Week 6

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Romans 8.

overview

This week we get to focus on a passage that is full of hope: those who are secure in Jesus are free from condemnation because of his finished work on the cross. The book of Romans describes how believers in Jesus have died to their old selves and died to sin; and yet, we can each attest to the struggle we go through in becoming people who don’t give in to sin. Kris talked about how we sometimes try to fix something the wrong way. For believers, when we try to fix our sin nature in our own strength and by simply following the law, we end up in a war with our mind and flesh – and the flesh almost always wins (Romans 7:21-23).

question 1

Condemnation is the act of sentencing someone to punishment. How does the concept of “no condemnation” in Christ impact our understanding of God’s love and forgiveness?

discussion

Through Jesus' death and resurrection, believers receive the Holy Spirit to guide them. Walking in the flesh may cause us to miss the mark and fall back into our old sinful ways, but walking with the Spirit aligns us with God's will, transforms our desires and mindset, and strengthens our spiritual growth. It is up to us to partner with the Spirit, listen for his promptings, and to remember our identity as God's children who were created in his image. When we live in accordance with the Holy Spirit, we will reflect God’s image to those around us.

question 2

How can we better equip ourselves to recognize the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance in our lives? Do you have personal examples of how the Spirit has guided you before?

Many of us can quote Romans 8:28 and may have even shared it with someone who is in the middle of a hard time, because that is exactly when it’s hardest to see the “good” of the trial. As we read to the end of this chapter, we understand more of what the “good” is – that God transforms us in our trials to become more like Jesus, that he does not leave us alone but instead Jesus himself is interceding for us, and that our trials will not separate us from his love. Paul encourages us by stating that we are more than conquerors, which in the Greek implies “an extraordinary, exceeding victory.” It’s a victory that isn’t just about surviving, but about thriving. This is really good news.

question 3

What might it look like for you to go through your next trial with the mindset of thriving and not just surviving?

final thoughts

As hard as this series might have been, it expands our understanding of Jesus’ work on the cross. Spend time this week consciously living without the feelings of guilt and self-condemnation, and with the mindset and hope of victory. It will make Sunday’s celebration even more joyful!