Discussion questions for Romans 4

Here are the questions for next Tuesday. Feel free to post any response or questions to these questions.

No one may boast of his favor with God, for both Jews and Gentiles are declared righteous not because of obedience to God's law but because of faith in Jesus' death. (Romans 3:27). This was a hard idea for Jews to grasp. What about Abraham, the father of the nation, whom the Jews considered the most obedient man there ever was? Surely he had reason to boast of God's approval! Paul knew if he could prove that Abraham had no reason to boast, then the matter was settled for any Jew.


1. How was Abraham able to resist temptation to doubt God's promise? (4:20) What lesson does it offer us?

2. Does Roman 4:17 motivate you to trust God to do anything specific in your life? If so, what are you trusting Him to do?

3. Circumcision was a sign (pointer) and seal (outward ratification and guarantee) of the righteousness Abraham had by faith (Romans 4:11) What are the signs and seals of Christians' righteousness by faith? (See John 13:35, Acts 2:41, 8:12, 10:47, Ephesians 1: 13-14, 4:30, I Peter 3: 21)

4. How do you plan to apply Abraham's example in your life?

so sorry

hi ladies-

i'm really sorry i won't make it to group this week. I'm still at work at 7:06- casting for movies is taking up my life- BUT i will be there next week-promise. I hope all things go well and I will see you soon.

xxoo!
-kat

As Much Help as I Can Get

Romans is making my brain hurt.

Which is not a bad thing. :)

I wanted to blog to sing the praises of www.biblegateway.com.
What an amazing resource! I've had a difficult time with this lesson and doing a search of Romans 3 in different translations has been a blessing.

Not that I still get it at all.
But, I feel I have more to work with seeing these texts side by side.

It's fascinating how technology has even influenced the study (and discussion) of the Bible! Can you imagine what great theologians could have done with this stuff hundreds of years ago? Or even 50 years ago?

Do you think C.S.Lewis would have been a blogger?! :)

Guide Questions for Romans 3

Here are the study questions for next week! Feel free to blog responses to these questions.

1. How does our unrighteousness bring out God's righteousness more clearly?
(Romans 3:5) Do you feel more lovable and closer to God when you've been doing good things than when you've done wrong? Ask God to help you to put your trust more actively in Jesus' death than in your own performance.

2. How do we find the perfect balance between the law and faith?

3. What excuses do you/the world use to justify sin? Do you agree with Paul's reaction? (Romans 3:7-8)

4. What does "fall short of the glory of God" mean to you? (Romans 3:23)

5. What implication does Romans 3 have for your life?

See you on Tuesday!

Thanks guys!

Hey everyone! It was great to meet everyone last night. I'm just posting this to see if I can technologically savvy enough to make this work. In any case, I look forward to seeing you all again next Tuesday!

Rome or DC, NYC, LA?

While reading about Paul describing the citizens of Rome, I couldn't help but see parallels in the culture I experience on a daily basis here in DC and hear about in cities across the world. It is always amazing to me how relevant these letters are even to us today. I read the first two chapters imagining Paul was writing to us here in DC and the words seemed to jump off the page into my life! Some of it isn't pretty to read through but so necessary. Looking forward to Tuesday's discussion!

Uhhh...Anyone else confused already also?!

So, I've dabbled in Romans before, apparently. I have many things underlined from past readings of various sections, so you would THINK I have some idea of what is going on. Uhmmmm...I was SO just kidding. Just got finished reading the first two chapters and my head is spinning. Wowzah!

All I can say is that I am SO happy that we are all reading this together. Here's to a season of new challenges! (And lots of questions.) :)

Guide questions Romans 1:18-2:29

Here are some suggested questions to help guide you as you read through Romans 1 and 2. Feel free to explore other topics and ideas as the Holy Spirit leads.

1. What does failing to honor and thank God lead to and why? (Rom. 21) Have you ever experienced this in your own life?

2. Can you think of how futile thinking can lead to unwise decisions/actions? Pray that God would reveal any futile thoughts in your life. Journal anything He speaks to you. See Rom. 12:2

3. What does it mean that God gave them over to depravity? (Rom. 1:24)

4. Name some ways in which the created world reveals God's eternal power and divinity. (Rom. 1:18-20) Spend some time journalling outdoors.

