Encountering Romans - An invitation to join me.

Over the past thirteen years as a believer I have read, reread, and studied Romans in church, in Bible studies, in small group settings, at retreats, and in two different seminary courses divided by ten years time. And each time I approach the text, I am amazed at the new truths the Spirit graciously reveals to me.
It’s not that God’s truth is new. It has always been there, right in front of me. However, I am never the same person each time I approach the text. God is changing me. Life experience is changing me. Perhaps I am hearing the text differently. Maybe I am getting out of the way and allowing to Spirit to teach and instruct me. So often I suspect that when reading Scripture my ego and my self-centeredness becomes a barrier to the truth of God, and I substitute what the text is teaching me with what I want it to say.
Of course, that’s not to say that Romans is an easy read. It’s not to say that you can ever “get” it, ever get to a point where there is no more to learn from the letter. It can be a frustrating read. Paul can use language and make statements which unsettle me to my very core. It can also be confusing. It is not a light read. And it deals with topics and issues which have both united and divided Christians throughout the centuries.
And that only deals with the actual text. What about the cultural context? What was the make-up of Paul’s intended audience? The letter is formatted in such a systematic manner that it’s easy to forget that Paul wasn’t merely writing a doctrinal dissertation. He was also speaking to specific believers dealing with specific issues at a specific time in human history. How does that shape the text and its meaning?
I have been teaching Romans since mid-September. I am about to begin a new aspect of my research and lessons. I am going to look back and reflect on the lessons, formatting them in a devotional style rather than lesson outline. I suspect what will be put into print will be the elements of my lessons which still resonate strongly after several weeks or months. Perhaps the devotions will reveal the core or central truth I grasped from the lessons. Perhaps they will be an opportunity to clarify that which I made confusing. Perhaps they will be an opportunity to correct that which I erroneously taught; once again getting in the way of the Master. I invite you to join me. Never is studying God’s Word more rewarding than with other believers joined at your hip.