Maadi Women's Bible Study

1. How does the concept of election and sovereignty bring you comfort? What questions does it raise within you?
2. Does Paul’s answer to the question of verse 9:19 satisfy you? Why/why not? 
3. The basis of God’s expression of mercy is our disobedience. Disobedience is our status quo into which God shows mercy. How do you wrestle with this truth that you were born into sin and fully deserving of condemnation? (Rom. 11:30-33)

Questions

1. Paul calls out the sleepers and the slothful which do you think most applies to you?
2. What thoughts arise when you see that Paul lists quarreling and jealousy on the same level plane as orgies and drunkenness?
3. Paul speaks of taking off and putting on. What is a specific thing that you know needs to be “taken off”? Can you share and then pray specifically for one another to remove this ugly piece of clothing?

Questions

1) Read 1 Cor 12:4-11, Eph. 4:11-13, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Make a list of all the various gifts mentioned, underline the repeated ones.

1. In what settings or situations do you often find yourself being  “superminded?” 
2. What do you think or have you come to understand, is your God given assignment or gift to use in the body of Christ?
3. What are your thoughts on leaning into your assignment as a technique of combatting supermindedness?
4. The gifts that Paul mentioned in his various listings are shaped by the needs of those particular congregations. What gifts do you see a need for in your church today? 

Notes

Missed point from last weeks discussion on Weak/Strong. The idea of ch. 13 concerning the believers response to government authority. This was primarily aimed at the Jewish listener who leaned towards a zealousness and a resistance to authority and paying taxes. The weak of Rome were tempted by this zealous option under a heavy tax burden.

Christoformity expresses itself through a God orientation...a Body of Christ orientation, and a Public orientation.

Questions

1. Christ calls us to be like him and step down from our place of privilage and power and enter into a messy story. What would this look like in your life?
2. Why is being a living sacrifice so much harder than offering a costly animal for sacrifice?

 

The weak and the strong

1. As an individual make a list of issues that you consider as “matters of conscience” (not a clear biblical or moral teaching for or against an issue) but that are, at times in our current Christian culture, being treated as certainties. Share your lists and see if others have said the same things. What are some ideas that are different from your list.  Answer with gentleness recognizing that at your table there are likely different opinions just liken Rome.
2. Consider how you view Christians who have different convictions from you. In your thoughts or words, have you shown disdain or judgement toward them? Have you felt that others have judged you or disdained you for your different convictions?

Those in Rome being Greeted

Phoebe- (F)

Prisca-(F) Prisca’s name is listed before her husband’s in four of the six times

Aquila-tentmaker by trade, a profitable but not high class profession. 

Epaenetus-“Beloved” first convert in Asia

Mary-(F) worked hard for you

Andronicus-

Junia-(F) likely married to Andronicus

Ampliatus-

Urbanus-

Stachys-

Apelles-

Aristobulus-

Herodian-

Narcissus-

Tryphaena-(F) worker in the Lord

Tryphosa-(F) worker in the Lord

Persis-(F)

Rufus-

Rufus’ mother-(F)

Asyncritus-

Phlegon-

Hermes-

Patrobas-

Hermas-(likely a woman)

Philologus-

Julia-(F)

Nereus-

Olympas-(F)

With Paul in Corinth

Tertius- v. 22 the actual writer of the letter. 

Gaius- v.23

Erastus-

Quartus-

Questions

1. Have you ever attended a house church? How do you think a Roman house church would have differed from your current church experience? What do you think are some of the strengths and weaknesses of a small fellowship group?
2. Have you ever fellowshipped in an environment where you were a part of the minority group not only in number, but in power and privilage as well? (It is very possible to be in the minority number wise, but still have the majority of power and privilage)  Describe some of the challenges and the strengths.
3.  How does understanding more about ancient letter writing influence your thoughts about Paul’s letter writing?

4 Layers of Context

Narrative Context: Where does the book lie with in the larger Biblical narrative?

Cultural Context: What is the culture(s) into which the book or letter was written? 

Situational Context: What is the relationship between the author and the recipients

Literary Context: “We must avoid the modern misconception: Paul and the apostles wrote their letters in solitude producing a single unedited daft that was hastily sent, or that Paul used a secretary to whom he dictated his letters word for word and then signed and sent the original draft. This mental image is completely out of sync with everything we know about letter writing in the ancient Greco-Roman world of 1st century” T. Mackie

1. When you look at your family tree, what are some traits and patterns you would like to continue? Which ones would you like to clearly leave behind?
2. Have you seen in your family God do an obvious act of life transformation that has encouraged you in your own walk with God?
3. We have all ridden this rollercoaster ride of success and disappointment and up and down again. Can you think of a story from your own “ride” that could encourage others when they are on the downside and can’t see God’s bigger picture? 

Questions

1. What thoughts do you have about the various complexities of these stories? Are you disappointed that God doesn’t work things out more clearly and straightforward or do you find a comfort in it?
2. Can you share about a time you feared a difficult encounter or conversation? How did you handle it and how did it resolve?
3. What are your thoughts on this idea that maybe the sin isn’t fully gone and forgotten until Heaven and that there is worth in our awareness of the sin and working out the shame and pain?

Questions

1) Can you recall a time when you had done something unfair, or unkind (consciously or not) to someone and then have it happen to you?

2) Did you make the connection that you had done this offense before?How did this teach you, or did it?

3) When have you striven to win the approval or affection of someone? What did you learn from that experience?

4) Leah tries to build her identity on Jacob’s love for her instead of on God’s love for her. It seems by the 4th son God mangos to break through to her with divine grace. In what ways can you identify with Leah?