Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Ministry A Woman of Virtue Part 3 This Homework Belongs To: Phone Number My Group Leader is: Group Number
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 16 Romans 12:1-8 Thy Will Be Done One of the questions most often asked by Christians is: How do I know God s will for my life? Well, let me assure you, beloved daughters, that God s will is not something hidden, lost or hard to determine. His will does not have to be found. In our text this week we will easily see in only two verses that God s will is very clear and incredibly wonderful. Paul has spent the first eleven chapters of Romans talking about man s ruined condition and God s rich salvation. Now, in Chapter 12 he challenges you, in light of all that God s done for you, to dedicate your whole life to Him. In other words, live in such a way that your life reflects your gratitude to Jesus for all He s done to redeem you. Begin your lesson with a prayer. Ask the Lord to work in you in such a way that you might be a transformed woman whose will is fully surrendered to Him and His plan for your life. Memorize This Scripture Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4 1. According to Romans 12:1 what is the most sensible act of divine service any of us can ever render to the Lord? 2. Verse 2 says we are not to be conformed to this world. Define the word conformed from a dictionary. 3. Notice how The Living Bible paraphrases 1 John 2:15,16: Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. How does this translation make clearer God s command to be not conformed to this world? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
4. The word world refers to the world system that is in opposition to God and under the control of Satan. View this world from God s perspective from the verses below and record what they reveal. a. John 15:18,19 b. 2 Corinthians 4:3,4 c. 1 John 2:15,16 5. One Bible translation paraphrases Romans 12:2 as, Don t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold. In what ways are we pressured or squeezed into conforming to the world today? 6. From the following verses share some ways we can renew our minds that will help us to be transformed. a. Ephesians 4:23-25 b. Ephesians 4:26-29 c. Ephesians 4:31,32 7. God s will is not something to be avoided but rather it is to be sought after and desired. The Lord does not ask you to live according to His will without providing you with the power to do as He asks through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. From 1Thessalonians 4:3-4 how does He ask you to live? 8. Read Romans 12:6-8 and list the gifts you discover that God gives individuals in His body. 9. What gift or gifts do you think you possess? 10. What part of this lesson spoke to you the most and why?
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 17 Romans 12:9-21 Behave Like A Christian In last week s lesson we learned primarily about our relationship with God. In the remaining portion of Romans 12 we will take a deeper look at our relationship with believers and our relationship with our enemies. There s no doubt that when we have a right relationship to God, we will have a right relationship with the people who are a part of our lives. If you are a daughter of God then you must behave like one! A Woman of Virtue who has surrendered her life to Christ as a living sacrifice chooses to live on the highest level love. She s careful about thinking too highly of herself. She let s the gifts God has given her flow through her life as she humbly serves those God has placed in her life. Before you head into doing your homework stop and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen to His instruction and to willingly change any behavior He prompts your heart to do as a result of studying Romans 12. Memorize This Scripture I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 1. There s a lot in Romans 12:9 that is contrary to what we see in the world today. But for the woman who s made the decision not to be conformed to this world, there s some instruction from the Lord that she cannot ignore. What is it? 2. Read verse 10. The Christian woman who is behaving in a transformed way is respectful to others. What counsel do you find in Philippians 2:3,4 that will help you to honor other believers? 3. According to Romans 12:11 what do you think your attitude should be in serving the Lord? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
4. The needs of people are endless! Because of this it s all too easy for us at times to just ignore their needs or think that someone else will take care of them. We are not to make excuses and do nothing. Instead, the Christian woman is to be fervent in her serving. The Lord is interested in our character. In verse 11 He puts before us the challenge to be fervent. For greater insight into the word fervent look up the scriptures below and share what you learn. a. Hebrews 2:1 (earnest) b. James 5:16 c. 1 Peter 4:8 5. Read Romans 12:12. One of the ways a Christian woman is to behave is to be patient when she faces suffering, heartache and trouble. How can the verses below help you to be patient when you face difficult times? a. Romans 5:2,3 b. Philippians 3:10 c. 1 Peter 4:12,13 6. In Romans 12:13 we are exhorted to literally pursue the gift of hospitality. The world entertains and aims to impress others with their home, or decorating or cooking or possessions. But the Christian woman aims to serve. What do you think the difference is between entertaining and hospitality? 7. Verses 14-16 give us some very practical guidelines on how God wants us to treat others. How would the kind of love Paul describes in these verses transform our relationships? 8. Which one of these guidelines is most challenging to you at this time in your life and why? 9. Read Romans 12:17-21. You are instructed to live above reproach and let God defend you. According to these verses how should you deal with your enemies? 10. How did this week s lesson affect the goals and priorities of your life?
