Romans 1:18-23 - God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity (NIV)

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 2:1-5 - God’s Righteous Judgment (NIV)

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

Deuteronomy 5:6-7 (NIV)

6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 You shall have no other gods before me.”

Deuteronomy 6:4,5 (NIV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Ezekiel 14:3 (NIV)

3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?

Genesis 29:20 (NIV)

20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Matthew 16:24,25 (NIV)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Questions:

1. Do I feel I have enough money and possessions right now; or do I feel I need more?

2. Is there a relationship in my life to which I am so attached, that I have to have that, for my life to be truly meaningful?

3. What am I willing to betray my values to obtain, if I think I won’t get caught?

4. What desire is so strong that it can warp my thinking and make me engage in defensiveness, self-justification, denial, and secrecy?

5. Do I tend to focus on others and their failings rather than God?

6. What desire do I have that sometimes gets in the way of my paying attention to God, or fully following God?