This journal belongs to

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2 This journal belongs to Romans Day Challenge Copyright 2016 Rev. Michael Korte & Stacey Stahl

3 Why take the Romans Day Challenge? Everyone has a chapter in their life they don t want read out loud. Which of life s difficulties are heavy on your heart today? Personal issues? Relationship issues? Family issues? Work issues? Are you willing to take the 40 Day Challenge to learn to live a new chapter? For the next forty days you are challenged to read Romans 12 and journal your response. For the maximum effectiveness, we encourage you to read from different versions of the Bible. You can use BibleGateway.com to view a multitude of translations. We recommend the NCV, NASB, NKJ, NIV, and ESV as reliable translations. The Message is a paraphrase of an English translation, so it should be read in moderation but it can add a different perspective. 40 Day Challenge Instructions Option A Directed by Questions & Statements Option B Self - Directed 1. Read Romans 12 each day. 1. Read Romans 12 each day. 2. Read and answer questions for each day. 2. Reflect on your reading today. What is on your heart? 3. Reflect on your answers. 3. Write down what you were thinking. 4. Record what actions you need to take. 4. Record what actions you need to take.

4 Day 1 Verse 1 Recount times someone has shown you mercy. When have you shown mercy? How has God been merciful to you?

5 Day 2 Verse 1 What does a sacrifice entail? Old Testament sacrifices were normally dead. What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? How does worship motivate you to sacrifice? DEFINITION of worship: 1. What God gives us, ie,: Word, forgiveness, the Body of Christ 2. To ascribe great worth

6 Day 3 Verse 2 What does it mean to be conformed to this world? How do others pressure you to conform? you today?

7 Day 4 Verse 2 How are you transformed by God? What are the difficulties you face living an unconfirmed life? Why is it worth it? How do you renew yourself? How do you know God s will in your life?

8 Day 5 Verse 3 What was God s grace given to Paul? (Acts 9) How does pride get in the way of relationships with friends/co-workers? Family? God? DEFINITIONS of grace and mercy Grace: Receiving what you don t deserve Mercy: Not receiving what you do deserve

9 Day 6 Verse 3 ROMANS 12 How do you know when you have sound judgement? How does faith influence your judgement? you today?

10 Day 7 Verse 4 Why does Paul use the word picture of the body to describe the church? (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31) Describe yourself as a body part/member of the body. you today?

11 Day 8 Verse 4 Why is it important to have one body? Why would it be difficult if a body had 12 legs but no eyes? Describe your function in your family, church and community. you today?

12 Day 9 Verse 5 Since we are one body in Christ, how do we relate to Christians who view the Bible differently from us? Why does the body have to be in Christ?

13 Day 10 Verse 5 How do you relate to different members of the body of Christ? Should you act differently knowing we are interconnected? Can one part of the body not feel the pain and joy of other parts of the body? Why?

14 Day 11 Verse 6 What is the best gift you ve ever received? Gave? What gifts has God given you?

15 Day 12 Verse 6 What makes it difficult for you to use your gift of prophecy? How do your gifts differ from others? Are you using your gifts? (1 Cor. 12:31-13:1) How is comparing your gifts to others problematic? DEFINITION of prophecy: Proclaiming God s Word

16 Day 13 Verse 7 How do you serve in proportion to your faith? How do you serve the body? Should you serve those outside the body? DEFINITION of ministry: to serve

17 Day 14 Verse 8 Who s the teacher that most influenced your life? Have you thanked him or her? Write a letter to that teacher acknowledging your thanks. Send it if possible. What do you need to teach? Who do you need to teach?

18 Day 15 Verse 8 Who or what encourages you? What makes you feel discouraged? Who do you know that needs to be encouraged? Speak encouraging words into their lives. DEFINITION of exhort: to build up, encourage

19 Day 16 Verse 8 What makes it hard for you to be generous? What are the differences between a giver and a taker? Which are you? Is there someone who needs your generosity? Define an effective leader. How should a leader treat those he or she leads? Should leaders lead alone? Why is it hard to be cheerful to those who have wronged you?

20 Day 17 Verse 9 Why can t I say to an unbeliever, Do as I say, not as I do? Figuratively, hypocrisy is putting on a mask. What masks do you wear to hide your true feelings?

