This week’s FOCUS
8
12 Romans 13:1-14 RENEWED PEOPLE FOCUS When we think of what it means to be a Christian, we probably think of things like going to church, singing worship songs, listening to Christian music, saying prayers at meals, going on mission trips, and doing other good deeds. But what about things like obeying the governing authorities in our lives and the laws they make? That’s probably not on our list. Or what about paying our taxes and paying off our debts when we borrow money from others—these types of things probably do not come readily to mind when we think of following Jesus. And yet, when Paul wrote to the church at Rome, he reminded them to do these very things. We need to remember that following Jesus means doing everything we can to live honorably in the world as representatives of the King. As redeemed people, God calls us to represent Christ well in our community and world. As redeemed people, God calls us to represent Christ well in our community and world. is week’s TRUTH Central Session 12 // 93
Transcript of This week’s FOCUS
12 Romans 13:1-14
RENEWEDPEOPLE
FOCUSWhen we think of what it means to be a Christian, we probably think of things like going to church, singing worship songs, listening to Christian music, saying prayers at meals, going on mission trips, and doing other good deeds. But what about things like obeying the governing authorities in our lives and the laws they make? That’s probably not on our list. Or what about paying our taxes and paying off our debts when we borrow money from others—these types of things probably do not come readily to mind when we think of following Jesus. And yet, when Paul wrote to the church at Rome, he reminded them to do these very things. We need to remember that following Jesus means doing everything we can to live honorably in the world as representatives of the King. As redeemed people, God calls us to represent Christ well in our community and world.
As redeemed people, God calls us to represent Christ well in our community and world.
This week’s
TRUTHCentral
Session 12 // 93
12.01 DESCRIBE A CHRISTIAN.
.02 WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ATTRIBUTES AND ACTIONS THAT MAKE
CHRISTIANS DISTINCT?
Talk it out
Begin by reading through the passage.
EXPLORATIONRomans 13:1-14
1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor. 8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t make plans to gratify the desires of the flesh.
94 // Explore the Bible: Students
.03 DOES PAUL’S COMMAND TO THE CHURCH AT ROME IN
VERSE 1 SURPRISE YOU? HOW SO?
.04 WHAT REASONS DID PAUL GIVE THE CHURCH AT ROME
FOR SUBMITTING TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES? WHAT
DID HE SAY WE ARE DOING WHEN WE FAIL TO DO SO?
.05 LOOK BACK AT ROMANS 12:9-18. HOW MIGHT OBEYING
PAUL’S COMMANDS IN ROMANS 13:1-7 PROVIDE US
OPPORTUNITIES TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE? WHY IS THIS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR POLITICALLY
DIVIDED CULTURE?
.06 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PAY YOUR OBLIGATIONS TO EVERYONE?
WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
Romans 3:1-7
CONVERSATION
HISTORICAL CONTEXTRome had a long line of corrupt emperors. Claudius who was emperor just before Romans was written, had many people unjustly executed at the request of his power-hungry wife. Nero, who was emperor when Paul wrote Romans, similarly plotted murder against some of his political opponents. He also instituted many unjust taxes. A few years after Paul wrote Romans, Nero started a massive persecution campaign against Christians in Rome, killing many. While persecution of Christians when Paul wrote Romans was much less severe, it was not easy or socially acceptable to be a Christian. It is in this context, that Paul wrote to the church at Rome to “submit to the governing authorities” (v. 1).Reflect and
respond.
Session 12 // 95
12.07 HOW DOES PAUL SAY WE SHOULD LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS
(V. 9)? WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?
.08 HOW DOES LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS SUM UP OR
FULFILL THE LAW?
.09 HOW SHOULD THE REALITY OF JESUS’ RETURN IN THE FUTURE MOTIVATE
US TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT?
.10 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (V. 14)?
WHY DID THE ROMANS NEED TO BE REMINDED OF JESUS’ LORDSHIP? WHY DO WE?
Romans 13:8-10
Romans 13:11-14 Journal your response here.
LITERARY CONTEXT
The laws of most governments are just—for instance laws against theft or assault. But what should a Christ follower do when asked to submit to a clearly unjust law? Paul certainly did not mean for Christians in Rome to sin against God (Rom. 8:12-13). 1 Peter 2:17 is helpful in this regard. Followers of Christ should honor governing authorities, but they should fear God. In other words, if our government ever required us to sin against God, then our allegiance to Him should win out like it did when Daniel’s friends refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3) or when the Hebrew midwives refused to put baby boys to death at the command of Pharaoh (Ex. 1:17).
96 // Explore the Bible: Students
NOW WHAT?
.11 WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS WE CAN HONOR THE PEOPLE OF AUTHORITY IN
OUR LIVES? HOW MIGHT DOING SO PRESENT US WITH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES?
.12 HOW CAN WE FIGHT THE TEMPTATION TO IGNORE OR AVOID OUR
NEIGHBORS AND INSTEAD SHOW THEM THE LOVE OF JESUS?
.13 WHAT ARE SOME TANGIBLE WAYS YOU COULD LOVE AND SERVE YOUR
NEIGHBORS AT SCHOOL, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OR IN THE ACTIVITIES YOU
PARTICIPATE IN EACH WEEK?
