Romans 9:19-23
 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 
  20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 
  “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of 
  the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if 
  God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience 
  vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his 
  glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

The Sovereign Potter — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 9:19-23
Sermon Series: Romans (60th sermon)
June 20, 2021

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How has your understanding of election grown from Romans 8 and 9?
2.   What objection is Paul responding to in this section? What similar objections have you heard from people today?
3.   Do you find Paul’s response surprising? How does it humble us?
4.   What are some clues in the passage and its context that the lump of clay should be understood as fallen humanity?
5.   How do the “vessels of wrath” described in v. 22 serve to make known God’s glory for the “vessels of mercy”?
6.   What does this passage tell us about God’s ultimate purpose? What impact does that have on the Christian life?

References: Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Proverbs 16:4; Ephesians 2:3; 1:5-6.