Table Talk: ROMANS: WEEK 3
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 judges everyone impartially based on their actions, whether they have the written law or the law written on their hearts.
Passage: Romans 2:1-16
Conversation Starters
KIDS
Have you ever played a game and you or someone else cheated? What was that like (or what do you think that would be like)? Why does it bother us when someone cheats in a game? (It’s not fair. It feels wrong for someone to win by breaking the rules.) The Bible says that God is the most fair judge. The fair payment for our wrong choices is separation from God, but Jesus died on the cross for us, paying the price so that we could live with Him forever.
STUDENTS & ADULTS
God judges everyone impartially. What would change about the way we interact with others—especially those we disagree with—if we truly believed only God has the right to be the ultimate, impartial judge? What makes it impossible for us to be a fair and impartial judge?
Have you ever felt that internal "law" kick in—that feeling that something was clearly wrong—even if there wasn't a rule or explicit command against it? Where does that internal sense of right and wrong come from?
