The Grace Message

What is the grace message? How do you deal with a sin struggle? Is God still enabling prophets to see the future today? I got kicked out of my church for smoking. What is the healthy view of fellowship?

Do you have idols in your heart? Where do struggles with sin really come from? Are you good or bad? Is total forgiveness a license to sin? Is God breaking you? Do you need to worry about having more faith? What is the bare minimum required to be saved?

Will you still remember everything in Heaven? If so, how will there be no sorrow there? Are we humans a little lower than God? Is it okay for the New Testament to tweak Old Testament quotes? My pastor said he had the authority to hand me over to Satan. This has concerned me for months! If water baptism doesn't save, why do it?

Here’s the final installment in our Romans series in which Paul says goodbye to friends and shares some deep and meaningful truths along the way. Here, you’ll learn about… • false teachings • women in church • more on predestination! • the “obedience of faith” I hope you enjoy this message as our series in Romans reaches its dramatic finale! Discussion Questions for Romans 15:22-16:27: 1. What are some of the key truths in the book of Romans that mean the most to you? Why? 2. How does Romans 15:22-27 show Paul’s commitment to spreading the message and the unity and generosity of the churches at that time? 3. What do you think Paul means by “the fullness of the blessing of Christ” (v. 29)? 4. This chapter offers several pieces of evidence that women were very active in the early church. What are they? 5. How does Romans 2:7 respond to the false teaching that everyone (the whole world) is in Christ? 6. Read verses 17-19. What sort of deceivers does Paul seem to be concerned about here? 7. As Paul closes out the letter (verses 25-27), how does he once again allude to the true meaning of predestination (the gospel going out to the Gentiles)? 8. What is the “obedience of faith” (verse 26)? In your own words, explain.

What is the doctrine of election? How much does your education affect your study of the Bible? How do we really put on the armor of God? Does Acts 13:48 support individual selection of some to be saved? What should we think about near-death experiences? What does "God swore by Himself" really mean? How do we get closer to God? If we have the mind of Christ, why do we need our minds renewed?

Why is someone who is born of the Spirit like the wind (John 3)? Why did Jesus clarify that food and drink don’t defile a person (Matthew 15)? Hebrews 10 speaks of the blood of Jesus that “sanctified” a person, so doesn’t that mean a Christian is being warned of punishment? I have been abused and even raped. I wonder what life would’ve been like if things were different. How can I know and trust God’s plan?

How do we read the Old Testament in light of the New? If upon death, we're immediately present with the Lord, then how is it that "the dead in Christ will rise first"? Are those who kill, quarrel, and fight believers or unbelieving Jews in James 4?

What does James 5 mean about healing? Is there any rationale for forgiving ourselves? How do I "fit in" at church now that I understand God's grace better? Might God blot my name out of the Book of Life? Shouldn't I still follow the Law to give myself structure and to be perfect and impress others?

How do we reconcile water baptism with being baptized in God's Spirit? Do they both play a role? Can our salvation be taken away from us? What about lukewarm Christians that are spit out by God?

What does it mean to "abide" in Christ? Is there a "soul sleep"? What are your thoughts on the movie "Sound of Freedom"? Did Jesus limit His knowledge while He lived on Earth? If all Scripture is inspired and useful, then how should we view the Old Testament?