Romans: Give Account to God

ROMANS 14:12


Scripture verse: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”



  1. Students should be able to recite the verse and to discuss its significance.
  2. Students should be able to list some concrete areas in which they need to be more responsible, and some ideas for progress in these areas.


Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.


2.   Review again the background of the book of Romans from the last lesson.


3.   Scripture lesson: Romans 14:4-13. What is the context of today’s memory verse? In Rome there were Christians who felt they were free in the Lord to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to break the Jewish law.  Other Christians were upset by this and their faith was being threatened.  Even though Paul calls the “free” Christians “strong” and the younger believers “weak”, who does he reprimand? Can we truly enjoy freedom without responsibility? Are there people today who brag about what they are allowed to do, without thinking of the consequences?


4.   What is “responsibility”? Should teenagers be as responsible as adults? What reasons do teens give for irresponsibility? (too young, someone else’s fault, anger, bad luck?) In what areas can teens take responsibility for their own lives and to what degree? Making my bed? Cleaning my room? Family life? Environment? My own feelings? Drugs and alcohol? Problem of world hunger? War in Bosnia? Choosing own friends? Reaching darkest Africa for Jesus? Reaching my friends for the Gospel of Jesus? Some Scriptures discuss areas of responsibility of every Christian; how well do we measure up? (Genesis 1:28, Exodus 32:22, Matthew 25:15, Matthew 27:24, Philippians 1:27)

      Where did “not my fault” thinking begin? (Garden of Eden) Do we see this also in the adult world? Think of some examples: Warring nations blaming each other, workers blaming managers and managers blaming workers for poor productivity, Congress blaming the President and the President blaming Congress, one racial group blaming another for its woes, etc. When does this tendency to blame others begin in our own lives? Do sisters blame brothers to get out of trouble or vice versa? Students blame teachers for bad grades? In this Scripture, the “weak” believers were blaming the “strong” and the “strong” felt the “weak” were holding them back from their freedom in Christ. Sound familiar?

What are some areas in your own life where you can begin to take more responsibility?


     5. Close with prayer.