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 18 Romans 13 Wake Up The Time Is At Hand! Chapter 12 addressed the believer s function in the body of Christ and now Chapter 13 is devoted to telling us, as believers, how we are to function in society. We are to submit to the government and the authorities God has placed over us. We are to love our neighbor. In other words, it s not enough for us to just go to church on Sundays - the church has been created to reach out to the world. We live in dark times and the return of Jesus draws nearer and nearer with each passing day. In light of that truth the apostle Paul urges us to wake up and be alert to the time at hand. Start your lesson off by praying for a willingness to put off any behavior that God convicts your heart about and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ so you ll be dressed and ready for the day of Jesus return! Memorize This Scripture And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24 1. What does Romans 13:1 say about the foundation of our government s laws and authority? 2. What is Paul s view of authority and those who exercise authority over us? (vs.2-5) 3. We are to pray for those in authority over us and do everything we can to be salt and light in this world. What do you learn from Matthew 24:36-42 that will help you to keep things in perspective about the world and the way you live? 4. Read Romans 13:2. This verse does not mean that we are never to disobey those who are in authority over us. There may be times when we have to. Read Acts 5:29 and share what you learn about how far you should go in obeying authority. Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
5. Paul makes it very clear that the government is ordained by God. In verse 7 what instructions are Christians given regarding how to treat the government? 6. The focus of Romans 13 shifts now in the last half of this chapter (vs. 8-14). It s not enough to just grit your teeth and obey. Love is the key because without it you ll become bitter, cynical and argumentative. From the verses below share how the Lord expects you, as a Christian woman, to treat every person He has created. a. Romans 13:9,10 b. Matthew 5:41 c. Galatians 6:10 7. Read Romans 13:11. According to our spiritual time clock what time is it? 8. In what areas do you think Christians need to awake out of sleep? 9. Romans 13 exhorts us to take inventory of our spiritual wardrobe. The words put on speak about things in our closet that we are to keep or add to our wardrobe. The words cast off make reference to things in our closet that need to be thrown out. Now look up the verses below to gain a greater understanding of what we are to put on and what we are to cast off. a. Romans 13:12-14 b. Colossians 3:8-10 c. Ephesians 4:22-27 10. What one truth from this lesson made you more awake to the times you live in?
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 19 Romans 14 A Woman Of Influence For whatever reason there is a tendency in people to want others to conform to their way of thinking and behaving. The same was true for the church at Rome. Because the members all came from different backgrounds they tended to disagree about faith as it pertained to certain areas of their lives. If each member had kept his or her personal convictions to himself, there would not have been problems. But instead they began to criticize and judge one another. So, faithful Paul instructs them in Romans 14 by giving them some practical guidelines to help them avoid unnecessary controversies within the church. We would do well to obey these same instructions today. We may not all agree but we can all receive and build one another up. Stop and pray before you begin your lesson. Pray that you will be a woman whose influence is used to build up other Christians and not to tear them down. Memorize This Scripture For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17 1. Read Romans 14:1-6. What are some of the areas that the Christians were disagreeing about? 2. In Paul s day, one of the controversies in the church centered on meat. Those who didn t eat meat looked down on those who did because they were eating the meat that had been sacrificed to idols. From verses 3 and 4 share how Paul diffused this argument. 3. We see in verse 5 that there was also a controversy going on about holy days. The people disagreed about which was the proper day to worship on. In verses 5-9 Paul puts their focus back on the Lord and encourages them to do what they do for the Lord s sake. An illustration of this truth is found in John 21:21-22. What do you learn that will help you when you focus too much on what others are doing? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
4. What guidelines for making your witness and ministry useful to Christ do you find in 2 Corinthians 6:3,4? 5. Read Romans 14:10-12. Why is it wrong to pass judgment on other Christians? 6. What wonderful words does God declare about Himself in Romans 14:11? 7. Since we will each face the judgment of Christ individually the most important thing we can do as a church is to be unified. What do you learn about unity from the following verses that will help you to be the woman of influence that God desires? a. Psalm 133:1 b. Romans 14:12-17 c. Ephesians 4:1-4 8. We must take into account our influence on others. Read Romans 14:13. There are certain truths that all Christians must accept but there are also areas that God does not speak directly about in His Word. It s these areas that we must be especially careful about and not try to force our conviction upon another. We must also be very careful about not judging others. From the verses below what insight do you gain about judging others? a. Matthew 7:1-2 b. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 c. 2 Timothy 4:8 9. Read Romans 14:19,20. What are the things that we should follow after? 10. In what way did this lesson challenge you in your relationships with others?