5. Have you judged anyone for sin in the past week? If so, why? How can we develop a non judgemental attitude? (Rom. 2)

6. In what ways do you seek praise from men and in what ways from God (Rom. 2:29). How would seeking praise from God alone affect your actions?

Feel free to post questions or comments here or email us if you need further clarification!

Special bulletin!

It was wonderful to meet you all last night. We are sooo excited about the new semester!

Important details:

- We are switching meeting nights to TUESDAYS! We'll still meet at Daphne's, 7pm. Give Lisa or Lanre a call if you need directions

- Bible study resources:
1. Bible gateway: Tons of bible translations, concordance, commentaries and dictionaries
2. Bible dictionaries: Three different bible dictionaries and concordances
3. Crosswalk: Bible translations, commentaries, concordance and dictionaries

- Join hospitality at Ebenezers! The team needs more people as we move to 2 services on Saturday. Its a great way to serve at the church, meet and welcome new people. Come hand out bulletins and help with setup or break-down at the 5:05pm or 7:07pm services! Lanre and Lisa will be there! :) Email us for details.

- Start praying for your target! This is the person you will be interceeding for this semester. We'll have opportunities to share updates throughout the semester.

- Feel free to blog! This is your space too. We want to read what you're thinking, feeling, etc.

Semester begins !!!!

The semester officially starts this week!!! Welcome/welcome back everyone! See you tomorrow at 7pm!

Hang on! Here we go again!

Ladies, are you ready?!

Oh my goodness! I can hardly sit still in my seat today! I am sooo psyched for group to start up again! As many of you have said, the month of August has just felt off-kilter for me too, not meeting for so long has got me shook! :)

We've got some new faces coming in and some old people leaving us, but I believe that God has something new and exciting for us this semester! I seriously can't wait!

Anyone out there feel me?!

Living, Breathing, Aching for the Mission

Carmel shared this about her recent trip with the Baton Rouge mission team:

"There are really no words to decribe the mixed emotions I had on this trip. I tell you what though, the people I met down there are so strong and resilient. I am truly blessed and, unfortunately, it is times of crisis and disaster that have to remind us just how blessed we are. The NCC team (5 of us) helped another team to gut a woman's home, which consisted of tearing down walls, ceillings and taking out anything that was destroyed during the storm/flood. The house had not been touched since last August, so just imagine how much there was to do. We were there for two days and we still did not complete the job, but the other part of the team returned the next day. We also did volunteer projects with a church called The Healing Place in Baton Rouge. All in all, I learned a lot about what it takes to build an entire city and how people feel called to help others. I am so glad that God answered my prayers and took me down there to see the destruction and create hope for a home owner that wanted her life back...The trip changed my life forever and I didn't even have to buy a $1,000 air ticket or get a stamp in my passport for it. The affect of this on me and the rest of that region has yet to be realized."

I have been thinking a lot about God's renown. Basically, that is what living on mission is about right? Making God's love and sacrifice and salvation 'an indelible memory' giving him 'fame that never fades'. (Louie Giglio).

Christy Nockels of Watermark put it this way:

...We can't just wash our hands of this and walk away
And blame the ones before us cus its easier to say
Than to listen to his heart beating for the coming age...

...We are a doorway and window to the truth
We have one passage of time
What will we say then?
How will we live?
This burning passion is a gift...

Pardon our dust!

We are slowly starting the transition from "Summer reflections" to "The Vine Inspirations" for the Fall. This is still an available space for all past, current, and future small group members. Feel free to continue posting insights, reflections, revelations... stay tuned for some fun changes to our blog space!

End of semester party!

We're sorry if you missed last night's party; we had a lot of fun. Fruit punch in fun glasses with umbrellas; luau/tiki decorations; fabulous food; and of course, the shirts! Ladies, if you were not there last night, get in touch with Lisa or Lanre to purchase a shirt-- here's a sneak peek, they are pretty hot! (Thanks to Lisa and Kaarin for spearheading that project)














Its been a great summer and I've learned so much. I can't wait until September. Begin reading Romans in the meantime and keep your eye out for emails in August about our social gatherings! Bring on Fall semester!

Your mission, should you choose to accept...

Task: This month, while we do the Missions Series at NCC, a special missions prayer blog has been set up. The blog has scripture and a challenge for the day; reactions to what God is doing in NCCers through the missions series and trips; and opportunities to pray for missions. The aim is to have all of us log onto the website: nccmissions.net at least once every day for the 28 days of this series.

