Final Thoughts to the Berean Class In this message Rick reflects on the idea of transitions in life, and looks briefly at key transitions throughout redemptive history, from Jacob's blessing of his sons to the Apostle John's words to those he loved late in his life and ministry. In this final Sunday that Rick will be teaching the Berean class, he shares from his own heart about his teaching the class over the past years, and lessons he's learned that will be helpful to the class at it moves forward in the weeks and months ahead. (49 min)

Keywords Faith, Serve, Remembering

Romans 14:19-23 Given that the Kingdom of God is not about eating, but about righteousness, peace, and joy, this calls the believer to act accordingly. What is it that the strong in conscience should pursue? Paul insists that all things are objectively clean, but there are two cases in which they are subjectively evil. What are those two cases? What is the "work of God." How can we destroy the work of God? If our freedom is a right, what is it not? How can someone who is weak in faith grow to understand their freedom if the strong don't push them in that direction? How can the strong help the weak to be built up in their walk with God? What does Paul mean by saying the strong are to have their own conviction before God? How will they be blessed (happy)? To avoid sinning, what must the weak be careful to never do? (48 min)

Keywords Conscience, Faith, Doubt, Strong, Weak

Romans 11:2-10 In this passage Paul continues explaining why we know that God has not rejected Israel. He offers to us the historical evidence in the account of Elijah's complaint to God about Israel. What had prompted Elijah's complaint? What did God say was going to happen in Israel after Elijah's return? What was the basis for God preserving alive a remnant in Elijah's day? Why does Paul change the future tense of God's words to the past tense? What was the basis of God's choice to preserve a remnant in Israel in the days of Paul? What are the two categories of which Paul speaks in this passage? In which of these two categories do we know that Paul classifies faith? What does this passage teach, and what does it not teach? (55 min)

Keywords Choice, Grace, Remnant, Hardening, Faith, Works

Romans 10:18-21 Picking up where we left off three weeks ago, we find Paul answering the question of why it is that the Jews have not believed the Gospel. Have they never heard? Have they not understood? To each of these questions Paul answers emphatically that those were not the problem. When God says that he will provoke the Jews to jealousy, is this some random judgment of God, or is there some precedent why He has chosen this particular course? How does Paul know that the Jews have heard the gospel? Why does Paul use the verse from Psalm 19 the way he does? Had the Gospel really been preached in all the world, as Paul claims? How do we know, according to Paul, that the Gospel was not too difficult for the Jews to understand? If the Jews had heard and had understood the word of faith, what explanation does Paul give for their not believing? What does this tell us about the grace of God? (57 min.)

Keywords Gospel, Faith, Jews, Gentiles

Romans 10:14-17 Having established that salvation is available to all who call on the name of the Lord, Paul now sets forth the necessary things that must occur for someone to call on God. This passage has two important messages for us. One is the primary thing that Paul is communicating. The second, and incidental message, pertains to the church's imperative of evangelism and missions. Why is Paul explaining what is necessary for someone to call on God? Is the believing mentioned in verse 14 different from that mentioned in verse 11? Why is it necessary for someone to hear? When Paul speaks of a preacher, how is his concept of a preacher different from what we often think of today? Why does a preacher need to be sent? Now we know what must occur before someone can call on God, yet we discover that Israel has not called on God. What has gone wrong in this process? (52 min)

Keywords Calling, Believing, Preaching, Faith

Romans 10:11-13 In this lesson we are wrapping up our study of verses 5-13, in which Paul sets out how the righteousness of faith differs from the righteousness of the Law. How do we know that Paul is not intending to make a strong distinction between the faith of the heart and the confession of the mouth? When Moses speaks of the mouth and the heart, what is his point? How do we know that Paul does not intend us to see the acquiring of righteousness as distinct from salvation, or confession as distinct from believing? What is the underlying foundation to the assertion that whoever believes will be saved?. In what way is there no distinction between Jew and Greek (Gentile)? On what basis does Paul claim there is no such distinction? How did the Jews view the difference between themselves and the Gentiles? If the objective universal lordship of Jesus is the basis of Paul's argument about Jews and Gentiles, what else can we infer from it? (57 min.)

