kept him busy for some time; yet he still desired to see the Roman church in person. Now, he would be able to do just that. As he journeyed to Spain, he planned to visit the Romans and enjoy their company. We, like Paul, are refreshed and renewed when we spend time in the body of Christ.

.01 LOOK AT A MAP; FIND ISRAEL

(PAUL’S BIRTHPLACE), ROME,

AND SPAIN.

.02 WHAT BLESSING CAN YOU GIVE TO

YOUR CHURCH? WHAT BLESSINGS DO

YOU RECEIVE THERE?

MemorizeWrite down just the important words from this week’s verse (nouns, verbs, adjectives). Try to say the verse aloud by filling in the other words.

PrayConfess your unwillingness to give of yourself to your local church. Ask God to fill you with Paul’s passion.

DwellWhen we boast about ourselves and what we’ve done, we give ourselves glory. Paul taught the Romans (and us) that we should seek only to give Christ glory by boasting about what He has done in our lives. Paul’s goal, inspired by a prophecy in Isaiah, was to preach the gospel of Jesus to people who had never heard His name.

.01 WHAT REASONS DID PAUL HAVE

FOR BOASTING IN JESUS, ACCORDING

TO VERSES 18-19?

.02 HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE

MIRACLES AND POWER OF JESUS IN

YOUR LIFE? WHAT DOES THAT REVEAL

ABOUT HIM?

MemorizeUse a dry erase marker to write this week’s verse on a mirror. Say it aloud. For a challenge, erase one word and say it again. Repeat!

PrayPraise God for making Himself known in your lives. Offer to share His praise with a friend today.

ROMANS 15:22-24ROMANS 15:18-21Day ThreeDay Two

Session 14 / 115

DwellPaul closed his letter to the Romans with his prayer list: that he would be rescued from those who did not believe, that he would be effective in his ministry in Jerusalem, and that he would be able to visit the Roman church after his journey to Israel. In each of these things, Paul sought the glory of God and the love of others.

.01 HOW CAN YOUR PRAYER TODAY

REFLECT PAUL’S PRAYER? WHO

DO YOU KNOW THAT NEEDS THIS

PRAYER TODAY?

.02 HOW CAN KNOWING THE PRAYER

REQUESTS OF OTHERS STRENGTHEN

YOUR OWN FAITH?

MemorizeTry to set this week’s verse to a simple kids’ song. Sing it aloud during your down time.

PrayAsk God to give you Paul’s passion and willingness to spread the gospel and love others.

ROMANS 15:30-33Day Five

DwellMany Bible scholars believe Paul wrote his letter to the Romans while he was living in Corinth, a Greek city. He had been visiting the Christians in Greece, and they had made generous donations to poor people in Jerusalem. Paul’s next stop was to take that money to the needy there. Paul understood the connection between spiritual benefits and meeting material needs.

.01 WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU

GAVE OF YOUR OWN MONEY TO HELP

SOMEONE IN NEED?

.02 HOW MIGHT THE GIFT OF THE

GREEKS AND THE TRAVEL OF PAUL

HAVE INSPIRED THE ROMANS TO GIVE?

MemorizeMake up motions for each short phrase in this week’s verse. Practice saying it aloud as you do the motions.

PrayAsk God to reveal to you a needy person or group in your area. Pray that God would help you serve or give to them.

ROMANS 15:25-29Day Four

116 // Explore the Bible: Students