Personal relevance: Our own Sarah H. just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic-- the website has testimonials and stories from the DR team. Carmel is off to New Orleans this Sunday with a mission team and the website has a list of their prayer requests. In a few days, Michelle, from our group last year, will be joining the rest of the Galapagos team on their mission trip. You and I, without even leaving our neighborhoods or workplaces, are in the very center of a mission field.

I look forward to reading your comments!

Thank Him

I just wanted to share this because it ministered to me this morning. My good friend who I mentioned prayer for on Monday emailed this to me. He is feeling very lost right now and confused about life. He is not a Christian but believes in God and comes from a Catholic background. He told me he reads this every night before he goes to bed and wanted to share it with me. I think it's so cool that just as I hope to minister to him, he in return has ministered to me.

Dear GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the children areasleep and the house is quiet; I thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

It's a tag-team sport!

com·mis·sion n. The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty. To put into active service.

All authority in heaven and in earth has been given to Jesus and yet our Father, in his infinite wisdom, chooses to touch us, ignite us and send us.

It was a great way to wrap up our semester last night. We talked about how we often underestimate the power of our lives. We are invaluable pieces of a network and web of lives that we have the power to influence, challenge and change. We spent some time discussing Dick Foth's message this past weekend about how we can use the power of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness to open people up to the message of Christ.

I was really touched by our discussion about how we can make our mark on the world simply by the way that we invest in the people around us. I was really encouraged by our conversation yesterday! I can't wait for our party on Monday! Come ready for a full-blown summer bash!

Feel free to continue to post any revelations and thoughts here.

The Power of the Mind

Through the past series of sermons and our summer discussions in group, the idea of renewing my mind in Christ Jesus and the implications it has on my ability to be a woman of faith has taken on a greater understanding for me. Not that it was a foreign concept previously, but it's a concept that I am choosing to no longer ignore. The devotional my running group is going through is titled "The Battlefield of the Mind". This is exactly where my battle begins. Everything I do and have accomplished in my life has been a mental decision or frame of mind that I have placed myself in in order to succeed. It should be the same with my faith. In past years my Christian faith was stagnant. I wasn't thinking about what I was doing nor was I practicing spiritual disciplines.

In this week's sermon, Dick Foth referenced that we are in a race! It just hit home with me. Back in my "glory days" (yes I'm so old!) of swimming I was as mentally tough as they came. I was known as a "racer" on my team. Put me in the pressure spot and I would perform. Even though I loved to race I hated practicing! It was so boring to me but without the hours put in and the physical and mental preparation, I would have never been successful. With my faith I feel like it's the same thing. Without the mental preparation of spending time with God, reading His word, praying and knowing His heart, learning from other Christians, I'm not ready for this race!

I want my faith to be in shape and ready to perform when an opportunity arises. I want my mind to be constantly renewed so that I'm moving forward. After all, I've never heard of winning a race by standing still.

Seize the opportunities

This week, our focus is on sharing our faith. Read over Matthew 28: 16-20-- the Great Commission and journal/blog about how we can be a part of that calling to reach the ends of the earth with God's message of hope and love. How do we become missionaries in our daily lives? How do we share our faith with those around us? How do we seize the opportunities that come our way daily, to win others to Christ?

This Saturday begins the missions series at NCC, so I am excited to hear your thoughts/ideas on Monday! Monday will be our last discussion session-- we will spend the following week in fellowship, prayer and worship as we close out the summer semester!

Blog on!

We believe

A powerful night of proclamations and prayer. Here are some of our truths:

We believe:
- God reveals himself to us in new ways all the time;
- God is strategically placing us in the right place at the right time;
- God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us;
- God asks us to step out in faith and will pursue us until we do;
- God is in the business of healing-- pray in expectation and He will answer;
- God's Word is a living document;
- God will make a way;
- God is faithful;
- In Christ alone, will peace find us;
- God has the right to demand every part of our lives;
- True freedom is the freedom to do what God wants us to do!

I challenge us all to claim and proclaim these truths and promises over our lives and our circumstances. Where we are desiring for God to show Himself true in our lives but our faith is lacking, pray that He might also help our unbelief!