Keywords Lordship, Confession, Faith, Righteousness, Salvation, Jews, Gentiles

Romans 10:5-13 In this lesson we continued our consideration of what the righteousness based on faith says. What are some of the pitfalls we need to avoid in understanding what Paul is saying in this passage? What are the two themes that run parallel through this passage? What is significant about the confession that Jesus is Lord? What is the difference between subjective and objective lordship, and which one is Paul addressing here? What were the two other confessions with which the believers in Rome would have been familiar? How does this confession pertain to those other confessions? How is confessing Jesus is Lord related to calling on the name of the Lord? (55 min)

Keywords Faith, Righteousness, Confession, Lordship, Salvation

Romans 10:5-11 This lesson is the first in a look at this passage, in which Paul explains more of how and why Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to those who believe. Paul demonstrates how Law righteousness and faith righteousness are different by showing how they say different things. What does he tell us that law righteousness says? What it the context of the passage from Leviticus to which he refers? How does Paul use that passage? When he tells us what faith righteousness says he uses passages from Deuteronomy. What is the context of those two passages? How does Paul's citation of those passages differ from the actual passages? What are some of the ways that Paul's use of these passages are viewed? Why does Paul use the idea of the abyss in the place of Deuteronomy's use of the idea of the sea? Having laid a foundation for understanding this passage, next week we will examine more fully what the righteousness based on faith says, which Paul says is the message he preaches. (55 min)

Keywords Righteousness, Law, Faith

Romans 10:1-4 Paul continues in this passage his explanation of what happened that caused Israel's failure to attain righteousness. He begins by renewing his emphasis on the love and burden he had for the salvation of the Jewish people. In view of what Paul had experienced at the hands of his Jewish opponents, how is this burden significant? How is Paul's own story a personification of the story of the nation of Israel. What is significant about Paul saying that in respect to the Law he had been a Pharisee? In spite of their zeal, what did Israel lack? What did Paul have to relinquish in order to gain Christ and the righteousness of God? What does Paul mean when he speaks of Christ being the end of the Law for righteousness to all who believe in Him? (54 min)

Keywords Law, Christ, Faith, Righteousness

Romans 9:27-33 In our previous lesson we discovered that God freely chose to call the Gentiles, who were not his people, his people. In today's lesson we find that in contrast only a few Jews, only a remnant, are among the people of God. This is the conclusion of the point Paul made in the early part of the chapter about not all the descendants of Abraham being true Israel. Is this point of Paul's something new, or does he have biblical warrant for his argument? What is the significance of Paul's use of the Greek word for seed? If God had not left such a seed, what would have happened? Paul begins to tell us now what it is that defines this remnant, as well as what constitutes the true people of God. How does Paul contrast the Gentile and Jewish approach to righteousness? What is important about the words "pursue" and "attain?" How did Gentiles attain righteousness? What hindered the majority of Israel from attaining righteousness? Why is the stone of Romans 9, I Peter 2, and Isaiah a stumbling block to some, but precious to others? What is the promise to those who believe in the stone? (59 min)

Keywords Remnant, Israel, Gentiles, Stumbling Stone, Faith

Romans 8:23-27 Picking up from last week's lesson in verse 23, we considered more about our adoption. Why does Paul speak about our adoption as something that happened when we were saved, as well as something that has not yet occurred? What aspect of our adoption has not yet been realized? When will that happen? What is the disposition of the believer while he awaits his adoption? What is the connection between faith and hope? What is the opportunity that hope gives us that we will not possess when our bodies are finally redeemed? In what way do we fail to know how to pray? Why does the Holy Spirit groan? What do we know for sure about the Holy Spirit's intercession for us? (61 min)

Keywords Hope, Spirit, Faith, Worship, Prayer

Romans 4:22-25 Having seen Abraham's faith, God credits that faith to Abraham as righteousness. What is the content of Abraham's faith and what is the locus of his faith? For whom did the Holy Spirit record these things about Abraham? What is the locus of our faith and the content of our faith? How is this the same and now is it different from Abraham? Who delivered up Christ, and why? What does Paul mean when he says that Christ was "raised because of our justification?" (56 min)

