OC Bereans

Gentlemen,

These questions will help you get ready for this Thursday night’s Bible study on Romans 15:1-33.

• Can you identify other biblical passages that support vv. 1-2?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 3?
• According to v. 4, what are some purposes for the O.T?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 9?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 10?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 11?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 12?
• What “offering” does Paul reference in v. 16?
• What O.T. passage is Paul quoting in v. 21?
• Have your prayers ever involved “striving”?  Describe.

Dessert will be served at 7 pm … see you then!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Please intercede for the following three items:

1.  This is from Carl Chapman (former member of the study)

Hi Tim
We just heard from the doctor and the news is good, inconclusive, but good. No cancer cells in the biopsy. However the pathologist has suggested further testing due to the small sample amount that was obtained during the biopsy. They may want to do a surgical type biopsy rather than a needle type as was done this time.
Bottom line, we are praising the Lord for the results we have and trusting Him for those yet to come.
Thanks for your prayers.
God Bless
Carl

2.  This is from our friends in Haiti

Dear Friends and Family,
Please keep the people of Haiti, Fond-des-Blancs and us in your
prayers for this coming week.  Hurricane Tomas is expected to reach
Haiti by Friday.  The path it is on now will bring it directly to the
southern coastline, across the southern peninsula and over the rest of
Haiti.  Even if it weakens to a tropical storm, it will still bring
more rain and wind than most the country will be able to endure.

After the earthquake we were able to be online via Facebook with many
of you.  Since our internet is via satellite and bad weather usually
interrupts that connection we may not be able to give you any news as
quickly as we would like.  We will send a status report as soon as we
can.

Also we have a group here with us who are going to get more than they
bargained for when they scheduled their trip, but they are dedicated
to seeing it through with us and helping with whatever cleanup will be
necessary afterwards.  They are a group of 12 from five different
states.

In addition, in the last few days we have felt two tremors.  Everyone
is asking, “are they aftershocks or pre-shocks.”

Thank you for your prayers,
Joy Thomas

3.  I just received a text from our daughter, Laurelle.  Deb’s flight is scheduled to leave Bangkok in several hours (Sat. 5 am Pacific), but unfortunately, Deb has been awake pretty much all night, vomiting several times.  That is rare for her.  Laurelle said that she and Deb have been eating the same things, but with no effect on Laurelle, so they are not sure what it is.

She is facing a 3-hour flight to Hong Kong, followed by a 1-hour layover, before another 12-hour flight to LAX.  She is scheduled to arrive at LAX at 9:15, but with customs, I do not anticipate meeting her until about 10 pm.

Thanks!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

The following seven questions will aid your preparation for Monday night’s study of Romans 14.

1. Whom is Paul describing as “weak in faith” in vv. 1-2?
2. According to v. 3, what two extremes should be avoided?  Why?  (see also vv. 4, 10, 11)
3. What is Paul referencing in v. 5 when he discusses “one day above another”?
4. Whether we choose to eat certain foods, or not, what is the primary concern?  (v. 6)
5. Identify other biblical cross-references to support v. 8.
6. How might one “put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way”?  (v. 13)
7. Put into your own words the summary statement for this chapter in v. 23.

A handout for Romans 14 is available for download at the Media Drop Box on the right-side toolbar.  While visiting the drop box, check out the prayer requests at the bottom of the page.

Steve P. is bringing the dessert … arrive by 7 pm to enjoy it!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Ponder the following questions prior to Monday night’s study on Romans 13:

• How do you correlate v. 1 with political preferences?
• How do you think Paul’s original audience in Rome “heard” his exhortation in v. 3 … especially in light of their current political climate in Rome?
• What is the rationale for paying taxes?  What was the tax liability for Paul’s original audience?
• Describe how four of the “Ten Commandments” listed in v. 9 are summarized in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• To what event(s) does Paul allude in vv. 11-12?
• Practically, specifically … how do you “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”?

A handout for Romans 13 is available for download at the Media Drop Box on the right-side toolbar.

Scott B. is bringing the dessert … arrive by 7 pm to enjoy it!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

In light of the fact that there are many difficult circumstances swirling around our lives, today’s selection from “Jesus Calling,” by Sarah Young, is especially appropriate and encouraging.

