One of the promises of living a life of faith is that it will be transformational – we will not be the same – we are a new creation. Paul especially emphasized transformation through the presence of God’s Spirit within us – if we just let it happen. Today we look at an excerpt from his letter to the church in Rome as he addresses “the core of our preaching.” So as we enter the Lenten season we might reflect on our faith journey and transformation:
Romans 10:8-10 It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!" The Message Version
• How does Paul describe salvation? What do we have to do to receive it? What will God do? What is the key to letting God’s work take place? Can you think of a word, one option is in the first sentence, which captures the crucial step that allows “God to go to work”?
• A core of this scripture is “God doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead.” How does our relationship with God raise us from the dead? What do we learn from the resurrection that might apply to our own faith journey? Has your faith ever helped you recover from a setback, tragedy, or reversal in your life?
• What must we affirm to receive salvation? What did you affirm when you verbalized your commitment?
• What important relationship is “set…right” through our salvation? What does that mean to you? Have you experienced times when it seemed that things were not right with God? What happened? Were you able to reestablish it? How did that happen?
• For Paul this reality changed his life and became the focus, direction and in a very real sense brought him the strength to be able to do what he did. What should we expect to occur because of a sound relationship with God? How would you imagine your life if this was not a reality to you?
Romans 10:11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help." The Message Version
This scripture comes in the midst of Paul’s struggle to explain the fate of the Jews now that Christ is a reality. It is tied to and refers to the prior scripture about salvation.
• What is the assurance that flows from this scripture? Do you agree? Have there ever been times when in spite of your faith that you questioned the presence of God in a situation? Have you ever struggled to reassure either in your mind or for someone else who is struggling with great difficulties that God was present in the situation? How did it go?
• Who does this scriptural reassurance apply to? Do you think that it applies to non-Christians as well? If so what seems to be the criteria for God acting generously “when we call out for help”?
• The scripture refers to trusting God – trusting that God will respond to our faith – in terms of salvation. But after salvation what do you trust that God will be and do on your behalf? What do you expect or what have you experienced as you have traveled on your faith journey? Have you ever chosen to make a decision or respond in a way that reflects confidence that God is present with you?
• Does help from God necessarily come as we hope and expect it might? Have you ever seen or felt God’s presence in a situation that seemed hopeless? Should we ever expect to be able to understand, predict, or fashion the presence of the indefinable, infinite, creator of the universe in real life?
Now Paul the Evangelish speaks to us:
Romans 10:14-17 But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims,
A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to. The Message Version
• Sum up the main points of this scripture; what is Paul urging upon us? Do you think that he is right? How do you think that this telling and preaching should be done? What has been the most effective telling and preaching in your spiritual formation? Was it always literally “telling” and “preaching” or something else?
• Paul lived out this scripture; it became the focus of his life which he zealously pursued until his death. But what does it mean for you today with your responsibilities and problems; what should be expected of you? How do you feel you have been equipped to be a “teller”?
• Does it say that being a advocate who is “telling all the good things of God” is natural and easy? What has or would motivate you to share your faith with others?
• What is your reaction to ‘how can they know’ – what level of priority should we place on giving others the salvation message? How do you feel about the responsibility he seems to place upon us?
• What frustration does this diligent preacher of the word seem to run into – is everyone receptive? Can you relate to it and does it impact your actively taking on the telling of the salvation story yourself?
• So what have you learned today? What are you taking home after discussing Paul’s message this morning?
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of Jesus, grant us that the same light ignited in our hearts might shine forth in our lives. We pray that the life of Christ within us turns all our fears to freedom, helping us live for others. Amen.
Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17 - 4:1, Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36
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