Good Citizens and Residents

Announcements: Our middle service (the 10:30am) is pretty full. We know that first time visitors to the church usually prefer to attend the middle service. With this in mind, would your group consider attending either the 9am or the 11:45am service on Sunday so that outsiders and visitors have a place to come and worship and hear the gospel.



Big Ideas: Believers should avoid political zealotry that leads to rebellion and violence. Instead Paul urges believers to respect authorities and obey the laws of the land as much as possible... this includes paying taxes.

Everything Paul says in verses 1-7 is bracketed by his words about overall Christian virtues like love and peace.

Believers should disobey their governing authorities when... 1.) They tell you to do something that God's word says not to do. 2.) They forbid you to do something that God's word says you should do.

When we disobey our governing authorities out of a sense of conviction based on God's word we do so in a civil way.



Read Romans 13:1-10 before jumping into the questions.





Q1: What was most interesting or encouraging to you this week?

Q2: What was most challenging or raised questions for you?

Q3: How involved do you think Christians should be in the political process? Should they always vote in every election (federal, state, local, etc...)? Should they campaign or advertise for politicians?

What might be the dangers in not enough involvement?
What might be the dangers in too much involvement?

Q4: While most of us have never been close to becoming the kind of political zealot that ends up resorting to violence, how can we help ensure that our politics don't lead us to become unloving toward our neighbors or enemies?

Q5: It's clear that Paul's aim for the church is love and unity. How can we (the church) be peacemakers, like Jesus calls us to be, in the midst of such politically divisive times?



Action Step: Take a break this week (you might even call it a "fast") from media sources that tend to feed political ideology and animosity.

A) Have you had a chance to take this step? If so, tell the group about your experience.

B) If not, how can the group help you?