Agrarian stories about the kingdom of God

In Chapter 4, Jesus taught the crowd by using parables. I once heard that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. These stories are rich and give us much to think about. The first parable is about a farmer who went out to sow his seed (the word). The seeds are scattered and essentially fall in four different places (representing people’s hearts/response). I want to focus in on this story because it has had a profound influence on my life. You see I often find myself in the third scenario:

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Worries of this life…Deceitfulness of wealth…Desire for other things…
I hear the word, but there are so many things going on in my life. God, unfortunately, gets choked out. Thorns come in different forms and cause my life to be unfruitful.
Maybe you know what the third scenario is like too. Here is an activity that helps me and I encourage you to try…
Do not post the following questions ☺ but maybe grab a pen and paper, take some time to pray, and write these out.

What is frustrating me right now?

What am I worried or anxious about?

What am I scared or concerned about?

In what ways do I feel inadequate?

What chokes God out of my life?

What makes my life unfruitful?

What am I thankful for? How has God been good to me?
What am I looking forward to?

P.S. If you are really feeling brave, share your list with your spouse, or parents, or a close friend.

*It is interesting that the words Jesus addressed to the wind and the waves (vs. 39) are exactly the same as he addressed to the demon-possessed man in Mark 1:25.
My prayer today is that you may be able to tell certain voices, thoughts, or storms in your life to “Be quiet, be still!”

3 pieces

Mark is a staightforward Gospel. It simply tells the story of Jesus - in power and servanthood. There is much packed into each chapter. Today, three things jumped out at me.

1. Jesus saw the faith of four men who brought a friend to him to be healed. Mark is telling this story, giving a picture of Jesus carrying the authority of God. But he also is giving a picture of how important it is that we, in our faith, carry our family, our friends, our neighbors to Jesus. This is why INVEST & INVITE is such a vital action. We are to invest & invite so that our family, friends, neighbors can experience life change with Jesus. Who are you investing in? Who are you inviting for Easter? (Remember, this man's friends didn't have to heal the man - they didn't have to explain anything to him - they simply brought him to Jesus.)

2. Jesus called Matthew. Maybe this jumped out at me because my name is Matthew. Or maybe it is because I realized how Matthew was such a bad choice for the job. Or maybe it was both - how my name is Matthew and I am a bad choice for the job (trust me, I know me better than you know me.). Humanly, it didn't make sense for Jesus to call Matthew. But he did. And Jesus calls you and me, regardless of what it looks like from a human perspective. Then, Jesus went to a party at Matthew's house - full of tax collectors and sinners. Hmmm. Have you gone to a 'Matthew party' lately? Maybe we should throw a 'Matthew party' for our neighbors. No preaching, no DVD, no worship music...just people hanging out talking about life.

3. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. I love this thought. How often do we simply follow rules because we think this is what makes God happy? The command about the Sabbath was given because that is how we were created to live. Click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjW63LuqYm8) and watch this preview. Rob has some great thoughts about life rhythm.

What jumped at you today?

Boldly Go

In one chapter we learn of the way prepped by John the Baptist, the baptism of Christ, his time and temptation in the desert, the calling of the first disciples, Jesus driving out demons and healing many AND Christ's need for solitude.  Wow!  That's a lot in one little chapter.  It certainly gives us a good overview of the preparation of  Jesus' early ministry and the beginning of His ministry.  

I think I would love to have met John the Baptist.  He sure seems like we was an "out there" kind of guy, or in today's language, John was definitely an "outside of the box" thinker and doer!  Can you imagine being given the call to prepare the way for the Son of God? Talk about responsibility and courage.  As I read this, I wondered what parallels I could draw from John's ministry.  

