Romans 8:28-39

How different is v.28 from the worldly perspective that people of this world live with?
Are there some situations in my life where I need to really hear these words — “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
What are some reasons why I may feel like God’s love is distant from me?
Reflect on vv. 38-39.  What, ultimately, is the source of my security and assurance?

by Pastor William Kang
Romans 7:7-13
What may be the reason why people lack personal conviction of sin according to this passage?  I think people don’t have the correct, Biblical understanding of human nature.  People in general lack conviction of sin because they think that they are inherently good and that their sins are attributed to others, to circumstances or to any force outside of themselves that forced them to play the sin card.  In other words, they blame their sin on others because that fits their worldview (the worldview that they’re …

Romans 7:7-13

What might be the reason why people lack personal conviction of sin according to this passage?
Have I been deluded about my own sense of righteousness because of my lack of awareness of God’s holy laws?

Romans 7:14-20

What are the characteristics of a slave?
What does this passage show about the nature of sin?  Describe examples of people living “as a slave to sin.”
What are some examples of “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do?”  What is my hope against this sinful self?

By Tina Chan, InterHigh Mentor, Senior @ UC Berkeley
Sharing on Romans 6:11-14
I often feel so pathetic when it comes to my sin issues, especially recurring issues such as pride or laziness. It seems like I will never get rid of them, and it’s so tedious to constantly battle them so I might as well give up. But .. the verses are very clear. Either I’m offering my body to sin, literally as instruments of wickedness, or I’m offering myself to God. There is no in-between. In the moments that …

By Pastor Will Kang
Romans 5:1-10
“People give many different meanings to the word ‘peace,’ but almost everyone wants it […] Yet no ultimate peace is possible without coming to terms with God. People who search for peace will never find it until they find peace with God. Lack of such peace is the basic human predicament.”
List all the words from this passage that express what we received through the death of Jesus.  How do these expressions apply to my life? From vv.1-10, I see that I have received the following: …

by Pastor William Kang
Hi everyone, here’s my “devo” for today.  I hope you guys are following along. I hope what I wrote helps.
Romans 4:18-22
“The essence of Abraham’s faith in this case was that he believed that God could make the impossible possible. So long as we believe that everything depends on our efforts, we are bound to be pessimists, for experience has taught the grim lesson that our own efforts can achieve very little. When we realize that it is not our effort but God’s grace and power which matter, …

Romans 6:15-18

Am I in agreement that I am a slave to whom I obey?  Am I a slave to sin or to righteousness?
What is the relationship between “wholeheartedly [obeying] the form of teaching” and being “set free from sin?”  How have I experienced this to be true in my life?

Romans 6:21-23

Consider personally the question in v. 21.  Spend some time thanking God for setting me free from sin and for his gift of eternal life.

Romans 5:1-10
“People give many different meanings to the word “peace,” but almost everyone wants it… Yet no ultimate peace is possible without coming to terms with God. People who search for peace will never find it until they find peace with God. Lack of such peace is the basic human predicament.”

List all the words from this passage that express what we received through the death of Jesus.  How do these expressions apply to my life?
How does the gospel enable us to “rejoice in our sufferings”?

Romans 5:20-21

How has the …

I know.  Leviticus is hard to read.  Here’s some commentary that will help you understand what’s going on
From Quest Study Bible 2003
Why wash what the priests were just going to burn? (1:9)
Old Testament worshipers washed the entrails and legs of sacrificial animals to cleanse them from excrement.  The idea behind this ritual cleansing was that any animal offered on the altar to God should be perfect.  Only an unblemished, clean animal could symbolize the purity God demanded.
Why would the aroma be important to God? (1:9)
The writer probably drew from a …

Romans 4:18-22
The essence of Abraham’s faith in this case was that he believed that God could make the impossible possible. So long as we believe that everything depends on our efforts, we are bound to be pessimists, for experience has taught the grim lesson that our own efforts can achieve very little. When we realize that it is not our effort but God’s grace and power which matter, then we become optimists, because we are bound to believe that with God nothing is impossible.

How does this passage show that Abraham’s …

By Stephen Sun, Alameda High School, Class of 2011
Romans 3:21-31
Given the complete failure of human righteousness, what hope is there for any relationship with a holy God? In this chapter, Paul states that we do not have any hope of relationship with God based on any works that we do, or solely in obeying the law. Instead, there is hope only in the grace of God and his amazing decision to send his son as a sacrifice to die for us and atone for our sins. This incredible gift …

Romans 3:21-31
“One of the most common and perhaps basic of all sins is illegitimate pride–what Paul calls “boasting.” The tendency for finite, weak, and sinful human beings to think too much of ourselves is endemic and hard to rid ourselves of…”

Given the complete failure of human righteousness, what hope is there for any relationship with a holy God?
Reflect on the words “a righteousness from God.”  Where does this new righteousness come from and to whom does it apply?
Have I accepted fully God’s free gift of redemption through faith in Jesus, …

By Pastor Will Kang.
Romans 2:13, 17-29
“Possession of the law and the covenant sign of circumcision were perhaps the two most distinguishing marks of being Jewish.  Given to Israel by God himself, they signaled the fact that the Jews were a special people, elevated above all other peoples.”[1]
What are the things that people rely on to “brag about [their] relationship to God?” Some people look at their family background.  They say, “my dad is …

By Pastor Will Kang
Romans 1:21-28

According to these verses, what happens when people fail to respond to the knowledge of God that is available to all humanity? Their thinking becomes futile and their foolish hearts become darkened. They become fools and they end up worshipping an aspect of creation instead of the immortal God. Why are there these natural consequences to not responding to our knowledge of God?
Because the truth is that God exists, that he is the creator, and he is the reason behind our own existence. …

Romans 2:13, 17-29
“Possession of the law and the covenant sign of circumcision were perhaps the two most distinguishing marks of being Jewish.  Given to Israel by God himself, they signaled the fact that the Jews were a special people, elevated above all other peoples.”

What are the things that people rely on to “brag about [their] relationship with God?”
Reflect on the exhortation to live out what we preach.  What are some ways in which discrepancy exists between what I say and what I do?
How is failing to demonstrate in real life …

Romans 1:21-28

According to these verses, what happens when people fail to respond to the knowledge of God that is available to all humanity? Why are there these natural consequences to not responding to our knowledge of God?
Note the “exchanges” described in the text.  What is so tragic and absurd about these exchanges?
Are there areas of my life in which I have “exchanged” a God-given blessing with something that is inferior?  What lasting consequences have I reaped from these “exchanges”?
What does the recurring statement “God gave them over” say about the …