Best way to divide Romans for teaching?

[ColdSilverMoon]

I'm leading a fellowship group of 13 people, and we've decided to study Romans for the next 10 meetings (we meet every other week, so that will take us through May). Does anyone have any input on the best way to divide up Romans for this time period? Obviously we'll just be skimming the surface and hitting the high points, and the group ranges from new/immature believers to very mature, knowledgeable believers. Here's the way I was thinking of dividing it, but I'm not sure this is the best way...

1. Intro, Chapter 1-2
2. Chapter 3
3. Chapter 4
4. Chapter 5
5. Chapter 6
6. Chapter 7
7. Chapter 8
8. Chapters 9-11
9. Chapters 12-13
10. Chapters 14-16

I know the last few chapters are a bit rushed, but I don't want to skimp on the theological richness of the first 8 chapters, especially for the new Christians. Any input would be appreciated...

 

[Iconoclast]

Here is an outline a pastor gave to me;

AN INTERPRETIVE OUTLINE OF
THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
THEME: DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS
The theme of Romans is the righteousness of God. Note the development of this theme throughout the epistle:
RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRED from humanity (1:18–3:20)
RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED in Christ alone (3:21–26)
RIGHTEOUSNESS RECEIVED by faith alone (3:27–5:21)
RIGHTEOUSNESS REALIZEDin sanctification (6:1–8:11)
RIGHTEOUSNESS RETAINEDin glorification (8:12–39)
RIGHTEOUSNESS REJECTED by non–elect Israel (9:1–11:36)
RIGHTEOUSNESS REPRODUCED in a converted life (12:1–16:27)
AN OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE
Developed in a three–fold manner, each section is distinct—Doctrinal, Historical, Practical—and closes with a doxology. The following is a general outline of the epistle:
INTRODUCTION (1:1–17).
A. SALUTATION (v. 1–7)
1.PersonalConsecration (v.1)
a.Amarkedservitude (v.1a)
b.Amissionaryspirit (v.1b)
c.Amarvelousseparation (v.1c)
2. Gospel Manifestation (v. 1–6)
a. Promised by the prophets in the OT (v. 2a)
b.InscripturatedbytheSpirit (v.2b)
c. Fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 3–6)
3.ProperSalutation (v.7)
a.Thereaders (v.7a)
b.Therequest (v.7b)
B. INTRODUCTION (V. 8–17)
1. Personal (v. 8–15)
a. Supplication (v. 8–10)
b. Anticipation (v. 10–13)
c. Evangelization (v. 14–15)
2. Doctrinal (v. 16–17)
a. The Gospel considered Dynamically (v. 16a)
b. The Gospel considered Historically (v. 16b)
c.TheGospelconsideredMorally (v.17a)
d. The Gospel considered Practically (v. 17b)
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PART ONE: DOCTRINAL (1:18–8:39)
A. CONDEMNATION (1:18–3:20)
Gospel righteousness absolutely needed by man and unattainable. Every approach that man might attempt is utterly cut off, for it is “by faith from start to finish.”1 Sinful humanity is found to be:
ETHICALLY Condemned. (1:18)
INTELLECTUALLY Condemned. (1:19–20)
HISTORICALLY Condemned. (1:21)
RELIGIOUSLY Condemned. (1:21–25)
MORALLY Condemned. (1:26–31)
WILLFULLY Condemned. (1:32)
RACIALLY Condemned. (2: 1–3:9)
UNIVERSALLY Condemned. (3:9–12)
TOTALLY Condemned. (3:13–18)
LEGALLY Condemned. (3:19–20)
The analysis is four–fold:
1. The Moral History of Human Depravity (1:18–32)
a) Man’s Responsibility to God (1:18–20)
(1)SinIsDeliberate (1:18)
(2)SinIsInexcusable (1:20)
b) Man’s Rejection of God (1:21–23)
(1) Sin Is Theological (1:21–23)
(2) Sin Is Judgmental (1:21–23)
c) Man’s Reprobation by God (1:24–32)
(1) Immorality and Idolatry (1: 24–25)
(2) Immorality—Homosexuality (1: 26–27)
(3) Immorality—Human Depravity (1: 28–32)
2. A Logical Essay on Human Depravity (2:1–3:9)
a) The Jew and Divine Judgment (2:1–16)
(1) The Judgment Of God Is According To Truth (2:2)
(2) The Judgment Of God Is Universal (2:3)
(3) The Judgment Of God Is Righteous (2:5)
(4) The Judgment of God is according to Works (2:6)