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 20 Romans 15 The Power Of The Word As Christians there can be a tendency at times to major on the minors and get what s really important out of focus. It s essential therefore to keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing for us is Jesus Christ. This week we will once again be challenged to think about others. In order to do this we must lay aside selfishness. Christian love is not selfish, rather it seeks to share with others and be concerned about their welfare above our own. In a society that s bombarding us with slogans such as You deserve the best and Look out for number one it can be quite a challenge to stop being so self-centered! But thanks be to God we have a wonderful solution the power of the Word! Before you get into God s Word today stop and pray. Specifically ask the Lord to change you from the world s point of view to the Word s point of view. Memorize This Scripture For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 1. Read Romans 15:1-7. What words or phrases point toward how we are to treat one another? 2. What advice does Romans 15:1-2 have for a Christian who is called of God to help weak believers grow in their faith and walk more closely with the Lord? 3. From Romans 15:3 how was Christ the ultimate example of unselfishness? 4. We do not live to please ourselves we live to please others. The Word is one source of spiritual power we must draw from if we are to live to please others. Why is the Word so important according to Romans 15:4? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
5. Attitude is everything! Our attitude will directly affect how we treat people. Verses 5-7 are Paul s prayer for his readers. He prays that they might experience the spiritual unity that only God can give. From the following verses what attitudes does he encourage us to have in this prayer? a. Romans 15:5 b. Romans 15:6 c. Romans 15:7 6. Today so many people are losing hope. They re turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, self-help classes, psychics and even horoscopes. But the Woman of Virtue is different. She s fully persuaded that her hope is in God and His Word. Why is the Word something she can confidently put her hope and trust in? a. Psalm 119:105 b. Proverbs 30:5 c. Isaiah 55:11 7. Romans 15:14 is a perfect description of A Woman of Virtue. What characteristics do you find here that every godly woman would want said about her? 8. The saints in Jerusalem were undergoing a season of poverty and Paul had a financial gift to deliver to them from the Gentile believers. Read Romans 15:25-28 and share what impresses you most about the relationships among the first-century believers. 9. In what ways can we share material blessings with other Christians today? 10. How has the Lord changed you through the study of His Word this week?
Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Bible Study A Woman of Virtue the just shall live by faith... Romans 1:17 Lesson 21 Romans 16 Finishing Well Paul s life was full of people. He was surrounded by friends, foes, and faithful servants. His personal goal was to touch and influence as many people as possible and to finish well in his Christian race. Paul was both a friend-maker and a soul-winner. He did not live an isolated life. He had friends and appreciated them; and here in this last chapter of Romans he gives thanks for them and mentions several of them by name. But not everyone was working with Paul to further the Gospel. There were some who were causing problems and dividing the church. But no matter what kind of people he encountered he was determined to finish well. He had lived his life as a debtor to Christ and no one friend or foe was going to cause him to get sidetracked in his mission for the Lord. Begin your lesson today with a prayer. Ask the Lord to help you to finish well as you study this final chapter of the book of Romans. Memorize This Scripture But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 1. Read Romans 16:1-2 and answer the questions below. a. What Christian sister is named? b. What title is given to her? c. Who has she helped (succourer)? d. How does Paul say the church at Rome should treat her? 2. In Romans 16:3 Paul mentions two more dear friends of his: Priscilla and Aquila. To what extent did they go to in helping Paul? (vs.4) 3. In Romans 16:5-16 he continues to send greetings by name to those who he appreciates. Fill in the blanks below to see why he appreciates these saints. (v.6) (v.8) Greet Mary, who bestowed on us Greet Amplias my (v.10) Salute Apelles in Christ (v.12) Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who. Salute the beloved Persis (Priscilla), which in the Lord. (v.13) Salute Rufus in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
4. In verse 10 Paul refers to his co-laborer Apelles as approved in Christ. From the verses below how can we be approved in Christ? a. 2 Corinthians 10:18 b. 2 Timothy 2:15 c. Romans 16:7,9,12,13 5. All of these men and women mentioned in Romans 16 were true servants of Christ. What do you learn from Matthew 16:24 that will help you to be a true servant of the Lord? 6. Unfortunately not all those Paul encountered in his missionary journeys were good and sincere people trying to further the gospel. For those who came against the doctrine of Christ, Paul instructed the believers to mark them and avoid them. From Romans 16:17-18 what type of people were causing divisions and creating problems in the family of God? 7. Read Romans 16:19. Satan is and always has been the greatest enemy of the church. Paul specifically exhorted the believers to be simple concerning evil. This does not mean they were to be ignorant of Satan and his devices just the contrary! Paul knew they were in danger of becoming ensnared by the evil practices all around them in godless Rome, so he urged them to stay innocent concerning evil. In light of the scriptures below why do you think this is important? a. Luke 22:31-32 b. 1 Peter 5:8-9 c. Revelation 12:9 8. What is Satan s fate according to Romans 16:20? 9. Share one way your study through the book of Romans has strengthened you to live by faith. 10. Paul gives a grand farewell to the church in Rome in verses 24-27. He commends them for taking correction well and he exhorts them to stay in the race and finish well. Read these verses slowly and in deep praise and gratitude to God. Now write a prayer below asking God to also help you to finish well.