The Failure of Religion

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Introduction - Romans 1 addresses irreligious people. Romans 2 address religious people. How are those two groups different? How are they alike?

I. THE ENGINE OF RELIGION
What is the motivational core of religious people? What drives them? What is missing?

II. THE HYPOCRISY OF RELIGION
How does religion turn you into a hypocrite?

III. THE CURE FOR RELIGION
What is the cure? What sparks true repentance in religious people?

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you more like the people in Romans 1 or the people in Romans 2?
2. What does it mean to judge someone else (in the way Paul uses the word in these verses)?
3. What’s the difference between “good” judging and “bad” judging? Why is “better than” not good enough for righteousness? Have you settled for “better than”?
4. Where are you most prone to compare yourself to others? Have you ever been caught judging someone else for something that you are guilty of? Was it intentional or unintentional? How were you “found out”?
5. What does it mean to presume on God’s kindness and patience? Why is it such a dangerous thing?
6. Paul says that it is God’s kindness that leads to repentance. How should that impact the way we treat one another?