Hearing Without Believing

Romans 10:14-21
[14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” [16]  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” [17]  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

[18] But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world.”

[19] But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;

with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

[20] Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;

I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

[21] But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What does it look like in practice for the gospel to be the great theme of a person’s life?
2.   How is this passage foundational for missionary zeal?  How does it challenge us to be more active in sharing Christ?
3.   How are we encouraged to be grateful for people in our past and in church history?
4.   Based on Paul’s logic, what is the place of gospel preaching in the life of a church?
5.   Why is Christ’s lordship so central to saving faith?  What does this imply about evangelism and the Christian life?
6.   How does Paul clearly hold Israel responsible for its rejection of the gospel?  How does this also fall under God’s sovereign purposes?

References: Romans 1:1-3, 16-17; Isaiah 52:7; 53:1; Psalm 19:4; Colossians 1:23; Romans 1:5; 6:17; 10:9; Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1-2; John 12:37-40.