(5) The Judgment of God is without Respect of Persons (2:11)
(6) The Judgment of God is According to the Gospel (2:16)
b) The Jew and a Definite Revelation (2:17–29)
a)BeingaJew–ASpiritualPride (2:17)
b) Jewish Claimsto Privilege (2:17–18)
c) Jewish Claimsto Superiority (2:19–20)
c) Jewish Claims to Superiority Refuted (2:21–22)
1 ejk pivstew" eij" pivstin. ejk (gen.) denotes the source, and eij" (acc.) the extent of the action.
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b) Jewish Claims to Privilege Refuted (2:23–24)
a) Being a Jew–A Spiritual Principle (2:25–29)
c) The Jew and a Distinct Advantage (3:1–8)
(1) The First Objection and Answer (3:1–2)
(2) The Second Objection and Answer (3:3–4)
(3) The Third Objection and Answer (3:5–8)
3. A Pictorial Anatomy of Human Depravity (3:9–18)
a) Human Depravity is Universal (3:9–12)
b) Human Depravity is Total (3:13–18)
4. The Legal Futility of Human Depravity (3:19–20)
a)TheAuthorityoftheLaw (3:19a)
b) The Jurisdiction of the Law (3:19b)
c) The Condemnation of the Law (3:20a)
d) The Purpose of the Law (3:20b)
B. JUSTIFICATION2 (3:21–5:21)
1. The ANALYSISof Justification by Faith (3:21–31).
a. The Revelation of the Divine Method of Justifying the Sinner (3:21–26).
(1) The Great Transition (3:21–23)
(a) The Revelation of a Gospel–righteousness (3:21a)
(b) The Attestation of a Gospel–righteousness (3:21b)
(c) The Operation of a Gospel–righteousness (3:22a)
(d) The Non–distinction in a Gospel–righteousness (3:22b–23)
(2) The Great Exposition (3:24–26)
(a) Justification–A Revelation of its principle and means (3:24)
(b) Justification–An Explanation of its propitiatory method (3:25a)
(c) Justification–A Declaration of its purpose and meaning (3:25b–26)
b. The Results of the Divine Method of Justifying the Sinner (3:27–31).
(1) All boasting Excluded (3:27–28)
(2) All distinctions Abolished (3:29–30)
(3)TheLawEstablished (3:31).
2. The APOLOGY for Justification by Faith (4:1–25)
a) Justification isby Faith (4:1–3)
b) Justification is notby Works (4:4–8)
c) Justification is notby Circumcision (4:9–12)
b) Justification is notby Law (4:13–17)
a) Justification isby Faith (4:18–25)
2 di,?kaioj, “righteous;” dikai,wsij, “justification,” or declaring righteous or just. Justification is a forensic or legal term. It is the act of God as judge pronouncing the sinner just or righteous through faith in Jesus Christ and claiming his imputed righteousness. It is not an experience or a process. It is more than mere pardon or forgiveness. Divine justification necessarily includes forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration to Divine favor.
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To fill in the outline, the format is re–arranged:
a. Justification is by Faith (4:1–3)
b. Justification is Not by Works (4:4–8)
1. Abraham—A Positive Illustration (4:1–5)
2. David—A Negative Illustration (4:6–8)
c. Justification is Not by Circumcision (4:9–12)
1. The Question—Is Justification an exclusive Jewish Privilege? (4:9)
2. The Answer—Abraham was Justified by Faith as an Uncircumcised Gentile (4:10)
3. The Implications—Devastating to Jewish Religious Pride and Security (4:11-12)
d. Justification is Not by Law (4:13–17)
1. Negative—The Promise and the Principle of Law–Works (4:13–15)
2. Positive—The Promise and Faith–the Principle of Grace (4:16–17)
e. Justification is by Faith (4:17–25)
1. The Argument—The Faith of Abraham Described (4:17–22)
2. The Application—The Faith of Abraham Applied (4:23–25)
3. The ASSURANCEof Justification by Faith (5:1–21)
a. Assurance: Logical and Experiential (5:1–11)
1. The Scope of Justification by Faith (5:1–2)
(a)APastFact (5:1a)
(b) A Present Reality (5:1b)
(c)APresentPrivilege (5:1c–2a)
(d)AFutureHope (5:2b)
2. The Strength of Justification by Faith (5:3–5)
(a) Perception, or the Development of Perseverance (5:3)
(b) Maturation, or the Development of Character (5:4a)
