Romans in the Desert 3.0 | The Switcheroo | Jared Doe

Romans 2:1
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

-A story about King David (2 Samuel 12)

Romans 2:1-16
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Pride and hypocrisy are two characteristics of an unhealthy soul.

Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

God - riches in three things
1. Kindness

2. Forbearance

3. Patience

The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
-Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

Romans 2:5-11
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Confession is owning up to reality.
Confession disarms our hard heart and prideful spirit.
Confession keeps us from hypocrisy.
Confession leads to God’s forgiveness and purity.

Romans 2:12-16
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Luke 5:27-32
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”


Key phrases to meditate on:
God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance…

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath…

For God does not show favoritism…

This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares…

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance…





Communion

Small Group Discussion Questions:

Small Group Questions: Romans 1:18-32

Opening Discussion

• What stood out to you the most from the sermon?

• Have you ever had a moment in nature or creation where you felt like God was clearly revealing Himself? Share your experience.

Part 1: Revelation of Wrath (vs. 18-20)

Scripture: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…”

1. How does creation reveal God’s power and divine nature? Can you think of examples from your life where you’ve experienced this?

2. What does it mean to “suppress the truth by wickedness”? Why do you think people might choose to do this?

3. Verse 20 says people are “without excuse.” How do you understand this in light of God’s revelation through creation?

Part 2: An Exchange (vs. 21-23)

Scripture: “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

1. What does this passage teach us about the human tendency to create idols?

2. John Calvin said the human mind is a “perpetual factory of idols.” What are some modern-day idols we are tempted to worship instead of God?

3. How can we guard our hearts against exchanging God’s glory for something lesser?

Part 3: Three Movements of Wrath (vs. 24-31)

Scripture: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…”

1. What does it mean that “God gave them over”? How does this reveal God’s wrath?

2. Michael Gorman suggests that when we insist on our own way, God allows us to experience the consequences of our choices. Have you seen this principle at work in your life or in others?

3. How does understanding God’s wrath help us better appreciate His grace?

Part 4: Conclusion (vs. 32)

Scripture: “They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

1. What does it look like in our culture today to “approve of” sin? Why do you think this is such a serious issue?

2. How does this passage lead us to reflect on the need for Jesus and the hope we find in Romans 3:21-24?

Application

1. In light of this passage, where do you see God’s wrath and grace at work in your life today?

2. Are there areas of your life where you feel tempted to suppress God’s truth or exchange His glory for something else? What steps can you take this week to seek His righteousness instead?

3. How can you lovingly challenge others who may be approving of sin in their lives or culture?

Prayer

Spend time praying together:

• Thank God for revealing Himself through creation and Scripture.

• Ask for help in identifying and removing idols in your life.

Romans in the Desert 2.0 | Wrath Revealed | Jared Doe

Augustine - “tolle lege” - pick it up and read

Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 1:18-32
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

This passage breaks into 4 parts that I want to look at:
1. vs 18-20 - Revelation of wrath
2. vs 21-23 - An exchange
3. vs 24-31 - Three movements of wrath
4. vs 32 - Conclusion

1. Vs 18-20 - Revelation of wrath
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.


2. Vs 21-23 - An exchange
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

exchanged God for idols

Human nature is a perpetual factory of idols…
Surely, just as waters boil up from a vast, full spring, so does an immense crowd of gods flow from the human mind, while each one, in wandering about with too much license, wrongly invents this or that about God himself.
-John Calvin

3. Vs 24-31 - Three movements of wrath
vs 24 - Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…
vs 26 - Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts…
vs 28 - Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind…

Judges 2:14
So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.

Psalm 106:40-41
Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,
    and he abhorred his heritage;
he gave them into the hand of the nations,
    so that those who hated them ruled over them.

Psalm 81:11-12
“But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
    to follow their own counsels.

Paul is not placing the blame on God for human sin but is maintaining that, when we insist on our own way, God allows human folly to run its natural course without preventing its inevitable consequences. In fact, God gives us what we explicitly or implicitly desire: freedom from God. But such freedom from the true Lord means being governed by another lord, either ourselves or some third party. All of this is part of what Paul means when he speaks of the revelation of the wrath of God.
-Michael Gorman

God ceased to hold the boat as it is dragged by the current of the river.
-Godet

4. Conclusion
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 3:21-24
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Tim Mackie - Unconditioned Grace



Communion

Small Group Discussion Questions:

Small Group Questions: Romans 1:18-32

Opening Discussion

• What stood out to you the most from the sermon?