21 Day 18 Verse 9 What is evil? Does evil change over time? Who decides what evil is? How does society decide? How can you super-glue yourself to what is good? What do you do when you ve super-glued yourself to something evil?

22 Day 19 Verse 10 In light of current events, how do we show brotherly love to those we disagree with or have hurt us? Have you resolved conflict with siblings? Friends? Others? With who can you resolve conflict with and show brotherly love?

23 Day 20 Verse 10 What s the highest honor you ve received? How do you show honor? How do you honor a dishonorable person when that person is a parent, spouse, child, boss, etc.?

24 Day 21 Verse 11 If there s a continuum between laziness (0) and burnout (10) with diligence and balance in the middle (5), where would you rate yourself? What changes do you need to make to find balance in being a diligent worker for God?

25 Day 22 Verse 11 How do you keep your excitement in serving the Lord? How do you get through times when you don t feel passionate about serving?

26 Day 23 Verse 12 Have you ever been impatient with God in a crisis? Make a list of Bible verses that can help you in times like this. What do you hope for? How does hope give you a reason to rejoice even when you are suffering or in pain? DEFINITION of hope: assurance of future promises (Hebrews 11:1)

27 Day 24 Verse 12 What techniques do you use to persevere in times of trouble? Rate your devotion to prayer on a scale from (1) nonexistent to (10) continuous. What steps can you take to improve your prayer life? Who can you partner with or ask to mentor you?

28 Day 25 Verse 13 When have you received help from a member of our church? In what ways are you contributing to the needs of the saints of our church?

29 Day 26 Verse 13 What makes you feel welcomed and valued when you visit someone? How can you practice effective hospitality with visitors and fellow church members before and after worship and also during the week?

30 Day 27 Verse 14 Who in your life has wronged you? How is God using you to bless them? Or what steps do you need to take to begin blessing them? Cursing has become commonplace. Reflect on how your tongue can be transformed to bless and not curse. DEFINITION of bless 1. To ask the favor or protection of God on someone s behalf 2. To bestow a gift DEFINITION of curse To wish hell upon someone (James 3:9-10)

31 Day 28 Verse 15 What are the moments in your life when you have rejoiced the most? How can you rejoice when others are blessed? What times in your life have been the saddest? How do you support someone who is hurting?

32 Day 29 Verse 16 How do you live in harmony with people you don t get along with? What moments in your life would other people find you difficult to get along with? How is Romans 12 impacting

33 Day 30 Verse 16 Who are the people that you think yourself to be just a little bit better than? What prejudices do you need to let go of? (Galatians 3:28) What makes a person lowly? How do you make friends with nobodies?

34 Day 31 Verse 17 How can you stop the habit of being mean to someone who is mean to you? When you have chosen to repay evil for evil, what has it gotten you? How is Romans 12 impacting

35 Day 32 Verse 17 The ESV of verse 17 includes the words give thought to do what is honorable. How can you start or improve the habit of giving thought on how to respond with honor instead anger before you react when someone hurts you?

36 Day 33 Verse 18 What does a peaceful life look like? How does peace depend upon you? How is Romans 12 impacting DEFINITION of peace: the absence of strife

37 Day 34 Verse 18 How do you live in peace with people you don t like? What situations make it impossible to have peace

38 Day 35 Verse 19 Why does St. Paul call us, Beloved, right before he commands us to not take vengeance? How do you see vengeance played out in our world today? How is Romans 12 impacting DEFINITION of vengeance: retribution exacted for an injury or wrong

39 Day 36 Verse 19 Why do you think you have the right to avenge yourself? Why is it necessary for God to be the one who dispenses justice?

40 Day 37 Verse 20 Why is it difficult to do good things for your enemies? What are the benefits of doing nice things for people who hate you?

41 Day 38 Verse 20 How do you kill someone with kindness? How can you do good for your everyday enemies?

42 Day 39 Verse 21 READ ROMANS 12Journaling Prompts: What times in your life did it seem evil got the best of you? What addictions do you need help to overcome? How did you overcome with God s help or do you still need to overcome? How is Romans 12 impacting

43 Day 40 Verse 21 How can doing good things get the best of evil?

44 ADDITIONAL NOTES