I certainly am not preparing the way for Christ's ministry, but aren't we all really preparing the way for Christ's return?  According to Matthew 28:19-20 we are to be discipling, preaching and baptizing....that's what John the Baptist was doing.  And he was obviously sold out, bought in, and 100% committed to the cause of Christ.  I believe it was that passion that led to the fervor with which he preached the coming of Christ and the need for repentance.  We, too, should be doing the same.  Yes, I do believe that with many people we have to "earn the right" to share the gospel--we have to build a relationship and earn credibility.  But how often do we wait too long?  Come up with one excuse after another of why it's not time?  We are each and everyone called to spread the Good News.  

There's a lot in this passage and I realized I have focused on one small part.  Feel free to share your thoughts on other aspects of today's reading.  Personally, God used verses 1-8 today to remind me of a commandment He gave me to not only live out my faith, but to share it openly and honestly as well.  I'm not going to start eating locusts or wearing camel's hair clothing, but I think I could take a few tips from John's boldness and commitment.  

Father,

May we be very aware today of the chances you give us to share your love and Truth.  As people pass by us,  may we not let the opportunities pass us by.  Give us courage to speak when You want us to speak.  Help us to remember that we are being watched by neighbors, co-workers, family and even strangers and daily we have a chance to live in obedience to you.

Amen.

You want something... but don’t get it.

James starts chapter 4 with this question and answer,
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from YOUR DESIRES that battle within you? You want something but you don’t get it…”

You want something… but you don’t get it….
This little phrase really slapped me in the face as I read ☺ and it is so true.
How do I act when I want something, and I don’t get it?

This passage makes more sense when we look at the end of chapter 3. James writes about two kinds of wisdom: heavenly and earthly. Both are identifiable by the fruit they produce. Wisdom from heaven is pure, peace loving, considerate, full of mercy. Earthly wisdom is full of disorder, selfish ambition, bitterness, and envy.

I don’t want to brag, but looking at that list I am full of “heavenly” wisdom…
At least, when it is easy to be.
Yet when I really, really want something, and then I do not get it... envy, bitterness, disorder, manipulation, quarrels etc.…

As we read James 3 and 4 we must ask ourselves these questions: How do I treat others when I do not get what I want? Do I connive, manipulate, or enforce my will?
Do I seek God’s will, and heavenly wisdom? Do I pray with the right motives? Do I remain humble and submit myself to God?
Because I am usually wise, until I want something and don’t get it.

the tongue.

Can you roll your tongue?



Can you control your tongue? James takes some time to talk about how important, but how difficult it is to control the tongue. You will definitely hear a sermon sometime in the next year on this subject. I've been wanting to do a series on this for the past year or two - but it just hasn't come together yet. At the end of his comments about the tongue, James makes a statement that is so very convicting to me: Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. What is he saying here? Is he saying that our heart, our motives can be made known by the words we choose to use? I think it was Scooby Doo who said "rhut rho." And I think Jesus said something to the effect of "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." How do you assimilate these verses? What do you take from these instructions from James? And is it ok to quote James, Jesus and Scooby Doo in the same blog entry?

dead?

This piece of James is just convicting. Seriously - James uses plain language to get a very important point across. If you claim to have faith, but don't have any outward evidence (and he's not talking about showing up at church), you're only fooling yourself. Here it is again...just in case you skimmed over it in your reading:
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

There is much debate over this passage of scripture. You have some who say: if you really believe this, you believe in salvation by works (or that you are made right with God because you do the right things). You have some who say: you have to do the right thing to be right with God. And then, there are those with a more balanced perspective: you are made right with God through Christ alone (faith)...but that faith makes itself known in how you live. If you don't live it out, I'm not sure how real it is.

So what do you think? Was this convicting to you?

Just do it

James might just be my favorite book of the Bible. So, I am excited to delve into Chapter 1 with you.

First, I love that we are reminded to be joyful as we face and endure trials. While it is often difficult to assume this attitude during the trial, we all appreciate the maturity of faith and gift of grace as a result of the experience. Knowing that the endurance of a variety of trials will increase my spiritual stamina and develop my moral character has to change my attitude and approach to any challenges that might come my way. Let me share a thought from The Expositor's Bible Commentary on verse 12: "the word dokimos, which indicates that the man 'has stood the test', was used to describe the successful testing of precious metals and coins. It referred to the process of testing and also to the consequent approval of the tested object as genuine." I love that picture--that God would watch my process and deem me, my Walk and my Faith, as genuine. How I long to please the Lord in that way!

