Romans 8:14-17
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
Words matter. Some words describe us; some words define us. In this six-week journey through Romans 8, we'll unpack six theological words that describe what God has done, is doing, and will do for those who are in Christ. These aren't just words to understand; they’re realities that reshape our identity, our lives, our suffering, our hope, and our future. From no condemnation to no separation, Romans 8 shows us the unbreakable work of God. We'll define the words, and the words will define us.
This week we looked at what it means to be “Identified” and the new identity we have as sons and daughters of God…
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflection:
Personal Experience & Discussion:
Discuss: What makes you feel “safe” in a relationship? Is it the absence of conflict, ‘feeling good about’ the relationship, or is there more to it than that? Share what it is that makes you feel safe in a close relationship where you feel free to be vulnerable.
Reflective Discussion (Remember to look at the context of the verses as you are reading! Look for key terms and help the group unpack and define them):
The themes of “Justified > Sanctified > Identified…” build on each other. DISCUSS: How did your own journey of faith follow these stages— what was happening in each and how did it feel?
Read Romans 8:14-17. What stood out to you and why?
In v14, it is clear that believers are not just born of the Spirit (Born again, John 3:16), we are “children of God” and “led by” the Spirit. DISCUSS: What picture best describes your walk with God right now (in step, charging ahead, or being dragged)? How do the following passages help us to unpack what it means to be “led”? (Prov 3:5-6, Micah 6:8, Ps 25:4-5, Gal 5:25).
Read v15-16. DISCUSS: What are things that have tempted you to doubt/ made you question your standing before God as HIs child? Suffering, unanswered questions or prayers, feeling abandoned, like God isn’t around/listening…? (Ps 103:13, Matt 7:9-11, Heb 12:5-11, 2 Cor 1:21-22, Eph 1:13-14, John 10:27-29 Rom 8:31-34).
v17 talks about sharing in Christ’s suffering while knowing that we will also share in His glory. DISCUSS: Suffering demands our full attention; how can we refocus in the moment of the trial on God’s presence and purpose, and our hope in eternity? (Matt 16:24-25, 1 Pet 4:12-14 and 5:10, Phil 3:10-11, 2 Tim 2:11-12)
Application:
WE are called to “walk in step with the Spirit. How are we doing with that? Do our habits reflect a hunger for God’s Word, courage to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting…? Do a self check this evening and commit to a lifestyle of “trust and obey”.
Prayer:
Spend some time thanking God for the gift of adoption into His family by the sacrifice of Jesus His Son and the work of His Holy Spirit!
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