NO EXCUSES RECAP - Passion

SCRIPTURES
James 1:22 | But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Romans 10:1-16 | Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?”

DISCUSSION

1. What is your testimony? When did you put your faith in Jesus?
2. Does your life openly declare your faith in Jesus? Is it full of evidence of your faith?
3. People can’t hear about Jesus unless someone tells. Yesterday we saw that you were sent by God to share the gospel. Are you being a faithful messenger? Why or why not?
4. What are you known for being passionate (or zealous) about? If this isn’t Jesus or the Gospel, why?
5. In Romans 10:2, it says that there are people who are enthusiastic about God but their zeal or passion is misdirected- it is put in the wrong place. They are passionate about their own righteousness (their own doing) instead of salvation through Jesus.  

• As a doer, how can you stay focused on the fact that your salvation is thru and because of Jesus, not your own good works?
• How can being focused on your own need for Jesus and inability to save yourself through good works make you passionate about the gospel (instead of righteousness)?