Table Talk: ROMANS: Part 1: The Great Revelation
ROMANS: Part 1: THE GREAT REVELATION
This first movement of Romans (chapters 1–4) lays the foundation for understanding the gospel by revealing humanity’s deep need and God’s gracious solution. Paul begins with the good news that God has made a way to set things right (1:1–17), then unpacks the problem: all people, whether obviously sinful or outwardly religious, fall short of God’s perfect standard and stand under His judgment (1:18–3:20). But into this hopelessness, God reveals His righteousness through Jesus—offering justification as a gift, received by faith and not by works (3:21–31). To make it clear, Paul points to Abraham as the example of being made right with God through faith alone, showing that salvation has always been by trusting in God’s promise rather than human effort (4:1–25). Together, these chapters remind us that the gospel levels the ground for all and calls us to a faith that relies fully on God’s grace.
Spiritual Practice: CONFESSION
We believe that Jesus’ teaching is more than just knowledge for our minds (though it certainly includes that). It should transform us from within that flows outward into our actions. By practicing the ways of Jesus, we are being shaped into a people who look more and more like Him.
Confession may be good for the soul, but it can be very hard to do. We are invested in looking like good, moral people. After all, appearing good is one way of dealing with the notion that something is wrong with us. But this very appearance of goodness can be a way we defend ourselves against our sin. For when we can’t see our sin we have nothing to confess.
Every time we confess how we have missed the mark of God’s love and truth, we open ourselves up to the mending work of the cross. Jesus’ wounds hold true life-changing power. This is the shocking reality that confession can open up to us. Through confession and forgiveness we live into the truth of being God’s new creation! The old is gone. The new has come.”
Set aside some time for confession and self-examination. In the presence of God ask for light to pierce your defenses.Then ask yourself, Who have I injured recently through thoughtlessness, neglect, anger and so on?
As the Holy Spirit brings people to mind, confess your feelings about these people to God. Ask God to forgive you and if need be to give you grace to forgive them.
Write an apology; make a phone call or confess out loud in an attempt to put the relationship back on track.*Adapted from Adele Calhoun’s The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.
Prayer
You can pray this prayer daily during the sermon series, or use it as a closing for table conversations each week.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
From the Book of Common Prayer
SERMON SUMMARY God's displeasure is revealed against all who reject Him and choose to live in ways that go against His design.
Passage: Romans 1:18-32
Conversation Starters
KIDS
Imagine you have a toy that is not made to go in water, and you decide to play with it in the bathtub. What might happen? (It might break or stop working.) When we use things in a way they are not designed, they don’t work quite right or might even get damaged. God made us, and he knows exactly how we are designed to live. Sometimes we choose not to follow God’s way. We follow our own way instead. What is one way kids choose not to follow God’s way sometimes? (Disobeying parents, fighting with siblings, being selfish with toys or snacks, etc.) It makes God sad when we choose these wrong ways, because He knows it’s not what we are designed for. We can always tell God when we make wrong choices, and He says He will forgive us and help us learn a better way to live.
STUDENTS
What are some of the ways God has designed us to live? The Bible says that when people reject God's design, things start to go sideways and get messed up. What are some specific struggles or painful consequences that come about when you or the kids around you decide to make up your own rules instead of staying true to God’s design? Paul talks about people "exchanging the truth for a lie." What's a popular "lie" right now—about identity, purpose, or what makes you happy—that everyone seems to be buying into? What is God’s truth about that specific topic or idea?
ADULTS
Romans 1 speaks of humanity exchanging the truth about the Creator for created things. When we fail to live into God's design for our lives, what are the ways we see that exchange play out in our priorities, careers, or relationships? (These might be subtle or very obvious, depending on the situation.) Where do you find yourself most prone to substituting a cultural or personal design for God's clear blueprint? What specific area of your life needs the greatest surrender to His intended way? Reflecting on the overall series summary, this chapter of Romans is meant to establish our "deep need." How does grasping this make the gift of justification by faith—found later in Romans—not just good news, but essential and wonderful?
