Romans 11
1) In verses 1-6, Paul uses the story of Elijah (from 1 Kings 18-19). How are Paul and Elijah similar?
2) Paul is drawing on the theme of a "remnant", a few people who remain after a great disaster, which comes prominently from Isaiah 10:20-23. Who was the remnant Isaiah was speaking of? Who is the remnant Paul has in mind?
3) What is the situation of the Jews to whom Paul is referring in verses 7-12?
4) How is Israel now in the position of being the older brother in the prodigal son story?
5) Paul sees Israel's blindness and stumbling (vv. 8-10) as a means by which the wider world can be brought into God's family (vv. 11-12). How is it that Paul nonetheless has hope for Israel's future and envisions its resurrection (vv. 11-15)?
6) Beginning in verse 13 and continuing through verse 32, Paul is speaking directly to the Gentile Christians in the Roman church. What seems to be the danger in the Gentile believers that Paul is addressing? What is his warning to them?
7) Paul uses two illustrations in verses 16-24 to highlight the point he wants to make to the Gentile believers. What is Paul saying here?
8) Why does Paul use the illustration of grafting? What is his point?
9) How is God's mercy showered on all in verses 25-32?
10) Once Israel arrogantly assumed it was the sole repository of God's mercy and blessing. Paul warns the Gentiles against a similar arrogance in verse 20. Do our churches today face that same risk of arrogance? Do we in our lives?
2) Paul is drawing on the theme of a "remnant", a few people who remain after a great disaster, which comes prominently from Isaiah 10:20-23. Who was the remnant Isaiah was speaking of? Who is the remnant Paul has in mind?
3) What is the situation of the Jews to whom Paul is referring in verses 7-12?
4) How is Israel now in the position of being the older brother in the prodigal son story?
5) Paul sees Israel's blindness and stumbling (vv. 8-10) as a means by which the wider world can be brought into God's family (vv. 11-12). How is it that Paul nonetheless has hope for Israel's future and envisions its resurrection (vv. 11-15)?
6) Beginning in verse 13 and continuing through verse 32, Paul is speaking directly to the Gentile Christians in the Roman church. What seems to be the danger in the Gentile believers that Paul is addressing? What is his warning to them?
7) Paul uses two illustrations in verses 16-24 to highlight the point he wants to make to the Gentile believers. What is Paul saying here?
8) Why does Paul use the illustration of grafting? What is his point?
9) How is God's mercy showered on all in verses 25-32?
10) Once Israel arrogantly assumed it was the sole repository of God's mercy and blessing. Paul warns the Gentiles against a similar arrogance in verse 20. Do our churches today face that same risk of arrogance? Do we in our lives?