September 1, 2024 – Romans 1:1-17

Lesson Date: September 1, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 1:1-17

AIM: To lead students to discover that Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in spite of whatever opposition or persecution he might face, and to examine themselves to determine if they are ashamed of the Gospel.

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 1:1-17 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 26.  Read Matthew 26:69-75.

Ask: “What happened in those verses?” (Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus).  Ask: “What was Jesus doing at the time?” (after being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was being questioned by the Jewish high priest).

Ask: “Who was Peter?” (a follower and apostle of Jesus Christ).  Ask: “How long had Peter been with Jesus?” (three years).  Ask: “Did Peter know who Jesus was?” (yes, he witnessed many miracles and came to realize that Jesus was in fact the Son of God; Matt. 16:16).

Stress the fact that Peter knew more than most people in Jerusalem about Jesus.  Ask: “When the bystanders said that Peter was a follower of Jesus, what could Peter have done?” (he could have told them about Jesus and how they could be saved).  Ask: “Why didn’t Peter do that?” (he was afraid that if he admitted knowing Jesus he might be arrested, too).

Tell the class that Peter missed a wonderful witnessing opportunity because he was afraid of what might happen to him.  Tell them instead of witnessing for Jesus, Peter lied, denied the Lord who saved Him, and lived with the shame of denying Jesus the rest of his life.

Ask: “Can you relate to Peter?  Have you ever had an opportunity to witness, but were too afraid to do so?” (they probably have).