It is interesting to me that James points out in the next few verses that temptation does not come from God, nor does it come from outside sources. Rather it comes from “his own evil desire.” Of course Satan tempts us, but sometimes we spend more time placing blame then recognizing that which is within us and giving it up to God. I think this section can be summed up by a Casting Crown song entitled “Slow Fade”; I recommend searching it on itunes and giving it a listen—let me entice you with this one line “Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid…”

I think verses 19-27 could be summed up by quoting Nike…“just do it”. Several times in my life I have had the privilege of learning sign language. I love this language and seem to pick it up rather quickly. However, my “learning phase” has rarely been coupled with a “practical phase”; in other words, I am taught how to position my hands and fingers in certain ways to make specific words for communication, but I never have anyone to actually sign to. The result? After a few months, I’ve forgotten most of it again and am reduced to being able to tell you my name and to “stop” or “wait”—helpful with 2 year olds and that’s about it! The same goes for our studies of God’s Word. We must listen and read then obey, experience and DO.

Reflect on all we have read in the N.T. together this year. Are you putting it into practice? What have you changed in your life as a result? How has your Christ-like love manifested itself lately?

A request and a warning

Paul opens II Thes. ch. 3 with a request for prayer:

Pray that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored. Pray for deliverance and protection from evil and wicked men. These are good things to pray for and it is easy to understand why Paul would want prayer for such things, as should we.

In the second part of the chapter, Paul warns the Christians in Thessalonika about a certain kind of people. He warns them to stay away from these people and not become like these people.

Does anyone know who these people are? Why is Paul so adamant about keeping away from them?

What type of person would this be in our world today? How do you love these people and spread the message of Jesus to them?

Some thoughts to ponder for your Friday…

And pray today that the message of Jesus would spread rapidly through our church community in an honoring way, and that we would have protection and deliverance from the evil one.

prayer

In chapter 3, I love one of the prayers that Paul prays for this church. Here it is:
And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you...
Don't you love that picture? This is going to become one of my prayers for McDowell Mountain Community Church. I am going to pray that God will pour His love on us so much that it will fill our lives and splash over on everyone around us. What do you think would happen in your home, in your neighborhood, in your school, in your business, in your _________(fill in the blank) if you had love splashing out on everyone around you? Many of us have anger and frustration splashing out onto everyone around us. Don't you want to be someone known more for your love than anything else?

Anything jump out at you from chapter 2 or 3?

1 Thessalonians Orienting Data

These are two short letters, but very important letters. There are some disagreements among scholars, but I believe that these were two of Paul's first letters. Paul wrote these letters to a church that he had started in Thessalonika. In the first letter, we will find a couple of reasons for him to write. The first is simply to encourage. Being a Christian in this day would have been extremely difficult. Early Christians were in the minority and suffered much persecution. The second reason had to do with Christ's second coming. Paul wanted these Christians well grounded in this important belief.

As you and I read, I pray that we are encouraged. Paul writes about the history of this young church. Maybe you and I will be reminded of our history, MMCC's history - and be encouraged by God's grace and direction in our lives. And, as we read later chapters, I pray that we will be encouraged about what will one day take place - Christ's return.

Chapter 1 is so appropriate to where we find ourselves. We will experience trouble in our lives together - and how we respond to that trouble will be a reflection of the hope and trust we have in God. Our outward behavior is a picture of what lives inside. I love how Eugene Peterson puts it in the Message:
We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message!

So, MMCC - be the message. Live the message. And I guess if we have to, we'll use words.

Therefor

Remember, everything that Paul writes from this point on is built on the foundation of chapters 1-11. We've got to have the understanding of those first chapters to live out what Paul will challenge us toward in those chapters we now read.

