Ice Breaker What’s the most ridiculous or unexpected rule you’ve ever had to follow? Big Idea God’s law is good. Read: Romans 7:7-12 Discussion Questions How does Paul’s statement, “I would not have known what sin was except through the law” (Romans 7:7), challenge our understanding of sin before we encounter God’s Word? Read Romans 7:8. Why do you think sin takes advantage of the law to provoke more sin? Read Romans 7:9, What does Paul mean by “I died” in this context? How does Paul’s statement that “sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment killed me” (Romans 7:11) shed light on the deceptive power of sin? In Romans 7:12, Paul says, “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.” How can we reconcile the fact that the law reveals sin but is still described as “holy, righteous, and good”? Next Steps Recognize that the law, though good, exposes the depth of your sin. Spend time reflecting on how God’s commands have revealed areas where you have fallen short, whether in thoughts, attitudes, or actions. Repent of these areas, acknowledging your need for God’s forgiveness and grace. ...

Big Idea Every Christian is a slave. Read: Romans 6:15-23 Discussion Questions What insight, principle, or observation from this week’s sermon was the most helpful, eye- opening, or troubling? Explain. What does Paul mean in Romans 6:15 when he asks, “Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?” How does Paul use the analogy of slavery in verses 16-18? What does it mean to be a “slave to righteousness”? In verse 21, Paul asks, “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?” How does this question help us understand the consequences of sin? Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How does this verse summarize the message of the passage, and why is it significant? Next Steps This week, spend a few minutes each day reading Romans 6:15-23 and ask God to deepen your understanding of being “alive to God” and “enslaved to righteousness.” Reflect on how you can actively live out this truth in your daily choices. Try sharing one insight or change you’ve experienced with someone who could encourage you in this journey. ...

Big Idea Every believer is united with Christ for a purpose. Read: Romans 6:5-11 Discussion Questions What insight, principle, or observation from this week’s sermon was the most helpful, eye- opening, or troubling? Explain. How do secular and biblical perspectives on identity differ? What does it mean to be “united with Christ” as described by Paul in verses five through eleven? On two occasions, Paul said “we know” (vs. 6, 9). He clearly wanted us to not only know about our union with Christ but to embrace the reality of that union. Sometimes we don’t feel as if these things are true, so what role does faith play in our new identity in Christ? ...

Big Idea Christians do not take advantage of God’s grace; we are transformed by God’s grace. Read: Romans 6:1-4 Discussion Questions What insight, principle, or observation from this week’s sermon was the most helpful, eyeopening, or troubling? Explain. How would you explain the difference between being transformed by God’s grace and taking advantage of it? Read Romans 6:1-2. Why does Paul ask, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” How does this challenge any misconceptions about grace? According to Romans 6:3-4, how does being united with Christ in His death and resurrection empower us to live a new life? What does it mean to “walk in newness of life” as stated in verse 4? How does grace make this possible? Next Steps Consider how your small group can support each other to embrace the transformative power of grace and live in righteousness. Discuss this as you conclude your group time this week. ...

Big Idea Jesus restores what Adam destroyed. Read: Romans 5:15-21 Discussion Questions What insight, principle, or observation from this week’s sermon was the most helpful, eye- opening, or troubling? Explain. What is the main contrast between Adam’s trespass and Christ’s gift in Romans 5:15? What does Paul mean when he says that “grace reigns through righteousness” in Romans 5:21? How does understanding Adam as a “type” of Christ help us grasp the significance of Christ’s work (Romans 5:14, 18-19)? Next Steps Let grace, not guilt or fear, reign in your life. Consider how you can allow God’s grace to shape your attitudes, decisions, and relationships. When faced with temptation or difficulty, remind yourself that you are no longer under the reign of sin and death, but under the reign of grace. Actively seek to reflect Christ’s righteousness in your daily life, extending grace to others as you have received it from God. ...

Big Idea The work of God changes the focus and attitude of His people. Read: Romans 5:1-11 Discussion Questions How does understanding our justification by faith change our perspective on difficult circumstances? What role does “peace with God” play in changing our attitude toward life’s challenges? How can the hope of sharing in God’s glory influence our focus in daily life? In what ways does God’s love, demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice, transform our attitudes toward ourselves and others? Why would God allow us to suffer even while actively working in our lives? Next Steps When you encounter difficult circumstances, practice “preaching the gospel to yourself.” This involves intentionally recalling God’s promises, Christ’s sacrifice, and the hope of eternal glory. Write down key verses, like Romans 5:1-5, and keep them handy for quick reference throughout the day. By doing this, you will train your mind to focus on God’s truth rather than on the challenges, which will transform your attitude and response to trials. When we come back together in October we can share our scripture reference sheets. ...

Big Idea You can count on God’s promises! Read: Romans 4:13-25 Discussion Questions What insight, principle, or observation from this week’s sermon was the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain. What does Paul mean when he says that Abraham’s promise did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13)? How does Paul describe Abraham’s faith in verses 19-21, and what can we learn from it about trusting God’s promises? ...

Scripture: Romans 4:01-13 Discussion Questions What did Abraham and his legacy mean to the Jewish people and what was Paul’s purpose of bringing him up in this passage? How did Abraham exhibit faith in Genesis 15:4-11? What does Abraham’s sinfulness reveal to us? In verses 5 and 6, what does the phrase “God counts/imputes righteousness” mean? What are the conditions if any of God imputing his righteousness? Scripture explains that righteousness is a gift for all people. How does this help us understand God’s heart for the lost? Next Steps Continue working on the prayer challenge! We are roughly 3 hours behind this week, but there’s still time to catch up! We have a weekly goal of ~9 hours. ...

Scripture: Romans 3:27-31 Discussion Questions In what ways do you see self-righteousness manifest in your life? How do you battle your self-righteous tendencies? Why is it important to recognize that faith itself is not what saves us but rather the work of Jesus Christ? How does Romans 3:29-30 emphasize the unity of Jews and Gentiles in terms of faith? What implications does this have for how we view others in our faith community and beyond? In Romans 3:31, Paul states, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” How can we reconcile the role of the law with the principle of justification by faith? How should our understanding of the law change in light of being justified by faith? Next Steps It’s important that we continually recognize the grace and mercy God has shown us. Instead of buying into the false notion that we are basically good people, consider the truth that God has saved you through faith in the person and work of His Son and focus on putting aside all boasting so that you may only exalt God in and through your life. ...

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24 Small Group Discussion This week concluded this mini-series, which was an extension of the original “Serve the Lord” series from January of this year. What will you stick with you from these messages on Christian service? What does Paul mean when he says that the Gentiles walk in the “futility of their minds” (vs. 17)? Why are their minds this way? In verse 19, Paul notes that the Gentiles “have become callous,” giving themselves up to sin. What can we do to seek not to be similarly callous? In verse 23, Paul directs Christians to “be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Read also Rom 12:1-2. What does it mean to be “renewed” this way? How do we pursue it? Next Steps: Consider ways you can enrich your personal and corporate study of the Word of God. ...