Keywords Abraham, Faith, Righteousness, Justification

Romans 4:18-21 After learning earlier in Romans 4 that Abraham secured the promise of God by faith apart from works, apart from circumcision, and apart from the Law, we now see that he also did so by faith apart from sight. What did Paul mean when he said Abraham hoped against hope? What was necessary for Abraham to secure the promise God made? Why did Abraham contemplate the impossibility of his situation? What happened to Abraham's faith as he did so? What else did Abraham contemplate? How was Abraham's faith made strong? Did Abraham ever have doubts? What were the three results of Abraham's faith? Ultimately, what is Paul wanting us to consider in this passage? (48 min)

Keywords Faith, Works, Abraham

Romans 4:13-17 In these verses Paul begins to explain how it is that those who believe like Abraham believed are Abraham's descendants. What is the promise made to Abraham that he believed? What are the two categories that Paul presents for our consideration? What is the consequence of confusing these categories? What is it that the Law brings about? Why can it not bring about the inheritance of the promise? Why must the inheritance come by faith? What is it that is "in the presence of God?" What did Paul have in mind when he spoke of God giving life to the dead? Why is it important that God calls into being that which did not exist? (58 min)

Keywords Works, Faith, Law, Grace, Wrath, Inheritance, Promise

Romans 4:6-12 In order to demonstrate his point about righteousness from the life of Abraham, Paul uses an example from David in the Psalms. However, in David's case, it was not something that was credited to him, but something that was not credited to him. David says such a person is blessed. Paul then addresses the question of what kinds of people are blessed in this way. What is the importance of the timing of Abraham's circumcision to this issue? How long after he was credited with righteousness did God tell Abraham to be circumcised. Given what circumcision is a sign of, why did God wait so long? What does it mean that Abraham is the father of those who believe? (43 min.)

Keywords Faith, Works, Abraham, David, Forgiveness, Righteousness

Romans 3:28-4:5 We continue in this lesson the lesson begun last week about boasting, works, and faith. If the first reason is because all have sinned, what is the second reason why everyone must be justified by faith? Why was it necessary for Paul to prove his point by using the example of Abraham? When Paul says, "not before God," is he speaking of it being acceptable for Abraham to boast before men? What is the back story for the verse about Abraham that Paul quotes from the Old Testament? What is possible for the problem justified by believing in God to not do and and still be justified? (50 min.)

Keywords Righteousness, Faith, Works, Abraham

Romans 3:27, 28 In this passage Paul makes a major shift in his presentation, leaving behind some of the themes that have dominated his arguments so far. Now he shifts to the primary subject of justification by faith, which will occupy his attention through chapter four. What is the fine line that Paul finds himself having to walk in this passage? What is syncretism, and how does it happen? How does the question about boasting in this passage arise? Would Paul's imaginary opponent really ask something like this? How is Paul using the word "law" in these verses? What is it that excludes boasting? If believing is something we do, then is it a work? How can works and faith be mutually exclusive? (52 min)

Keywords Justification, Faith

Romans 3:21-24 Today's passage begins with two of the most wonderful words in Scripture: “but now." How does Paul intend us to understand these words, logically or temporally? What is the righteousness of God of which Paul speaks here and back in Romans 1:17? What do justification and righteousness have in common? How does the righteousness of God differ from what Paul calls "his righteousness" in verses 25 and 26? Why does Paul refer twice in one sentence to receiving the righteousness of God by faith? Is he arguing in a circle? What is the standard or mark that we have all missed when we sinned? How do Adam and Eve demonstrate this to us? How does God provide justification for us, and how does this contrast with his wrath at our sin? (51 min)

Keywords Righteousness, Law, Sin, Faith

Romans 1:16, 17 In this lesson Rick discusses why Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God to salvation. What does Paul mean by "salvation" in this passage? Who are the beneficiaries of this remarkable power? What is it that makes the Gospel powerful? Why was verse seventeen such a troublesome verse to Martin Luther? What did Paul mean by the "righteousness of God?" How is that righteousness revealed in the Gospel? What does Paul mean by the phrase "from faith to faith?" What is the significance of Paul's quotation from the prophet Habakuk? (62 min)