I have to admit that I am bent toward verses 1 and 2. I love these verses and view them as the simplest explanation of what it means to live the Christian life. And the best commentary I have found on these two verses is Eugene Peterson's paraphrase found in the Message. It says this:
1 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Christianity isn't about showing up at church on Sundays (although that is important) and it isn't about memorizing verses from the Bible (although that is important)...(I could go on here). Christianity is about offering God our lives - every bit of our lives. Christianity is about living differently, in light of what God has done for us. How different do you think our world would be if Christians took these two verses more seriously? What would be different about your life if you lived these two verses?

Don't get me wrong, I love the rest of the chapter. You and I need to do what we were gifted and called to do. You and I need to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We need to meet needs as we see them. I am challenged by all of these things.
So what hit you and challenged you today? Let us know what God will use from this to work in you today...this week...this month...

11&12

I have to admit that I flew through chapter 11 because chapter 12 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. All of this discussion about the Jews and the Gentiles and God's plan. Verse 33 says this:
Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
What a great reminder. There are times that I do not completely understand the circumstances and direction I sense God leading - but it is vitally important that I remember HE IS GOD AND I AM NOT. God's ways are so much higher than ours and His plan so much more perfect than ours. Do you remember the story of Job - after some pretty rotten things in his life, he finds himself questioning God. If you get the chance, go back and read Job 42, verses 1-6. God's ways are perfect, and as we were reminded last week, He is always working for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

Tomorrow begins with this one word: THEREFOR. What Paul is about to say, what he is about to challenge us toward is completely built on the foundation of chapters 1-11. What we read the last two weeks and today builds our UNDERSTANDING so that we can now APPLY it to our lives. We've been packing our minds with WISDOM, and we will now be challenged to LIVE accordingly.

Are you enjoying Romans? Why or why not?

Believe and confess

Good morning my fellow Romans readers!  We are more than half way through Romans; do you have a new found appreciation for Paul's intellect and God's grace?

I want to focus on verses 9-13 today.  Wow, this is a powerful passage!  The first thing I noticed is that Paul is quoting scripture in verse 11 & 13.  Where are these from?  Verse 11 comes from Isaiah 28:16 and verse 13 is from Joel  2:32.  I encourage you go to read those verses in context and see how they relate.

This passage sort of sums up the road to salvation: believe and confess.  Yes, it's that simple.  All the lessons learned over the last 2 weeks about the Law and sin and putting our trust and faith in God and important, but I love this reminder that to gain that freedom in Christ is really quite a simple act.  Now, for some, getting to that point is a long hard road with many battles as they try to hang on to their old selves, to the supposed freedom with which sin deceives.  But, when we come to that moment when we are ready to freely give ourselves to Christ, there's not a long list of requirements--believe with your heart, confess with your mouth.

I was so blessed to grow up in a home, a family, where God was the center and, thankfully, my path to salvation was fairly free of obstacles and road blocks.  I gave my heart to Christ in 5th grade.  Later, I struggled with the validity of my salvation--there was no big moment or change in my life, so was it real?  Then a very dear friend of mine pointed out that I should be thankful that I didn't have to go down a difficult path in order to find a need for Christ, He was just always there and it was very easy for me to believe.  I rededicated myself to Him in college when I realized what a blessing my path to salvation really was.   I would love it if you would share a little of your story today!

p.s.  is everyone else asking the same question I am:  Where's Grant?

Chapter 9

Sorry--I'm late in the day and this is a short posting, especially compared to the material in Chapter 9.  What jumped out most to both Darin and I, was verse 32.  What God brought to my heart are people in my life that think their works are enough.  And, I was convicted in prayer for them.  It reminded me of Megan in first grade.  