“Remember that Joy is not dependent on your circumstances.  Some of the world’s most miserable people are those whose circumstances seem the most enviable.  People who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness awaiting them.  True Joy is a by-product of living in My Presence. Therefore, you can experience it in palaces, in prisons … anywhere.

“Do not judge a day as devoid of Joy just because it contains difficulties.  Instead, concentrate on staying in communication with Me.  Many of the problems that clamor for your attention will resolve themselves.  Other matters you must deal with, but I will help you with them.  If you make problem-solving secondary to the goal of living close to Me, you can find Joy even in your most difficult days.” (bold for emphasis)

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Here are additional questions to consider prior to tonight’s study on Romans 12.

1. To whom is Paul addressing his exhortation?  (v. 1)
2. Why Paul’s emphasis on the human body?  (v. 1)
3. To whom/what is the sacrifice made?  (v. 1)
4. Identify consequences of a “living sacrifice.”
5. Compare/contrast “conformed” with “transformed.” (v. 2)
6. What implications can be drawn from the “one body in Christ” analogy of v. 5?
7. How many specific spiritual gifts can you identify in vv. 6-8?

Roc is bringing sub sandwiches tonight, so plan to arrive by 6:45 pm to enjoy these!

If you have not yet voted on the secondary poll in the last post, please do so as soon as possible.

~ tr

Gentlemen,

A strong majority of you desire to study another New Testament book.  Therefore, prayerfully consider the following five books in this “secondary poll,” then choose one.  If you prefer, write in a different selection.

Please cast your vote as soon as possible … 100% participation will be appreciated.  Most likely, we will narrow these five choices to two, then conduct a final poll to determine the specific book.

Yom Kippur (“Day of covering or Atonement”) coincides with Sep. 17-18 this year.  A handout of insights into this most holy day on the Jewish calendar has been added to the Media Drop Box.

Finally, Mike has scheduled our next Saturday prayer meeting for October 16th, 9-11 am.  Plan now to participate in this powerful and strategic gathering.

Additional questions for next Monday’s study on Romans 12:2-?? will be posted in a few days!

Remember to pray for each other!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

The apostle Paul has just concluded 11 chapters of the most comprehensive teaching on God’s work of redemption.  But theology in isolation quickly becomes an exercise in sterile intellectualism.  So he now turns his attention to the ethical implications from this theology for everyday living.

Paul begins by discussing “living sacrifices” … “mind renewal” … and “spiritual gifts.”

Here are several questions to help you unpack the meaning of the first half of Romans chapter 12:

• It’s been said … “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it’s always crawling off the altar”! What are practical ways that you can “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice”?  (v. 1)
• Identify three instances in the past when you have been “conformed to this world.”  (v. 2)
  
• What specific habits can you develop to “renew your mind”?  (v. 2)
  
• What unique “gifts” has God entrusted to you?  (vv. 3-8)
• What are some parameters for effective usage of spiritual gifts?  (vv. 3-16)

A handout for all of Romans 12 has been prepared, although we will most likely only cover the first half of the chapter on Monday night.  It is available for download at the Media Drop Box on the right-side toolbar.

If you have not yet cast your vote on the poll in the last post, please do so as soon as possible.  A secondary poll will then be posted to specify further what we will study next.

Rick H. is bringing the dessert! … get here by 7 pm to enjoy it!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

We still have five, very full, content-rich chapters to go in our study of Romans, but I want to get a jump-start on preparations for what follows after that.  So, please cast your vote on the following poll question as soon as possible:

Thanks!

Based on your input, I will post a secondary poll to further define where we are headed.

Remember, NO STUDY this Monday, Labor Day … we will resume our study of Romans chapter 12 on Monday, September 13th.  Check back in a few days for study questions.

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Does God still have “plans” for Israel?  This is a curious question, especially in light of current world events.  Romans chapter 11 gives broad brush strokes to this “plan.” To help you discover some answers, consider the following questions for the first several verses.

1. What four reasons does Paul enumerate in vv. 1-5 to make the case that God has not rejected Israel?
2. Define “grace” (v. 6).  Use biblical support.
3. In what ways are people “hardened”? … Why?  (v. 7)
4. How has Israel’s “transgression” brought salvation to the Gentiles?  (vv. 11-15)

The handout is for all of Romans 11, but we will not cover the entire chapter Monday night.  It is available for download at the Media Drop Box on the right-side toolbar.

See you at 7 pm!

~ tr