Are You Caring About Israel? Romans 9:1-11:32

Building Bridges

What about Jewish People? 1.Believers should not boastful or proud. (Romans 11:11-21) 2.Israel could be “grafted in” again. (Romans 11:22-24) 3.Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25- 29)

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1.Have the Jewish people stumbled so far away from God that there is no possibility to recover that relationship? (Romans 11:11) Paul says, “Absolutely not!”

DISCUSSION GUIDE 2.What was the result for Gentiles of the falling away of the Jews? (Romans 11:11) Salvation came to the Gentiles because of the sinfulness of Jews.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 3.What did Paul hope would be the result of his ministry with Gentiles? (Romans 11:13-14) Paul hoped that his work with Gentiles would arouse the envy of Jews and thus bring some to salvation.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 4.How could this kind of envy help lead a lost person to Christ?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 5.What illustration did Paul use to describe the relationship between Jews and Gentiles? (Romans 11:16) Paul used the illustration of removing branches and grafting new branches into an olive tree.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 6.Paul gives three reasons that the Gentiles should not boast. What are they? (Romans 11:18-24) Paul says that Gentiles should not boast because: a.Gentiles are wild shoots that have been engrafted – the branch does not support the root, but the root supports the branch. b.The natural branches were pruned because of their unbelief. This could happen to the engrafted branches if they become arrogant. c.God could engraft the natural branches again if they only believe.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 7.What should be our attitude, considering the fact that God has chosen to reach out to us?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 8.What will end Israel’s period of hard- heartedness? (Romans 11:25) Israel’s period of hard-heartedness will end when the full number of Gentiles have come in.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 9.What will eventually happen to Israel? (Romans 11:26) Paul says that eventually all Israel will be saved.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 10.What do you think that Paul meant when he said that all Israel would be saved? Are these verses making a statement about the national state of Israel?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 11.How do you think that “all Israel” will be saved? What do you think is God’s plan for the salvation of the Jews?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 12.What two contrasting words does Paul use to describe Israel? (Romans 11:28) Paul says that as far as the gospel is concerned they are enemies but when it comes to election they are loved on account of the patriarchs.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13.How does Paul describe God’s gifts and his call? (Romans 11:29) Paul says that God’s gifts and call are irrevocable.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 14.What do these verses suggest to us about the need to witness to all people?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 15.How will these verses help you relate to Jewish people? What do you need to change so that you can do a better job of witnessing to Jewish people?

1.All people (both Jew and Gentile) will ultimately be saved. This is the Universalist position and is rejected by conservative Christians. 2.“All Israel” means the Church – The New Israel. 3.The conversion of Israel will take place at the Lord’s return. This position is held by many Premillennialists and Postmillennialists. 4.“All Israel” indicates a great turning of Israel to Christ. It does not necessarily mean every Jew.

1.When it comes to my faith I need to be careful that I am not prideful. 2.God, in his great kindness, has blessed me. 3.I need to pray for Jewish people that I know that God would bring them to faith in him. 4.I need to cultivate relationships with Jewish people so that I might share my faith with them. 5.I need to share my faith with Jewish friends. 6.I need to eliminate prejudice from my life.