SOAP Study - August 3, 2020
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 15:14-21
14 I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters,[a] that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. 15 Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. 19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit.[b] In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.[c]
20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,
“Those who have never been told about him will see,
and those who have never heard of him will understand.”[d]
PERSONAL SOAP STUDY
OBSERVATION:
- What verse stood out to you while you were reading?
- What did you discover about God, yourself, and others?
APPLICATION:
- How should this information impact your life?
- What needs to be different about the way you are currently living?
PRAYER:
- Take some time to talk to God about the things you just learned and how you want your life to look different. Give God thanks for revealing these things to you, ask Him for wisdom and courage to move forward so that you can apply these things to your life.
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STAFF SOAP STUDY
OBSERVATION:
Paul is beginning the process of landing the plane on this letter. In the past few chapters and verses, Paul presents a few difficult challenges. Now Paul wants to encourage them. I specifically want to focus on verses 14-15. One of the ways he encourages them is by simply reminding them that they are already competent in the truths and challenges he has laid out for them. Paul insinuates that his role in this letter is not to teach them something new, but remind them of important truths they already know. In fact, he says, you know these so well, you could teach them yourselves.
APPLICATION:
As a pastor, one of the most common desires I often hear from Christians is the desire to always be learning something new. Some people will often go to great lengths to learn something new, even change Sunday Schools, small groups or, at times, churches. I am convinced that one of the most common commands in the Bible is “to remember”. I believe the reason for this is simple. When it comes to our faith, we don’t need to learn new things until we learn to live into the things we’ve already received. Jesus even insinuates that we must be faithful in the small things before we get more things. To be clear, there is nothing wrong or sinful on desiring to grow and learn new things, but part of our growth is learning to be faithful and committed to the things Jesus has already revealed. What are some things or truths that Jesus has revealed to you where you have yet to be faithful?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for giving me a desire for new things and new truths. But help me to be faithful to what you have already revealed more than yearning for you to reveal something new.