Romans Chapter 15
As brothers and sisters of one body, the church, we want to encourage each other in the faith. It is interesting to think about all the dynamics that take place when a group of believers get together to worship. Paul emphasizes that believers who feel they are more mature in the faith should look to encourage those who are weaker. How do we do this in a practical sense? It can be something as simple as putting an arm around someone who you notice has lost their smile, and just ask them how they are doing. Serving Christ means that we seek to serve others, to find ways to encourage one another. The world would teach us to look out for self, but Christ through His example taught us to look out for others.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul prescribed a better way for the church to flourish than to be quick to point out the faults of others. He prescribed that the believers look out for one another. How are believers to live together according to verse 6?
2. This type of living, caring about the needs of our brothers and sister in Christ as more important than our own needs, causes unity in the body. According to verse 7 what else does it produce?
3. Verses 8-12 teaches that it would be more than just the Israelites who would worship the Lord, it would be the Gentiles also. This was prophesied clear back in the Old Testament. What Old Testament prophet is named in this chapter by Paul?
4. The point Paul is making is that the church is now a body made up of many believers that culturally think differently than each other. The commonality of these people groups is that Christ died for all of them and accepted all of them despite their sinful pasts. Whether a believer is a Jew or a Gentile they have been given the hope of God. What does the life of all believers look like, according to verse 13?
5. As Paul wrote this letter to the Christian Romans, it was meant to be an encouraging word for them to do what they knew was right. It was also a reminder that God had called Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to help the Gentiles grow in their faith. The faith of the Gentiles would be evidenced by the offerings they brought to God. How were their offerings received? See verse 16
6. Paul recognized that God’s calling on his life was to keep spreading the gospel to people who had not yet heard the good news. He mentions that he wants to visit the believers in Rome, but the need to spread the gospel keeps him from making that visit. He did think that he would visit them on some future trip on his way to what country?
7. What was his current project that was going to cause him to travel to Jerusalem? This was a dangerous venture because of the unbelievers in Judea who hated him. What did he ask the Roman believers to do for him?
“After his release from the Roman imprisonment at the end of the Book of Acts, we have reason to believe that Paul did in fact make it to Spain and preached the gospel there.” [Guzik]
Devotionals