She wasn't being challenged at all and this became very clear one day when we were running late for school.  Her spelling list was lying on the table and, realizing we hadn't studied for it at all, she grabbed it, then laid it back down mumbling to herself "I don't need to study.  I know them all already.  I always do."  And, she aced the test.  My point?  It was very difficult that year to teach her study habits that she would need later on in life when she didn't need the studying to do well now.  When people think their works are "good enough", it is often difficult to get them to realize and accept a need for Christ.  It's that "why change what you're doing if it's already working for you?", kind of thinking.  It made me examine my attitude today and how I'm doin' on my Walk.  I need to be careful to not equate my works for Christ with my living for Christ.

  

One last thought:  I also like how I read it in The Bible Exposition Commentary, "They (Israel) rejected "grace righteousness" and tried to please God with Law righteousness." There's that Law versus grace thing again.  Thank God for His grace to those who believe!

Hope and Victory and Life, Oh My!

Whew! Those first few chapters of Romans have been a lot to get through. Let’s move on.

What I noticed first about this chapter is all of the well-known verses. Here are the ones that popped out at me:

v. 1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”
v. 28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
v. 35a “Who shall separate us from the love of God?”
v. 38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

All of these verses by themselves have great impact, but when you see them in context, you realize the weight of their great news! We should jump for joy; we should go skipping along the yellow brick road as we realize what great hope we have in Christ. The Law, sin, and inherent death of the flesh all give way to a great victory…new life in Christ.

Personally, verses 26 & 27 tugged most on my heart. Let’s get some conversation going today; what verses most reflected the hope in your heart and life today? Please share!

Laying down the Law

Let me start by admitting that this was a tough one for me—bring out the commentaries!

Legalism seems to be the running theme; that point at which obedience to the law becomes the route to holiness. And, often leads to self proclaimed judgment superiority. Paul shows us that while the law is important it should not be our ruler. But we are divided—flesh and soul. Our flesh is grounded in man’s sinful nature and uses the law as a temptation.

As a mom and former preschool teacher I know there are certain phrases you shouldn’t say to a young child:

“Johnny, here’s the scissors. Cut the paper, but whatever you do, don’t cut your hair”
“Mommy needs just a few minutes of peace and quiet so please get along and don’t hit your sister”
“Don’t put that in your mouth!”

What does each of these phrases carry the potential to do? That’s right! It plants the idea—one that may not have existed before. This is what Paul is conveying. The Law which is God given, has been corrupted: “sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of ‘forbidden fruit’ out of it” (The Message).

When we died to our old selves, we died to the Law. The Law that perverts, condemns, and misleads. Ugh! About now my head is starting to go fuzzy. How do we find the balance between obedience under the Law and living for the Law? WE don’t. Only through the leading of the Holy Spirit can our flesh be defeated and our obedience manifested in Him.

What do I take away from this? My life and walk with Christ should not and cannot be a list of do’s and don’ts. I must daily surrender both my flesh and mind to Him and the Holy Spirit.

Dead end

Some very dear friends of ours have a teenage girl whose life over the last few years is a great picture of Romans 6. She has been in a constant state of rebellion towards God and her parents. She finally admitted to me a couple of weeks ago that she will be happy when her parents just do what she says and let her do whatever she wants. In other words, she wants freedom. Freedom to live as she pleases with no boundaries placed on her by those troublesome adults living in that house with her. Along with many other words of advice and Truth, I shared with her that if her parents chose to give her all the freedom she wanted, as soon as poor choices and consequences caught up with her, she’d be blaming them for not making her follow rules and so on and so on.

This is exactly what Paul is talking about in our reading today. Freedom outside of God isn’t really freedom because it leads to nowhere good. In fact, it leads to death. We, as humans, need God’s boundaries so we don’t stray off the path of righteousness. And God knows that. But He allows us to make that choice so we truly appreciate His grace and the freedom of living….now and forever with Christ.

And don’t you just love the beautiful picture of baptism that God gave us symbolizing this very thing? Every summer Scottsdale park and rec sponsors a mud fest at Chapparel Park. Ever been? There is mud everywhere. Mud piles, mud obstacle courses, mud, mud, and more mud. I took my kids ONCE. Before they could even get in the car, I made them strip down as much as they could and sit on towels in the car, then straight to the bathtub they went. We all know what it feels like to be covered in filth, then washed clean with water. You think you’ve never felt cleaner. That’s the picture of baptism—to be washed cleaner than ever, whiter than snow. To be buried to your old self, then raised with new life. Sin no longer is your master or has a hold on you, although Satan sure tries.