(c) Anticipation, or the Strengthening of Hope (5:4b)
(d) Confirmation, or the Assurance of Divine Love (5:5)
3. The Sphere of Justification by Faith (5:5–11)
(a) Divine Love—Proof for the Present (5:5–8)
(1) The Copiousness of this Divine Love (5:5)
(2) The Character of this Divine Love (5:6–8a)
(3) The Constancy of this Divine Love (5:8a)
(b) Divine Love—Assurance for the Future (5:9–11)
(1) The Completeness of this Divine Love (5:9)
(2) The Confidence of this Divine Love (5:10–11)
B. Assurance: Logical and Positional (5:12–21)
1. The Condemnation in Adam (5:12–14)
(a) The Proposition (5:12)
(b) The Proof (5:13–14)
2. The Contrast Between Adamand Christ (5:15–17)
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(a)AContrastofNature (5:15)
(b)AContrastofResult (5:16)
(c) A Contrast of Quality (5:17)
3. The Comparison Between Adam and Christ (5:18–19)
4. The Consideration of the Law (5:20)
5. The Conclusion or Reign of Grace (5:20–21)
(a) An Explanation of this Glorious Grace (5:20)
(b) An Exposition of this Glorious Grace (5:21)
C. SANCTIFICATION (6:1–8:16)
Considered under the general heading of holiness of life:
1. The Principle of Holiness (6:1–11)
2. The Practice of Holiness (6:12–7:6)
3. The Preventive of Holiness (7:7–8:4)
4. The Power of Holiness (8:1–16)
Or, considered as to the various warnings in this section:
1. A Warning against Antinomianism (6:1–23)
a The Question concerning living in sin answered (6:1–14)
1. TheQuestion (6:1)
2. TheDeclaration (6:2)
3. The Explanation (6:3–10)
4. TheApplication (6:11)
5. The Exhortation (6:12–13)
6. TheConclusion (6:14)
b The Question concerning committing acts of sin answered (6:15–23)
1. TheQuestion (6:15)
2. TheGeneralization (6:16)
3. The Application (6:17–18)
4. The Exhortation (6:19)
5. The Explanation (6:20–23)
2. A Warning against Legalism (7:1–8:4).
a. Our relation to the Law (7:1–6)
1.TheGeneralization (7:1)
2. The Illustration (7:2–3)
3. The Application (7:4–6)
b. A vindication of the Law (7:7–13)
1.SinisnotIdenticalwiththeLaw (7:7)
2.SinandtheNatureoftheLaw (7:8)
3. Sin and the Penalty of the Law (7:9–11)
4. Sin is Revealed by the Law (7:12–13)
c. Sanctification and the Law (7:14–8:4)
1. The Inward Struggle: A Portrait of Conflict (7:14–20)
2. The Inward Struggle: Its Principles of Contradiction (7:21–25)
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3. The Inward Struggle: The Power of Consistency (8:1–4)
3. A Warning against Presumption (8:5–11)
a. A contrast of States: Spiritual or Carnal (8:5–7)
b. A contrast of Spheres: Life or Death (8:8–11)
Or, to further outline the transition from present sanctification to future glorification:
a. The Present Deliverance from the Penalty of Sin (8:1–2)
b. The Positive Deliverance from the Power of Sin (8:3–9)
c. The Projected Deliverance from the Presence of Sin (8:10–11)
d. The Powerful Determination to Mortify Sin (8:12–16)
D. GLORIFICATION (8:12–39)
1. The Believer’s Awareness of Coming Glory (8:12–17)
a. The Consecration of Spiritual Sonship (8:12–13)
b. The Characteristic of Spiritual Sonship (8:14)
c. The Confidence of Spiritual Sonship (8:15)
d. The Confirmation of Spiritual Sonship (8:16–17)
2. The Believer’s Anticipation of Coming Glory (8:18–27)
a. The Present Affliction of the Believer (8:17–18)
b. The Promised Emancipation of the Believer (8:19–25)
c. The Present Intercession for the Believer (8:26–27)
3. The Believer’s Assurance of Coming Glory (8:28–30)
a. The Proposition, or Unshakable Conviction (8:28)
b. The Proof, or Undeniable Affirmation (8:29–30)
E. THE CLOSING DOXOLOGY (8:31–39)
1. The Immutability of Divine Love (8:28–30)
2. The Inexhaustibility of Divine Love (8:31–32)
3. The Indivisibility of Divine Love (8:33–34)
4. The Invincibility of Divine Love (8:35–39)
PART TWO: HISTORICAL (9:1–11:36)
A. Personal Sincerity (9:1–5)
1. The Sincerity of Paul (9:1–2)
2. The Extremity of Paul (9:2–3)
