My Ongoing Mission

Romans 15:7-33; 16:25-27

1. What is the connection, if any, between the way a football team practices during the week and the way they play on Saturday? (Giving all you have in practice through the week usually results in a very good effort on Saturday during the game.)

2. What is the connection, if any, between our witness through the week and our worship on Sunday?

3. Does our worship on Sunday influence us in any way during the following week, or are the two totally disconnected?

Many Christians don’t realize there’s a connection between their worship of God on Sunday and their behavior for God the rest of the week.

4. Why do you think this disconnect between worship and witness exists in many believers’ lives?

5. What connects them?

St. Francis of Assisi is credited for the following quote: “Preach the gospel at all times—if necessary use words.”

6. Suppose people could not hear you, but could only see your actions. What sermon would they say you are preaching?

Today we’ll work to bring together worship and witness as we study our text in Romans 15 and 16.

Proclaim the Good News! Read Romans 15:14-21

1. Do you enjoy telling your friends good news?

Turn to the person next to you and tell them a bit of good news you have not shared with them today.

We do enjoy sharing good news, but telling the good news of Jesus is harder but God will equip us to do it.

2. In verse 14 what three genuine statements did Paul make about the Christians in Rome? (He said they were “full of goodness;” [one quality listed in the “Fruit of the Spirit.”] “filled with all knowledge;” and “able to instruct each other.”)

3. When Paul did boast what did he boast about? (What God was doing through him, not what he was doing in his own strength.)

Paul was appointed by Jesus Himself to be a missionary to the Gentiles and he had been faithful in doing that from Jerusalem to Illyricum, a Roman province across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. Paul also felt very strongly that his primary ministry was to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into areas that had never heard the Good News.

4. How does God work through us today?

5. Why do you think Paul cared so much about evangelizing people in places where Christ had not been named?

6. Whom do you know who has not yet heard about the love of Jesus?

One writer asked the question: “Why should someone get to hear the Gospel twice when others have not heard it once?”

Facts: According to the International Mission Board there are over 200 unreached people groups with no evangelical presence in South America alone. World wide there are over 6,500 unreached people groups.

According to the North American Mission Board: The population of North America is 323 million, and growing daily.  It is estimated that approximately 226 million are lost and unreached.

7. Besides a personal witness, how do you “Proclaim the Good News”?

Pray for Success! Read Romans 15:30-33

1. What was Paul’s three prayer requests in these verses?

2. Based on other Scriptures what were the results of these prayer requests? (1-He was arrested in Jerusalem but was not beaten. 2-We do not know how the offering from the Gentiles was received by the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and 3-We do know that Paul did eventually make it to Rome but not the way he envisioned.)

3. How fervently did Paul ask them to pray with him for these requests? (He used the word “agonize” in his request. This indicates how important this was to Paul.)

4. What would it take for us to “agonize” over the missionaries our church supports through the Cooperative Program and special missions offerings?

5. Why is it humbling to say, “by God’s will”? (We are giving up our will and submitting to God all that we have.)

6. Why did Paul call God the “God of peace”?

7. Do you pray with your children and grandchildren?

8. Are you faithful in sharing with them when God answers your prayers so they can grow in faith as well?

9. How can you help them learn to pray for missions? (If you go to the International Mission Board’s web site—imb.org—and the North American Mission Board’s web site—namb.org—there are up to date prayer requests from missionaries posted daily for which you and your family can pray.)

As you pray for missionaries pray that they will be bold in their witness whatever their situation.

Praise God! Read Romans 16:25-27

As Paul does often here he burst into a doxology of praise to God for who He is and what He has done.

1. What are the times of greatest weakness for us as Christians? (When we attempt to work in our own power.)

2. Why is it important that Jesus Christ alone has power to strengthen us? (It is in the Gospel where the power lies. Read Romans 1:16.)

3. What is the “sacred secret” that we know when we read prophetic Scriptures? (See Ephesians 3:1-7, especially verse 6.)

4. How is verse 26 like the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20?

5. What does it take for you, our Bible study class, and our church to make disciples among all nations?

6. What do you “Praise God” for regarding missions?

Conclusion: Christians in Real Life!

Paul was willing to do whatever, wherever and whenever God led him. His focus was telling others the Good News about Jesus. Over the next several weeks our focus will be pulled away very easily by all of the business surrounding the holidays. Our challenge:

Make telling others about Jesus one of your priorities by living for Him and speaking for Him.

Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for all God has done for us!