Keywords Righteousness, Salvation, Faith, Jews, Gentiles

Romans 1:1-6 This lesson begins our study of the actual text of Romans. Paul's introductory sentence to his letter is seven verses long. As such it takes some careful thinking to understand what he is saying. How is this opening sentence similar to and different from typical letters of Paul's day? Why does Paul go to such length to identify himself and tell what he is about? What are the three things Paul tells us about himself? What is the Gospel, and what is it about? What things does Paul tell us about the Gospel? What are two things about Christ that are made clear in the Gospel? How is this relevant to the people to whom Paul addresses his letter? What does Paul mean by saying that the resurrection declared Jesus to be the Son of God. How does this coincide with the biblical understanding of the eternal sonship of Christ? To whom does Paul say that he was commissioned in his apostleship, and what was he to bring about among those people? How did this relate to the Romans, and how does it relate to us? (In this lesson Rick makes extensive use of a whiteboard illustration. If you wish to view the actual finished illustration from class you may click here.) (59 min)

Keywords Romans, Paul, Apostle, Gospel, Christ, Faith, Son of God, Resurrection

Genesis 47:27-31 In this passage a dramatic contrast is shown between the condition of the Egyptians and that of the family of Israel. Why did God bless Israel in contrast to the Egyptians? Why does God bless us? We also encounter in this section the first of three experiences in Jacob's life as he nears death. Each of these incidents reveal a man who has moved from fatalism to faith. What is the significance of Jacobs age? What are the two aspects to Jacob's request of Joseph? What is the meaning of the gesture of Joseph placing his hand under Jacob's thigh? Why was it important to Jacob that he be buried in the cave of Machpelah with his ancestors? How does this story about Jacob serve as an instruction to us? (56 min)

Keywords Jacob, Joseph, Faith, Death

Genesis 18:10-16 Sarah has finally heard, directly from the Lord, the marvelous promise. But what of the reality that has been Sarah’s world her whole life? What will win out in her heart, the past reality or the promise of God? How can one verse tell us two opposite things about Sarah’s faith? Does Sarah’s failure here doom her future and leave her outside of the covenant promise?

Keywords Sarah, Abraham, Faith, Doubt

Genesis 4:1-15 Why did the Lord record the story of Cain and Abel? Enmity between the two seeds. Independence from God. What was the difference between the two offerings? What was it that God regarded in Abel’s offering? Why God wants our best? Faith vs. works.

Keywords Cain, Abel, Offering, Worship, Faith

Genesis 11:10-32 The Righteous Line is considered from Shem to Terah. What was it like for Abram to grow up in Terah’s household in the city of Ur? How did Abram learn about the true God and His redemptive plan? But Sarai, Abram’s wife is barren. How could he ever be a part of God’s plan? Building the habits of faith.

Keywords Abraham, Terah, Shem, Sarah, Faith

Genesis 12:1-3 Abram learns that his life is part of a much greater story, one that will be told for generations to come. What did God call Abram to leave? What is it like to have to move when you don’t know where God is leading you? Seven remarkable promises for a very ordinary man. Why does God bless Abram?

Keywords Abraham, Sarah, Canaan, Faith, Promise, Blessing

Genesis 12:4-9 Abram leaves Haran and journeys to Canaan. What happens in someone’s life and actions when he truly believes God? Where does Sarai fit into this story of Abram’s faith? What is the difference between someone who goes out in faith and the one who does not? How is great faith measured? When the promise of God shifts our reality.

Keywords Abraham, Sarah, Canaan, Faith, Promise

Genesis 12:10-20 In the face of a severe famine in Canaan, Abram chooses to go to Egypt. Was Abram acting outside of God’s direction for his life? Abram’s forgetting of God’s promises to him causes him to put his own wife in peril. Will God abandon Abram in this hour of Abram’s faithlessness.

Keywords Abraham, Sarah, Egypt, Faith, Doubt

Genesis 14:21-15:3 What can we learn from Abram about our rights and when we should exercise them? Abram lets go of one of the best chances he has to ensure the realization of the promise in his life. An introduction to a watershed event in Abram’s life which serves as a paradigm for all who would come to God.

Keywords Abraham, Faith, Rights, Doubt

Genesis 15:1-6 Why was it necessary for Abram to wait twenty-five years to receive God’s promise? What does it take before the promise of God can resonate in our hearts? What was Abraham thinking about all those years? This is a watershed event in the life of Abraham. Finally, God considers him to be righteous. Why?

Keywords Abraham, Faith, Rigtheousness