What does Paul mean when he asks if they stumbled in order that they might fall?  (11:11)  Who is “they”?  What does he mean by “stumble” and “fall”?  How does he answer this question?

According to Paul, why did God allow (the vast majority of) Israel to reject Jesus as their Messiah?  (11:11-12, 15)  How does the sin of the nation of Israel open up a door for Gentiles to hear and believe the gospel?

How does Paul hope that his ministry among the Gentiles will affect the hearts and souls of his Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel?  (11:13-14)

Why does Paul insist that there is still (some sort of) a future for the nation of Israel?  (11:16, 23-24)

How does Paul instruct Gentile Christians to think about and act toward Jewish people (particularly those who do not trust in Jesus)?  (11:17-20)

In 11:20, Paul exhorts the Gentile believer to cultivate two things - humility, and fear.  What is the reasoning behind both of these exhortations?  Why should Christians be humble?  Why should Christians fear?

According to Paul, what kind of people experience the kindness of God?  What kind of people experience the severity of God?  (11:22)

Romans 8 seems to teach that a Christian cannot lose their salvation.  (8:1, 18, 28-30, 33-39)  But Romans 11 seems to teach that those who identify as Christians are at risk of being cut off - if they do not persevere in the faith.  (11:21-22)  How are we to reconcile these two theological realities?

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