SOAP Study - July 31, 2020
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 15:7-13
7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews[a] to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”[b]
10 And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”[c]
11 And yet again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”[d]
12 And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne[e] will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”[f]
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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 finishing this section with what is known as a benediction and prayer, which is incredibly appropriate following a difficult and challenging teaching. He mentions three words that resonate with all humans across all generations and contexts; hope, joy, and peace. These resonate with us deeply because they are dispositions that all humans yearn for. I’ve never met someone who did not deep down yearn for hope, joy, and peace in their lives. In this prayer, Paul reveals an important truth about how we acquire these, and it is not the same as the world and culture’s message of acquiring them. Paul makes very clear there is only one source for these, and they come from God alone through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
APPLICATION:
We all want hope, joy, and peace. This is common to all humans. What separates humans is not the desire, but the destination from which we attempt to acquire them. Where do you seek to find hope, joy, and peace? Some people try to find it in success. Some try to find it in stuff. Some people try to find it through sex and substances, such as alcohol, drugs, and even overeating. Some try to find it through self-help and a life of self-justification. Some try to find it through relationships and place the burden on other people to provide what they cannot ultimately provide. But Paul makes clear it only comes from God through the working of the Holy Spirit within believers. Here is what this means. First, it means that you must have a relationship with Jesus to find true hope, joy, and peace. Have you said yes to a relationship with Jesus? Second, it means that we must actually live in relationship with Jesus daily. In other words, we must walk with Jesus and have our eyes and hearts turned toward Jesus. There are many people, including myself at times, that have a relationship with Jesus, but still look to the things of this world for hope, joy, and peace. Are your eyes turned toward Jesus in order to receive this from Him? If not, where are your eyes and heart pointed to in this moment?
PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus there is a place we can find true hope, joy, and peace. We are hungry for them, especially in a world and time whey they seem so depleted. Help me to recognize and believe they cannot come from anything or anyone in this world. They can only come from you. Help me to turn my eyes and my heart toward you and seek you only. I trust you to provide.