Observe the Word

Romans 16:1-24 Conclusion 2 Greetings

In Romans 16:1-24, Paul's final greetings to the Romans give us a glimpse into the makeup of the 1st century community of believers.

Romans 15:14-33 Conclusion 1 Mission

In Romans 15:14-33, Paul begins the conclusion to the letter with a focus on his missional purpose, inviting the Romans to partner with him and giving us insight into his strategy as a pioneering missionary.

Romans 15:1-13 Worship 8 Acceptance 3

In Romans 15:1-13, Paul completes his exhortation to the Roman Christians to live out the gospel by accepting one another in Christ.

Romans 14:13-23 Worship 7 Acceptance 2

In Romans 14:13-23, Paul rounds out three principles for accepting one another in the midst of disagreement over issues of conscience: the principle of the master, the principle of faith and the principle of the stumbling block.

Romans 14:1-12 Worship 6 Acceptance 1

In Romans 14:1-12, we start Paul's fifth application scenario with two principles that enable us to accept one another in spite of disagreement over issues of conscience. 

Romans 13:8-14 Worship 5 Society

In Romans 13:8-14, Paul's fourth scenario addresses how to present yourself to God as you live out the gospel in society.

Romans 13:1-7 Worship 4 Government

In Romans 13:1-7, Paul's third scenario for living out the gospel of Jesus hits us where we live on all levels, while also raising significant, challenging questions about justice. 

Romans 12:9-21 Worship 3 Love

In Romans 12:9-21, Paul's second scenario for applying grace focuses on the Christian ethic of love, in the body of Christ, in general relationship and with others in society.

Romans 12:3-8 Worship 2 Body

In Romans 12:3-8, Paul's first scenario for applying grace is in regard to the new community of grace, where we challenges us to see ourselves with sound judgment as members of a body who have unique gifts to contribute.

Romans 12:1-2 Worship 1 Response

In Romans 12:1-2, moving from explanation of the gospel to application, Paul provides a model for Christian living: respond, present, renew.

Romans 11:25-36 Included 7 Future revival 2

In Romans 11:25-36, Paul warns against any kind of ethnic or moral or spiritual prejudice as he affirms the impartiality of God and looks ahead to the future revival of Israel.

Romans 11:11-24 Included 6 Future revival 1

In Romans 11:11-24, Paul argues that while the current hardening of Israel against the gospel benefits the rest of the world, God has future plans for Israel.

Romans 11:1-10 Included 5 Current remnant

In Romans 11:1-10, Paul reassures that, though the majority of Israel is hardened against the gospel of Jesus, God remains faithful to true Israel, the remnant comprised of Jewish believers who continue to walk in faith accepting the grace of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:12-21 Included 4 Missed faith 2

In Romans 10:12-21, Paul completes his argument that Israel has largely missed out on inclusion in the New Covenant people of God by stubborn refusal to accept God's plan of salvation in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:30-10:11 Included 3 Missed faith 1

In Romans 9:30-10:11, Paul continues his explanation for the exculsion of most Israelites from the New Covenant people, providing a warning to all traditionally religous peoples, Christian or otherwise, tempted to exclude those who do not fit their system.

Romans 9:6-29 Included 2 Missed mercy

In Romans 9:6-29, Paul begins his argument that though most Israelites are excluded from the New Covenant people of God, God remains faithful to his promises to Israel.

Romans 9:1-5 Included 1 Lament

In Romans 9:1-5, Paul introduces the third major section of his argument for the gospel of Jesus Christ with a prayer of lamnet for his kinsmen, the people of Israel.

Romans 8:28-39 Empowered 10 Secure Hope IIb

In Romans 8:28-39, Paul concludes the second major section of Romans on the power of grace declaring for us again the secure hope we have in Jesus.

Romans 8:18-27 Empowered 9 Secure Hope IIa

In Romans 8:18-27, Paul addresses both intellectual and emotive realities of suffering to help us understand that life in the Spirit does not mean life free from pain. 

Romans 8:1-17 Empowered 8 Flesh to Spirit

In Romans 8:1-17, Paul restates the gospel, including the role of the Holy Spirit, and contrasts our former state in the flesh with our new state in the Spirit.

Romans 7:13-25 Empowered 7 Weakness of Law II

In Romans 7:13-25 Paul masterfully describes the inner struggle of the conscious and particularly the weakness of his will to do the good he knows he should do. Is he speaking as a Christian or as a non-Christian?

Romans 7:7-12 Empowered 6 Weakness of Law I

In Romans 7:7-12, Paul begins his argument that the law has a critical weakness in its attempts to produce righteous living in the lives of people.

Romans 7:1-6 Empowered 5 The New Way

In Romans 7:1-6, Paul completes his defense for the strength of grace as he prepares to describe for us the weakness of law. 

Romans 6:15-23 Empowered 4 Strength of Grace II

In Romans 6:15-23, Paul continues to show the strength of grace to produce righteous living by providing the believer with a new heart, a new master, a new trajectory and a new process.

Romans 6:1-14 Empowered 3 Strength of Grace I

In Romans 6:1-14, Paul challenges the idea that grace encourages sin by assuming a new perspective and describing a new union as true realities in the lives of of those who have truly received the gift of grace.

Romans 5:12-21 Empowered 2 Adam to Jesus

In Romans 5:12-21, Paul describes the power of grace as a realm change; a transfer from the kingdom of the living dead to participation in the kingdom of life; a move from the kingdom of Adam - sin - death to the kingdom of Jesus - grace - life.

Romans 5:1-11 Empowered 1 Secure Hope I

In Romans 5:1-11, Paul moves into the second major stage of his teaching on the gospel of Jesus Christ, showing the power of the gospel by emphasizing the secure hope and deep joy that come from standing in grace.

Romans 4:9-25 Justified 8 Precedent, part 2

In Romans 4:9-25, Paul develops his assertion that the covenant of promise God made with Abraham serves as a precedent to the covenant of grace that came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:31-4:8 Justified 7 Precedent, part 1

In Romans 3:31-4:8, Paul offers Abraham as a precedent for his gospel argument that people can only be declared righteous in God's by grace through faith.

Romans 3:21-30 Justified 6 Surprise Verdict

In Romans 3:21-30, finally, Paul the prosecutor gives us good news in a surprise verdict.

Romans 3:9-20 Justified 5 Closing Argument

In Romans 3:9-20, Paul presents the closing argument of his indictment of all humanity.

Romans 3:1-8 Justified 4 Two Objections

In Romans 3:1-8, Paul raises two objections to his charge against religious people in the previous chapter.

Romans 2:17-29 Justified 3 Religious Man

In Romans 2:17-29, Paul further extends his charge against those who presume their religious activities make up for their moral failures.

Romans 2:1-16 Justified 2 Moral Man

In Romans 2:1-16, Paul extends his charge to include people who feel safeguarded by a sense of their own morality.

Romans 1:18-32 Justified 1 Pagan Man

In Romans 1:18-32, Paul levels an indictment against pagan man - both ancient and modern.

Romans 1:16-17 Introduction to the Letter - The Thesis

In Romans 1:16-17, we encounter the topic of Paul's argument for the letter, regarding the power of the gospel to save.

Romans 1:8-15 Introduction to the Letter - Thanksgiving and Prayer

In Romans 1:8-15, we consider how Paul uses the letter introduction to motivate the Romans to receive his gospel teaching.

Romans 1:1-7 Introduction to the Letter - The Greeting and Blessing

In Romans 1:1-7 we encounter Paul's self-description to a church he had never visited and learn more about the Roman believers.