BIBLE DISCUSSION GROUP STUDY QUESTIONS

In preparation for Sunday, November 17, 2013 Passage: Romans 9:30-10:4

Memory Passage: Romans 10:4

DAY 1 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE

(a)  Read Rom. 9:31-11:10. These verses contain the second major section of Paul’s defense of the statement he made in 9:6a: “But it is not as though the word of God has failed.” Summarize the main theme of this entire section in one sentence.

(b)  Explain why Paul asks, “What shall we say, then?” (9:30). In other words, what has Paul taught in 9:24-29 that prompts this question?

(c)  What is “a righteousness that is by faith” and how did the Gentiles attain it even though they were not pursuing it?

DAY 2 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE

(a)  Read Rom. 9:30-10:4 & Phil. 3:3-16. How does the law lead to righteousness (9:31) (be sure to interact with other passages from Romans that you have already studied in order to answer this question)?

(b)  How does Paul’s autobiography in Phil. 3 help you understand Rom. 9:31-32 (notice the language of running a race [pursuing, attaining, obtaining, pressing on, straining forward] that is found in both passages)?

(c)  Does Rom 9:30-32 mean that all Gentiles attain the righteousness they were not seeking and no Israelites succeeded in reaching the law that leads to righteousness by faith? Explain your answer using the context of Rom. 9.

(d)  Notice that the Israelites were pursuing God when they failed to attain the righteousness that comes by faith. In what ways do the Israelites, as described in Rom. 9:31-32, resemble the church of the 21st century, and what should a local church do to guard against people pursuing God in the wrong way?

DAY 3 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE

(a)  Read Rom. 9:30-10:5, Is. 8:14-15, & 28:16. Explain the cornerstone imagery and how it functions in Is. 28 and the stumbling stone/rock of offense imagery in Is. 8 (you will need to look at the context of each passage and identify who the builders, stone/cornerstone, stone of stumbling/rock of offense are in each context).

(b)  What is the “stumbling stone” in Rom. 9:33 and why did Israel stumble over it when the Gentiles did not?

(c)  When will those that believe in Christ “not be put to shame” and what does this mean?

(d)  How does Jesus become a “rock of offense” to those who claim to be “religious” in our culture today, and how do we use this truth to sharpen and intensify our evangelistic efforts to those who claim to be religious but have stumbled over Christ?

DAY 4 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE

(a)  Read Romans 9:30-10:4. Does 10:1 constitute a new topic, or does it continue the same topic. Explain your answer.

(b)  How does Paul explain how Israel’s zeal for God was “not according to knowledge?”

(c)  Even though believers have attained the righteousness that is by faith, how might a believer’s life today exhibit a zeal for God that is not according to knowledge?

DAY 5 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE

(a)  Read Romans 9:30-10:4. How does the “for” that begins 10:4 instruct you concerning the relationship between what is taught in v. 3 and what is taught in v. 4?

(b)  Explain the phrase, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (and remember to keep your answer informed by the context).

(c)  Paul returns to his passion to see the Israelites come to Christ so we should return to it as well. How has your evangelism increased since you implemented the applications you considered when we studied Rom. 9:1-3? If you have not increased in your passion for and activity of evangelism, what has caused your stagnation?

DATE: November 17, 2013 PASSAGE: Romans 9:30-10:4

Christ Is the End of the Law

In Romans 9:30-10:4 Paul draws 4 conclusions based on the truths he taught in 9:6b-29.