Romans 15: Ministering as Christ Did

• Book of Romans was written: by the Apostle Paul in AD 57, likely from Corinth
• Recipients were believers in Rome, from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds

Questions

1. Recall the theme of Romans 14: "Don't let your liberty cause another to fall".
   What key addition does Paul introduce in Romans 15, from verses 1-2?
2. What two groups is Paul challenging to live in harmony? Who are the weak and the strong?
3. What is the significance of Jesus' incarnation to this issue?
   • What was Jesus' mission in this context?
   • What is Jesus' relation to the "weak" group?  How does he think of himself?
   • How does this aspect of Jesus' ministry bring glory to God (see Eph 3:1-11)?
4. How was Paul's life related to Jesus' mission?  What did it mean for him to "follow Jesus" (v5)?
5. What do we learn about the Trinity in this passage? (vs 3, 7-9, 16)
6. v17-33 What kinds of applications is Paul hoping the Romans would derive from all this?

Discussion

1. We are told to bear the weaknesses of others and accept them
   • Have you had trouble being accepted by others? Or had difficulty accepting others?
   • What is the underlying motivation for acceptance or tolerance?
   • What cannot be accepted or tolerated? e.g.. Gal. 3:1-14, 5:16-26
2. Considering this passage, what might it mean for you to "follow Jesus"?
3. Do you have a sense of what your ministry is, and where you need to go or what you need to do in order to be able to exercise your ministry?
4. What can you do to help your service be acceptable to others?
5. Reflect on the different stances of Acts 15:19-20 and I Cor.. 10:18-33 on living in a society infused with idolatrous practices, i.e. meat from the markets had commonly been offered to idols.

[Acknowledgement: Some questions adapted from Boston Christian Bible Study Resources.]