.14 HOW SHOULD THE REALITY THAT JESUS IS KING AND IS COMING AGAIN
CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE?
CENTRALTRUTH
As redeemed people, God calls us to represent Christ well in our community and world.
How does this apply to your life?
Session 12 // 97
Choose five days this week to set aside time to dig deeper into God’s Word with these devotions. We hope you’ll make this a priority and encourage others in your group to do so as well.
DwellFor adults, the command to pay taxes is applicable, because every adult pays taxes. But as a student, you might feel like this doesn’t apply. (It will, soon!) However, the rest of the passage is a great way to practice your submission: Give respect and honor to those who have authority over you, such as teachers, parents, coaches, and other adults. Your interactions with these people are opportunities to live out your identity in Christ.
.01 WHO DESERVES YOUR RESPECT OR
HONOR? HOW DO YOU SHOW THAT?
.02 DO MOST PEOPLE ENJOY
SUBMITTING TO OTHERS? HOW CAN WE
BE MORE SUBMISSIVE TO AUTHORITIES?
MemorizeWrite each word from this week’s verse on a different index card. Mix them up and then place them in order.
PrayAsk God to change your attitude toward those in authority. Pray that your honor and respect are genuine.
ROMANS 13:6-7
FOR BIBLE READING
Day One
7 Arrows
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE SAY?
HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE CHANGE
THE WAY I RELATE TO PEOPLE?
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US
ABOUT GOD?
WHAT DID THIS PASSAGE MEAN TO ITS ORIGINAL
AUDIENCE?
HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE PROMPT ME
TO PRAY?
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE TELL US
ABOUT MAN?
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE DEMAND
OF ME?
DEVOTIONSDaily
98 // Explore the Bible: Students
DwellEvery day you live is a day closer to Jesus’ return. We don’t want to live our lives “sleepily,” just getting by in our faith. Instead, we live intentionally as Jesus has called us to live so everyone sees it. We choose to walk in the light, meaning open and willing to show how God changed us so everyone can see. In that, we walk obediently in the commands of Jesus.
.01 HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU
FIRST WAKE UP? DOES YOUR
CHRISTIAN WALK LOOK SLEEPY?
.02 HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR CHRISTIAN
FRIENDS USE THIS PASSAGE TO
ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN YOUR FAITH?
MemorizeWrite down just the important words from this week’s verse (nouns, verbs, adjectives). Try to say the verse aloud by filling in the other words.
PrayPraise God for the reminder that we should be walking as a light in our dark world. Shine for Jesus!
DwellThe Christian life is summed up in one word: love. God loved us, we love Him, we love others. This passage even goes so far as to say our debt to one another is to be love. On top of that, we must be sure that our love for ourselves does not surpass our love for the people around us. As we love, we can be certain we’re living as Jesus calls us to live.
.01 HOW MANY TIMES DOES “LOVE”
APPEAR IN THESE 3 VERSES? WHAT
DOES THE REPETITION TELL YOU?
.02 WRITE THE NAMES OF TWO PEOPLE
YOU WILL SEE TODAY. HOW COULD YOU
SHOW LOVE TO EACH OF THEM?
MemorizeUse a dry erase marker to write this week’s verse on a mirror. Say it aloud. For a challenge, erase one word and say it again. Repeat!
PrayAsk God to help you love others with the love He has poured into you.
ROMANS 13:11-14ROMANS 13:8-10Day ThreeDay Two
Session 12 // 99
DwellBuilding on the verses before, Paul mentions a few more items over which Christians squabble: which day is more important, how to observe special days, and what to eat on those days. But Paul points believers back to the main question: Are you honoring God with that? Rather than observing special days being a source of bickering, it should be a source of Gods glory.
.01 WHAT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
WERE ARGUMENTS ABOUT SPECIAL
DAYS AND FOOD DISTRACTING THE
PEOPLE AT ROME FROM?
.02 HOW CAN YOU FOCUS ON
LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS OVER
THESE LESSER THINGS WE TEND TO
ARGUE ABOUT?
MemorizeTry to set this week’s verse to a simple kids’ song. Sing it aloud during your down time.
PrayPraise God for all the reasons He is worthy of your honor. Ask Him how you can honor him even today.
ROMANS 14:5-7Day Five
DwellThis passage is just as applicable today as it was when Paul wrote it almost 2000 years ago. Loving others means accepting one another, regardless of our differences. Some early Christians chose to eat only particular foods, thinking they were holier than others. Not so, Paul said. We are not here to look down on one another but to lift each other up.
.01 WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE REVEAL
ABOUT GOD AND WHAT HE EXPECTS
OF US?
.02 IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU LOOK DOWN
ON OTHER BELIEVERS? WHAT DO YOU
NEED TO DO TO STOP?
MemorizeMake up motions for each short phrase in this week’s verse. Practice saying it aloud as you do the motions.
PrayAsk God to reveal where you’re judgmental of others. Ask Him to help you love others well.
ROMANS 14:1-4Day Four
100 // Explore the Bible: Students
