January 7, 2024
Included | Romans 1:1-17
Included
Paul wrote to the small church in Rome even though he’d never met them. They were one church he hadn’t planted. In some ways the letter is him making friends. Good friends make us feel included; they let us know that we belong. It wasn’t something that Paul did that included the believers in Rome; it was what Jesus had done and was doing in them through his Spirit that allowed them to belong. The letter begins with Paul telling them just how ‘included’ they were!
Songs for this week: Spotify
- Remember a friend from childhood that made you feel included. Tell that story.
- How do you explain the ‘Good News’ or gospel? Give us your 30-second version.
- Take time with each of Paul’s “I am” statements: “I am a debtor.” “I am so eager.” “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” In what way does one, or all, of these apply to your life right now?
- Explain the phrase, “The righteous will live by faith.” What are the other options people try to live by?
- In what ways can you or your group be more inviting or more careful with others so that they know they are also included in God’s Good News?
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Colossians 2:1-7-The way forward for the first Christians wasn't always easy. False teachers brought confusion and deception, prompting Paul to point believers back to the truth. Just as the best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the genuine article, the best way to recognize false teaching is to know Jesus.
Colossians 1:24-29-Suffering is one of life's hardest realities. We might expect that following Jesus would mean less pain, but Jesus himself suffered and made it clear that his followers would too. The good news is that our suffering is never lost on God and is never in vain.
Colossians 1:21-23 - Paul contrasts two powerful words—alienated and reconciled—to tell our story. Discover how Jesus did the work of reconciliation and why that is the heart of the Gospel.
Colossians 1:15-20 -Colossians centers on Jesus—the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of life, and the Redeemer who restores creation through love.
Colossians 1:9-14 - Paul prays not for comfort, but for deeper faith—knowing God’s will, living for Jesus, and receiving strength to persevere with hope.
