Grow Guide | May 7, 2023

Through Faith, For Faith 5th Sunday of Easter

Romans 4:13-16, 20-25

Connecting Questions

What do you know about the roots of your family?

Tell about a memorable relative.

Prayer for Illumination

Let us pray, Loving God, we pause today grateful for this next breath. We are grateful for the chance to connect with others today no matter how simple the experience. Open your Word to us. Open our hearts to let your word speak to us and change our lives. We pray in the name of the Risen Jesus, Amen.

Context

This Sunday is the 5th Sunday of the Easter season, and we are continuing our series on the book of Romans. Through Faith for Faith will help you discover life giving promises in this important book. For six weeks, we’ll open up this letter a piece at a time and you’ll discover why Martin Luther said:

In the first place, we must acquaint ourselves with matters of language and understand what Paul means by these words: law, sin, grace, faith, righteousness, flesh, Spirit, and similar terms; otherwise we shall derive no benefit from reading this epistle.

What word in Luther’s list is compelling to you? Which word worries you?

Don’t miss Pastor Megan’s sermon in the series. She gives some helpful windows into Romans and her sermon can be found at Easter.org/worship

From EntertheBible.org, a summary of Moses:

Moses’ story begins with his preservation as a child in the reeds by the river Nile.  Moses was brought up in Pharaoh’s court in Egypt.  As an adult Moses was angered by the oppression of the Hebrew people.  Seeing an Egyptian task master beating a Hebrew, Moses killed the Egyptian and fled to Midian.  While Moses was a shepherd in Midian, God spoke from a burning bush and called him.  His task was to go back to Egypt to bring about the deliverance of God’s people, Israel. God also disclosed that the divine name was “I Am.” When Moses hesitated, God told him that his brother Aaron could be his spokesman. The plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the gifts of manna, quails, and water in the desert were signs that God was leading his people. Moses brought the law from Mt. Sinai. Moses was unique in that he spoke with God “face to face.”  While in the wilderness, Moses failed to honor God for providing water from a rock. Because of this God did not allow Moses to enter the promised land, but only to look at it from Mount Nebo in the land of Moab. He died in Transjordan.

Look at the Book

• Read Romans 4:13-16, 20-25.

• Take a moment and circle Luther’s suggestions: faith, law, righteousness, sin, and grace. Compare with what a neighbor circled.

  • Romans 4:16 suggests that the law (the 600 some rules governing everyday life found in the Torah (“teaching”)) is important, but Paul argues that something is even more important? What is it?

  • Compile together what you know about Moses. Need help? Look above?

  • Why do you think Paul brings Moses into his argument?

  • Verse 14 talks about heirs. What is the inheritance that Paul is talking about? What makes it “void?”

  • Verse 16 shares how faith is essential to the inheritance being shared. Define faith in your own words.

  • Verse 16 continues by telling us who is the recipient of the inheritance. What are the qualities? Does this make you uncomfortable or comforted? Why?

  • Moses’s faith seems so strong while ours can waver. Yet, one key component of faith is shared in verse 21. What is it? Underline those important words.

  • What does “reckoned to him as righteousness” mean? What words might people ascribe to you? Notice, though, who is doing the reckoning! It is God’s work to judge faith, not ours. Why is this important?

  • The last verses have a feeling almost like a creed. What was Paul’s creed (in those verses) that he wants us to confess? What was Paul trying to help us understand about how God acted through Jesus?

  • What do you want to talk about that has not been brought up yet? 

Taking it Home

We are connected to two global partners at Easter. Who are they? What do you know about them? What does it matter that we are connected to a global faith family?

Moses is like a memorable relative in your family tree. Paul wants us to see ourselves as part of a global, faith family. Talk about a gift you contribute to the body of Christ.