• Have you ever had a moment in nature or creation where you felt like God was clearly revealing Himself? Share your experience.

Part 1: Revelation of Wrath (vs. 18-20)

Scripture: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…”

1. How does creation reveal God’s power and divine nature? Can you think of examples from your life where you’ve experienced this?

2. What does it mean to “suppress the truth by wickedness”? Why do you think people might choose to do this?

3. Verse 20 says people are “without excuse.” How do you understand this in light of God’s revelation through creation?

Part 2: An Exchange (vs. 21-23)

Scripture: “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

1. What does this passage teach us about the human tendency to create idols?

2. John Calvin said the human mind is a “perpetual factory of idols.” What are some modern-day idols we are tempted to worship instead of God?

3. How can we guard our hearts against exchanging God’s glory for something lesser?

Part 3: Three Movements of Wrath (vs. 24-31)

Scripture: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…”

1. What does it mean that “God gave them over”? How does this reveal God’s wrath?

2. Michael Gorman suggests that when we insist on our own way, God allows us to experience the consequences of our choices. Have you seen this principle at work in your life or in others?

3. How does understanding God’s wrath help us better appreciate His grace?

Part 4: Conclusion (vs. 32)

Scripture: “They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

1. What does it look like in our culture today to “approve of” sin? Why do you think this is such a serious issue?

2. How does this passage lead us to reflect on the need for Jesus and the hope we find in Romans 3:21-24?

Application

1. In light of this passage, where do you see God’s wrath and grace at work in your life today?

2. Are there areas of your life where you feel tempted to suppress God’s truth or exchange His glory for something else? What steps can you take this week to seek His righteousness instead?

3. How can you lovingly challenge others who may be approving of sin in their lives or culture?

Prayer

Spend time praying together:

• Thank God for revealing Himself through creation and Scripture.

• Ask for help in identifying and removing idols in your life.

Romans in the Desert 1.0 | Loved by God, Called to be Saints | Jared Doe

Romans is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.
-Martin Luther

Romans 1:1-17
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

One message:
1) - Jesus

Two phrases:
1) Loved by God
agapetos - beloved (from agape)
1 John 4 - God is love.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, he sent his only son
1 John 3:16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lies for our brothers.

2) Called to be saints
Hagios - sacred, holy, consecrated, set a part, different

Paul is establishing IDENTITY and CALLING.

Three pastoral imperatives:
Romans 1
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

1. Be grateful for one another.

Romans 1
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

2. Encourage one another.
Hebrews 10:24
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Romans 1
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

3. Be courageous with the Good News.

Communion

Small Group Discussion Questions:

Opening Question:

• What stood out to you most from the sermon on Romans 1:1–17? Why?

Exploring the Passage

1. Identity and Calling

• Read Romans 1:7. How does Paul describe the believers in Rome?

• What does it mean to be “loved by God” and “called to be saints”?

• How do these truths shape your understanding of your identity and calling as a follower of Jesus?

2. The Gospel and God’s Love

• Reflect on the verses referenced in the sermon (1 John 4:8–10, John 3:16, 1 John 3:16).

• How do these verses expand your understanding of God’s love?

• How should this love impact the way we view others and live our lives?

3. The Power of the Gospel

• Read Romans 1:16–17. Paul says he is “not ashamed of the gospel.”

• Why do you think Paul was so confident in the power of the gospel?

• Have you ever felt hesitant or bold in sharing the gospel? What made the difference?

Living It Out

1. Be Grateful for One Another

• Read Romans 1:8–10. Paul expresses gratitude for the faith of the Roman believers.

• Who are some people in your life whose faith has inspired or encouraged you?

• How can you express gratitude for them this week?

2. Encourage One Another

• Read Romans 1:11–12 and Hebrews 10:24–25.

• How have you been mutually encouraged by the faith of others in your small group or church community?

• What is one way you can intentionally encourage someone this week?

3. Be Courageous with the Good News

• Paul felt an obligation and eagerness to share the gospel with all people (Romans 1:14–15).

• What obstacles or fears sometimes keep you from sharing the gospel?

• What step of courage can you take this week to share the Good News, whether through words or actions?

Closing Question:

• After reflecting on this passage, what is one thing God is inviting you to do in response this week?