Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

The glory of the gospel is God's saving righteousness, given by faith.

I. The good news reveals the gift of God’s righteousness (v. 17a)

II. The gift is received by faith alone (v. 17b)

III. This makes the gospel God's saving power (v. 16b)

IV. News this good and powerful we should rejoice in without shame (v. 16a)

Digging Deeper

1. Read verses 13-15 of Romans 1. How are they important for understanding verses 16-17?

2. What are some ideas about or ways of understanding “the gospel” that are incorrect? What, really, is the gospel?

3. How have you been tempted to “move beyond” the gospel? What can keep you from falling into that trap?

4. How has your life been shaped by the gospel message that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and not the other way around?

5. Why is it that people can so easily put faith in other things, but not in Jesus? How might we leverage the message of this passage to show people why faith in God is a good thing?

6. It can be easy to inadvertently turn faith into a kind of “work.” What gives us confidence that we are still saved even if our faith wavers?

7. Share about a person who trusted in Christ whom you thought would never believe. What does this show about God’s power through the Gospel?

8. Where in your life do you struggle to forgive or give grace to yourself? How does trusting the Gospel transform that reality?

9. “The fuel of the Christian life isn’t fear of punishment. The fuel is love that comes from beholding how he has loved us.” What fuels you as a Christian, if not love?

10. Share about a time when you tried to evangelize, and it went poorly, or you struggled with confidence. How might you grow in sharing the gospel without being ashamed?

Prayer