Romans Worksheet - Chapter 15

Review & Conclusion of Romans:

Romans 1-3 demonstrated man's need for righteousness.  Romans 4-5 examined the faith of one who is declared righteous before God.  Romans 6-8 showed how faith releases the Spirit of God to do in a believer what the law could not do; to truly transform the believer by the Spirit within them.  Romans 9-11 went back into history and to the future to show us that God began the nation of Israel to bring about glory to His Name to the earth and that He will complete and fulfill all the promises to the nation of Israel after the age of the church is complete.  Now, in Romans 12-16, Paul will return to the major theme to show how God's righteousness through the Holy Spirit shows expression in the new community, the body of Christ, the church.  We will see that the life of faith is never intended to be lived out alone, but we are dependent on one another in the body of Christ and we help one another in our personal victories over sin.  Amen!

Review: Chapter 14 - In keeping with the theme of loving one another and preferring others over our self, Paul addressed the areas of debatable issues among believers.  Each were to be fully convinced within themselves before God and live according to their own faith and not judge one another.

Romans Chapter 15

1.  In Romans 14, we learned how the stronger Christians who understood their freedom in Christ were to bear with the weaker Christians who still felt they should follow certain laws and regulations for their conscience sake. 

Again, Paul is saying that those who are strong in faith should "bear" the weaknesses of those "without strength".

• Rather than only please ourselves, who should we be concerned to please and why? vs. 1,2
• What does it mean "for their edification"?  Use a dictionary to help you understand the meaning more fully and write out your thoughts.

2.  Comment on these verses regarding serving others over ourselves:

• 1)1 Corinthians 9:22
• 2) 1 Corinthians 10:24
• 3) 1 Corinthians 10:33
• 4) 2 Corinthians 13:9
• 5) Romans 14:19
• 6) Ephesians 4:29
• 7) Philippians 2:3

Note:  We are to "bear" the weaker Christian's weaknesses.  When looking at the Greek meaning of the word used here in the original language, it is not simply "putting up with"... It means to walk beside them and be willing to carry the load that their differences causes you to handle in understanding and a helping way.  It is literally shifting the weight upon yourself.

3.  Comment on Galatians 6:2 - what do we fulfill when we bear one another's burdens?

Is this following any man over what God has shown us to do?  No.  This is referring to a weaker Christian's need for us to support them in patience, understanding, prayer, acceptance.

4.  In regard to what God has commanded us to do, Who should we always obey?

• Galatians 1:10
• Acts 4:16-20

5.  What are the extreme measures of needing to part company with someone of debatable differences to our faith?

• Galatians 1:6-10 -
• 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 -
• Titus 3:8-11 - 
• Romans 16:17-18 -

Although Paul is so stern against anything that would malign the pure Gospel of Jesus, he was very patient with those who were struggling with weakness in regard to their sins.  The difference is those who are leading others astray and have no remorse verses those who are being led astray and are weak in their faith,needing help in finding their way back to the path of obedience to Him.

• 2 Corinthians 11:28-30 -

How did Paul deal with his own weaknesses in his life?

• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 -

5. The greatest thing we can do for ourselves or  another to help them with their weaknesses is to pray.  We can ask the Holy Spirit to pray for them and for ourselves as well.  Comment on the following verses:

• Romans 8:26-27 -

Back to Romans 15

6. Christ is our ultimate example of laying down His rights in order to please the Father and to serve us, to please us, to bear with us.  He came only to do the Father's will. 

He quotes Psalm 69:9 to show this in regard to the reproaches that fell on Christ. Let's look at other verses that show what Christ 'gave up in His rights because of His love for us' and how we are to follow His example:

• Matthew 20:25-28 -
• Philippians 2:1-10 -

7.  After Paul quotes a Psalm to show how Christ gave up His rights to serve others, he shows that the Old Testament is there for us to learn from.

Write out Romans 15:4 -

• Is the Old Testament written for our instruction today? 

8.  How do these give us hope today? Name the two ways given in 4b: 

• 1)
• 2)

Write out what these verses in the New Testament tell us about the Old Testament Scriptures and why they are important:

• Galatians 3:16-17-
• Galatians 3:21-24-
• 2 Timothy 3:14-17 -
• 2 Peter 1:19-21-
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-6-
• John 5:46-47 -
• John 8:55-58 -
• Luke 24:27 -
• Luke 24:44-45 -

9.  Who will the perseverance and encouragement come from? vs. 5 -

10.  What is Paul's prayer that God will give to believers and what is the ultimate purpose of it? vs. 5,6

11.  In order to properly glorify God The Father, we are to accept one another "just as" Christ also accepted us.

Paul states that Christ was a servant to the circumcised (the Jewish believers) and to the Gentiles, all for the purpose to glorify God!

What was Paul's prayer for them and what can we pray for one another? 

• Romans 15:13 -

12.  What was Paul convinced of concerning this body of believers in Rome? vs. 14 -

• 1)
• 2)
• 3)

13.  Read Romans 15:15-16

Note: Paul had to write to them boldly on 'some' points to remind them to be ministers of Jesus whether Jews or Gentiles.  As a minister to the Gentiles, they were Paul's offering to God.  When we use our spiritual gifts in His body and serve one another, we are offering ourselves and others to God as an acceptable offering of worship.  What an awesome concept and responsibility!  This is why it is so important to get past the minor differences to focus on the major standard - Christ in us, the hope of glory!

14.  What was the only thing that Paul put his confidence in?  vs. 17,18 -

Comment on these verses by Paul as well:

• Galatians 2:20 -
• 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 -

Note: Paul witnessed the resurrected Christ and received the words of God from Him after He has ascended to the Father through revelation. (Galatians 1:11,12)   Therefore, some doubted his apostleship as one chosen by the Lord Himself as the others had been who had walked and ministered with Him during His years of earthly ministry.  To validate that he as a true apostle chosen by the Lord Himself, signs and wonders followed his ministry.

15. Read and comment on the following verses:

• Romans 15:19 -
• 2 Corinthians 12:12 -

16. Where did Paul preach the Gospel and what did he want to be careful not to do? vs. 20 -21 -

17. Because Paul was making full use of his calling to preach Christ where they had not heard of Him before, he was kept from coming to the believers at Rome. 

He had longed for many years to come to see them.  When was he finally planning on seeing them according to this letter? vs. 22-24 -

18.  Where was Paul about to go to and for what purpose? vs. 25-27 -

19. Paul would go to see the church in Rome after he had been to Jerusalem on his way to Spain. 

What did he feel confident about concerning the spiritual condition of the believers there in Rome when he would finally meet them? vs. 29 -

20.  What did Paul urge the believers at Rome to do for him? vs. 30 -

What did he need them to specifically pray for concerning him? vs. 31-32

• 1)
• 2)
• 3)
• 4)

21. What had Paul been warned about concerning going to Jerusalem?

• Acts 20:22-24 -

22. What prayer does Paul make for the believers who will receive this letter? vs. 33 -

Application:

Am I putting aside my rights to serve my fellow believers, especially those who are not as strong as I am in the faith? Am I praying for others and myself that the Holy Spirit would intercede for our weaknesses?  Perseverance and Encouragement come from God. Am I spending time in His Word to allow Him to help me and encourage me?  Am I reading the Old Testament as well as the New, realizing that it was written for my instruction as well ? Do I realize that there will be those who are among us who want to cause dissension and hindrances?  Am I aware of this so that I can turn away and avoid them?

Your summary and prayer today:

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB sites only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.