What old sin has been trying to retake you? Today, think back to your baptism. Remember that “you” died to live in Christ. Sin is a dead end, but life in Christ is ever new. Live as proof that you have life abundant.

Erosion

Romans 5 has to be one of the best chapters in the Bible. Can the message of God’s love for us be conveyed in a better way than verses 6-8? To me this chapter has a central theme. Hope. And of course, hope does not disappoint us!

Of all the amazing verses in this chapter, I must draw your attention to the verse that jumped out at me this morning. In verse three a phrase appears, two words sit side-by-side bringing hope. It is simply this: SUFFERING PRODUCES…

This weekend, the student ministry will be on a ski trip to beautiful White Mountains of Arizona. Our theme for the weekend is: Erosion. Erosion is the process of decay caused by natural agents. As we sit up in the mountains we are reminded that in nature, erosion creates. Often, erosion creates something beautiful. It may look like the ground is wasting away, but in fact God is creating a magnificent Grand Canyon. EROSION CREATES…. SUFFERING PRODUCES…

Maybe today is going to be a difficult day for you. Maybe things are breaking down in your life, or maybe you feel like you are wasting away. It could be finances, relationships, or your job. It could be things outside of your control. And maybe God is creating something beautiful in your soul that you cannot understand this moment.

The NT authors understood this well. Check out James 1:2, II Cor. 4:8-12, 16-18, I Peter 4:12-13, Phil. 3:7-11. Peter, James, Paul all agree. Outwardly we might be wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed. And we may be dying, but resurrection awaits us on the other side.

May you have hope today and know that God is not far from your suffering…

Romans 3

I told Matt I was not excited to commentate and write a devotional on the first few chapters of Romans. It is a powerful passage but difficult to plow through. As we enter into this first century argument, there are certain things we must understand and important lessons to be learned. So Hagah (chew on this)….

Paul’s opposition, a certain group of first century Jews, believed that they were in a special position in regard to God because of their heritage. Paul agrees that they are (vs. 2 “Much in every way!) The difference was Paul believed their special position was one of special RESPONSIBILITY, these Jews believed it was one of special PRIVILEGE. Paul states they are special because God has entrusted them with His commandments. God said to them, “You are a special people, therefore you must live a special life.” He did not say, “You are a special people, therefore you can do whatever you want.”

The Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (vs. 9). We are not declared righteous by observing the law (v.20). A new righteousness has been made known, and it comes from God through Jesus (22). Imagine these words coming from Paul, a Pharisee. In what ways has Paul’s mind and heart been transformed? Why would these statements be revolutionary coming from a former Pharisee?

As God’s people, how do you live? Do you see grace and salvation as your privilege or your responsibility?

So much to discuss…

Orienting Data

Jared- Great picture to get us started. When I'm reading, I love having a sense of what could have been going on.
To tack onto what Jared wrote, I want to add a few orienting pieces.
1) From a broad sense, it seems as though Paul had two primary reasons to write the Romans. One was to introduce himself to them. The other was to give a foundation for the Christian faith.
2) There are a number of 'famous' verses from this book. What are some that you know? I think the central verse, the verse that could be lifted out as the big picture is found in this first chapter. Anyone want to guess which verse?
3) A quick word study will show the following statistics:
"Righteousness" is used 34 times in the book of Romans and is key to understanding this book. It is only used 92 times in the entire New Testament.
"God" is used 153 times.
"Law" is used 72 times.
"Christ" is used 65 times.
"Sin" is used 48 times.
"Faith" is used 40 times.

I'm excited to read this book with you. John Calvin said this about Romans:
"If a man understands Romans he has a sure road open to help him understand the entire Bible."