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is Are You Ashamed of the Gospel?  Tell them we will learn that in contrast to Peter, the Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, and we will examine ourselves to determine if we are ashamed of it.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review and Introduction to Romans.
   • Remind the students that we just completed a study of the New Testament book of 2 Thessalonians.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Commands For Christians; we discovered four commands Christians are told to obey).
   • Be sure everyone has a copy of the Fall 2024 Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Tell them today we are beginning a six-month-long study of the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Point out from the quarterly cover that this quarter we will learn about Man’s Problem with sin and God’s Solution to that problem.
   • Tell the class that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Rome while he was in Corinth during his Third Missionary Journey.
   • Locate Rome and Corinth on the Map of the New Testament World.
   • Tell the class that Romans is the greatest and most thorough explanation of God’s wonderful plan of redemption found in the entire Bible.
2. Separated Unto the Gospel.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 1:1.
   • Tell the students in that verse Paul identified himself as the sender of the letter.
   • Ask: “What three things did Paul say about himself?” (he was a servant [slave, bond servant] of Jesus, he was called to be an apostle [ambassador, messenger], and he was separated unto the Gospel).
   • Ask: “What does the word separated mean?” (set apart, singled out).
   • Ask: “What do you think it means that Paul was separated unto the Gospel?” (God chose Paul and set him apart for the special work of spreading the Good News of salvation).
   • Ask: “If we belong to Jesus, in what ways have we been separated unto the Gospel?” (we’ve been called out from this wicked world, set apart through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and commissioned to spread the Gospel).
   • Explain the following:
     • Much like husbands and wives have been set apart for an exclusive relationship with their spouse, Christians have been set apart for a special relationship with Jesus.
     • The next verses describe the Gospel unto which we have been separated.
   • Read Romans 1:2.
   • Ask: “What does that verse tell us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” (it was promised or prophesied by the Old Testament prophets).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 1:3-4.
   • Ask: “What does the first part of verse 3 reveal about the Gospel?” (the Gospel is about God’s Son, Jesus Christ).
   • Ask: “What does the rest of verse 3 reveal?” (humanly speaking, Jesus was a descendant of King David).
   • Ask: “What does verse 4 tell us about Jesus?” (He was shown to be the Son of God by His miraculous power, His holiness, and His resurrection from the dead).
   • Read Romans 1:5-7.
   • Ask: “According to verse 5, what did the Gospel of Jesus Christ do for Paul?” (saved him by grace, called him to be an apostle, and enabled him to spread the Good News about Jesus throughout the nations).
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did the Gospel of Jesus do for us?” (called us out of the world to salvation).
   • Tell the class that verse 7 identifies the recipients of Paul’s letter: the saints (believers, Christians) in Rome.
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; are you separated unto the Gospel? Does the Gospel of Jesus Christ make you different from other people?”
   • Summarize: If we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been separated unto the Gospel.
3. Serving the Gospel.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 1:8-9.
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, what was Paul thankful for?” (the faith of the believers in Rome was known and spoken of throughout the world).
   • Tell the class in verse 9, Paul said he prayed unceasingly for the Roman Christians.
   • Ask: “What did Paul say about himself in verse 9?” (he served with his spirit in the Gospel of God’s Son).
   • Explain that not only was Paul separated unto the Gospel, but he was also serving the Gospel.
   • Ask: “In what ways did Paul serve the Gospel?” (he traveled the known world telling and teaching people about Jesus, he started churches wherever he went, and he wrote letters to encourage and strengthen believers).
   • Read Romans 1:10-14.
   • Ask: “According to verse 10, what was Paul praying that he could do?” (go to Rome to visit the believers there).
   • Ask: “According to verse 11, why did Paul want to visit the Christians in Rome?” (to teach them so they would be established and strong in the faith).
   • Explain the following:
     • In verse 12, Paul said visiting with the Roman believers would be a comfort and encouragement both to them and to him.
     • In verse 13, Paul said he wanted the Roman believers to know that he had often tried to go to Rome, but had been prevented.
     • Paul said in the latter part of verse 13 that he wanted to have some spiritual fruit (new converts; Rom. 16:5) among the Roman Christians, as he had among the many other Gentiles to whom he ministered.
     • In verse 14, Paul said he felt indebted and obligated to take the Gospel to everyone, including those who were educated (Greeks, wise) and those who were uneducated (barbarians, unwise).
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; are you serving the Gospel?”
   • Summarize: If we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been called to serve the Gospel.
4. Speaking the Gospel.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 1:15.
   • Ask: “What was Paul ready and eager to do?” (preach the Gospel to those at Rome; in other words, speak the Gospel to them).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 1:16-17.
   • Ask: “Was Paul ashamed of the Gospel?” (no).
   • Ask: “What else does verse 16 tell us about the Gospel?” (it is the power of God to bring people to salvation).
   • Explain that the Greek word translated power in verse 16 is the source of our English words dynamo and dynamite, and it refers to enabling power and ability to accomplish a task.
   • Ask: “According to verse 16, who can the Gospel bring salvation to?” (anyone who believes [John 3:16], regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles).
   • Tell the class the Jews are God’s chosen people who He always has in His heart, so the message of the Gospel is “to the Jew first, but also to the Greek (Gentile).”
   • Ask: “According to verse 17, what is revealed through the Gospel?” (the righteousness of God).
   • Explain the following:
     • The phrase “from faith to faith” indicates the progression from a young faith to a more mature faith.
     • “The just shall live by faith” is quoted from Habakkuk 2:4, and is also quoted in Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.
   • Stress the fact that Paul was eager to speak the Gospel, because he knew it is the only power to save people’s souls.
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; are you speaking the Gospel, or are you ashamed of it?”
   • Summarize: If we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been called to speak the Gospel.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the class that the title of today’s lesson is a question: Are You Ashamed of the Gospel?  Tell them at the beginning of the lesson we were reminded of the time when Jesus was on trial before the Jewish High Priest, and Peter denied knowing Him.  Tell them in that moment, Peter was afraid and ashamed to admit to being Jesus’ disciple.

Ask: “In contrast to that moment in Peter’s life, was the Apostle Paul ashamed of the Gospel?” (no).  Ask: “Why not?” (because he knew it is the only message with power to bring people salvation).  Tell the class we learned today that Paul was separated (set apart) unto the Gospel, he was focused on serving the Gospel, and he was eager to speak the Gospel message to anyone he could, regardless of whatever opposition, persecution, or bodily harm he might face for doing so.

Ask the students to answer the following questions privately and honestly:

“Are you separated unto the Gospel?”

“Are you serving the Gospel?”

“Are you speaking the Gospel?”

“Are you ashamed of the Gospel?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to talk to God, confessing any sin God has revealed to them and making any commitment God is calling them to make.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer of commitment to be unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 1:16.  Tell them to look for opportunities to speak the Gospel this week.