By Michael C. Mack

1. Do you like to garden? What are your favorite things to plant? What is difficult to grow?

Read Romans 11:11-24.

2. How is God’s plan throughout history revealed in this passage?

3. What opportunities and hope exist for the Jews? for Gentiles? What warnings should each group consider?

4. The grafted-in branches (Gentiles) may also be cut off. In other places, Paul warned the church about apostasy in later times (2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3), when “people will be lovers of themselves” (2 Timothy 3:2). What should we as Christ followers do to “continue in his kindness” (Romans 11:22)?

5. If an arborist informed you that a tree in your yard had some bad, unhealthy branches but that the roots are still good, what would that tell you about the overall health of the tree?

6. Olive trees represent the nation of Israel in the Bible. What does this illustration tell us about the future of the Jews?

7. What is your responsibility to Jewish people today? How will you make yourself available to God for him to use you to carry out his plan?

Michael C. Mack leads church training events and consults with churches through his ministry, Small Group Leadership (www.smallgroupleadership.com).