3. The Rationality of Paul (9:4–5)
B. Divine Sovereignty (9:6–29)
a) The Promise of God: Immutable (9:6–9)
b) The Principle of Election: Unconditional (9:10–13)
b) The Prerogative of Election: Unquestionable (9:14–23)
a) The People of God: Spiritual (9:24–29)
To fill in the outline, the format is re–arranged:
1. The Promise of God–Immutable (9:6–9)
a.TheObjectionAnticipated (9:6)
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b. The Objection Answered (9:6–9)
2. The Principle of Election–Unconditional (9:10–13)
a. Election is Not Based on Foreseen Merit (9:10–12)
b. Election is Personal, not merely National (9:13)
3. The Prerogative of Election–Unquestionable (9:14–23)
a. God Is Unrighteous (9:14–18)
b. God Is Unkind (9:19–21)
4. The People of God–Spiritual (9:24–29)
a. The Doctrinal Proposition (9:22–24)
b. The Scriptural Principle (9:25–29)
C. Human Responsibility (9:30–10:21)
1. The Failure of Israel: Disobedience and Ignorance (9:30–10:4)
a. The Reason for Israel’s Failure (9:30–33)
b. The Results of Israel’s Failure (10:1–3)
c. The Reality of Israel’s Failure (10:4)
2. The Failure of Israel: Obedience of Faith (10:5–15)
a. Righteousness by Faith: Its Necessity (10:5)
b. Righteousness by Faith: Its Proximity (10:6–10)
(1) Faith–Righteousness Personified (v. 6–8)
(2) Faith–Righteousness Exemplified (v. 9–10)
c. Righteousness by Faith: Its Security (10:11)
d. Righteousness by Faith: Its Universality (10:11–13)
e. Righteousness by Faith: Its Publicity (10:14–15)
3. The Failure of Israel: Unbelief and Disobedience (10:16–21)
a. The Universality of the Gospel (10:16–18)
b. The Culpability of Unbelief (10:19–21)
D. Israel’s Destiny (11:1–32)
1. Israel’s Rejection not Total as to Number (11:1–10)
a.TheQuestionAsked (11:1)
b. The Question Answered (11:1–10)
2. Israel’s Rejection not Final as to Time (11:11–32)
a. TheQuestionAsked (11:11)
b. The Question Answered (11:11–32)
E. Second Doxology (11:33–36)
1. The Inscrutability of the Divine Counsel (11:33–35)
2. The Infinity of the Divine Character (11:36)
PART THREE: PRACTICAL (12:1–16:20).
A. THE BELIEVER’S SPIRITUAL OBLIGATION–CONSECRATION (12:1–2)
1. Consecration or Holiness in Principle (12:1)
2. Transformation or Holiness in Practice (12:2)
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B. THE BELIEVER’S CONGREGATIONAL OBLIGATION–CHURCH (12:3–13)
1. The Virtues and Graces of our Labor (12:3–8)
a. Humility (12:3–5)
b. Fidelity (12:6–8a)
2. The Virtues and Graces of our Love (12:9–13)
a. Sincerity (12:8b–9a)
b.Purity (12:9b)
c. Impartiality (12:10)
d. Spirituality (12:11–12)
e.Generosity (12:13a)
f. Hospitality (12:13b)
C. THE BELIEVER’S SOCIAL OBLIGATION–COMMUNITY (12:14–21)
1. Attitude toward the community (12:14–15)
2. Associations with the community (12:16–18)
3. Actions toward the community (12:19–21)
D. THE BELIEVER’S CIVIL OBLIGATION–CITIZENSHIP (13:1–14)
a) Our Attitude as Christians (13:1–5)
b) Our Allegiance as Christians (13:6–7)
b) Our Associations as Christians (13:8–10)
a) Our Actions as Christians (13:11–14)
E. THE BELIEVER’S ETHICAL OBLIGATION–CONSCIENCE (14:1–15:13)
1. Our Convictions: Christ is our Judge (14:1–12)
2. Our Conscience: Faith is our Principle (14:13–23)
3. Our Consideration: Christ is our Example (15:1–13)
F. THE BELIEVER’S EVANGELICAL OBLIGATION–CALLING (15:14–33)
1.TheConfidenceofPaul (15:14)
2. The Calling of Paul (15:15–17)
3. The Claimof Paul (15:18–23)
4. The Contemplation of Paul (15:24)
5. The Concern of Paul (15:25–33)
G. THE BELIEVER’S MUTUAL OBLIGATION–CHARITY (16:1–16)
a)LoveinAssociation (16:1)
b)LoveinAction (16:2)
b) Love in Appreciation (16:2)
a) Love in Association (16:3–16)
H. THE BELIEVER’S DOCTRINAL OBLIGATION–CAUTION (16:17–19)
1.TheDutyinDoctrinalDanger (16:17)
2. The Danger of Doctrinal Deception (16:18)
3. The Duty of Doctrinal Discernment (16:19)
I. CONCLUSION (16:20–24)
THE CLOSING DOXOLOGY (16:25–27)
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