Sermon Tone Analysis
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LESSON ONE—DOES GOD EXIST?
Romans 1:18–25
OPEN IT:
What do you think is the biggest reason that some people question the existence of God?
DIG INTO IT:
1. Read Romans 1:18–20 and answer the following questions:
a) Name some specific examples of “godlessness and wickedness” people use in our culture to “suppress the truth”?
romans 1:18
b [wrath of God] This phrase is found ten times in Scripture
(Rom.
1:18; Ps. 78:31; Jn. 3:36; Eph.
5:6; Col. 3:6; Rev. 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1).
[ungodliness] , impiety; no reverence for God or sacred things; irreligious
[unrighteousness], all wrongdoing; immorality; wickedness of heart and life.
[hold the truth in unrighteousness] Hold down, suppress; imprison; bridle.
b) How does the creation reveal God to mankind?
What attributes of God can be known by observing the world around us?
[without excuse] No excuse for people to be ignorant of the invisible things.
c) Is this enough evidence for God to leave mankind without excuse?
All invisible things, even the eternal power and Godhead, are clearly seen by the visible things of creation.
2. Read Romans 1:21–25 and answer the following questions:
[knew], to know by experience
[they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations]
They made God a mystery and gave the people images of all kinds.
[imaginations], reasonings.
Substituted foolish concepts of God, and fooled themselves.
a) How would refusing to recognize God lead to futile thinking and darkened hearts?
Examples?
[corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things]
Images of people, birds, cattle, dogs, crocodiles, frogs, and snakes are common among all idolaters.
Such idolatry has been the root of all the abominable immoralities of the heathen.
The idols have been the consumers (a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity) of licentiousness (immorality).
When they formed their gods in human shape they endowed them with passions and represented them as slaves to disgraceful sexual perversions and as possessing unlimited powers of sexual gratification.
b) Why would a person choose to worship the creation rather than the Creator?
(v.
23, 25)
[changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator] Established idolatry for the true worship; a lie for the truth; and worshiped creatures more than the Creator.
[gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves] God permitted them to give themselves over to homosexual sins and similar perversions.
[uncleanness] A scriptural term for homosexuality and other sexual perversions of men and women
Do people do this today?
c) How might giving “them over” to the evil activity they desire be a punishment?
(v.
24)
REFLECT ON IT:
1.
What is the most compelling argument that you’ve heard that God doesn’t exist?
That He does exist?
2. Have you ever doubted the existence of God?
Why or why not?
3. A friend tells you that they can’t believe in God because they lost a child and believe that if there is a God, He is to blame … What would you say to them?
4. How is God demonstrating His existence in your life right now?
Is there something you can share with the group?
5. Has God ever been more real to you than He is right now?
If so, how can the group help you to draw closer?
PRAY ABOUT IT:
“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.
Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.”
~ Charles Finney
Davis, B. L. (2013).
Instant Bible Studies for Small Groups.
Barry Davis.
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