Small Group Questions
Romans 8:1-17
From Condemned Slaves – to Adopted Heirs!
Series Title: Putting Life Together in a Pull-Apart World #15
Week of 28 February, 2016
Scripture Reference: Romans 8:1-17 (NIV)
8Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
THEME/ CONCEPT: Paul now contrasts two states of life - with the whole new paradigm of living in the realm of the Holy Spirit. He starts with our new, changed status – no longer condemned – and follows it logically to it’s pinnacle of full legal status of “adopted heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ!” Along the way, he makes the point that we were slaves to sin – but now we’re obligated to the Holy Spirit and free to follow Him because we are now in His “realm.”
Background: Paul will continues to use the word “law” two different ways – as he did in chap 7. In verse 4, the “righteous requirement of the law” refers to the Law of Moses – the Pentateuch. In verse 2, the “law of the Spirit”, or the “law of sin …” is different. It is referring to a controlling principle that “law” exerts over us – like an obligation. An example would be the “law of gravity”. We have no choice but to obey the “law of gravity” - and Paul would say that sin and death used to be just such a master!
Opening Question
A question similar to the following can help your small group start sharing and give everyone an opportunity to contribute. You might help your group members apply the scripture to their lives by sending them the question a few days before you meet to prepare for the discussion.
O1. It is ridiculous to consider a stupid question like “What would life be like if we tried to live while ignoring gravity’s control over our lives?” But what if we did? What if we just denied it’s control over all we do? What are the parallels to sin’s dominating control over all we do?
Understanding the Scripture
Compare and Contrast:
The old law of sin and death: The new law of the Spirit:
Vs2-3 What did God do to move us from old law?
Why couldn’t the Mosaic Law do it?
Vs4- What will this new law of the Spirit do for us?
Vs5- Where’s our minds headed here? And where’s our mind headed here?
Vs6- Our minds were governed by? Now our minds are governed by?
Vs7- Our minds were hostile and unable to do?
Vs8- So in this realm it’s impossible to?
Vs9- No longer in this realm. Now in this realm! How and why?
Vs10- This realm still plays out where? This realm now exerts what? And why?
Vs11- In this realm, where is the Spirit living?
And what’s He doing in you?
Vs12- We have a whole new obligation (or law) to?
Vs13- Living to this old obligation means? Living to this new obligation means?
Vs14-15 Living here means what new status?
What rich word describes God’s action?
Vs16-17 What 5 other conclusions naturally follow God’s action here?
Note: Vs 15 – The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture – and would now apply equally to both male and female adopted children. Astounding! Also in Vs 23.
Applying the Scripture
Small groups provide sacred space for this life-changing transformation and are essential in building authentic community. We have found when all our small groups live by a set of core values, we can stay on our mission of making disciples as a church. The five values can be found in the Small Group Leader Resources.
Every small group is different, use the questions that will be the most useful to your group members' growth. If you cover one goal one week, try to use a different section the next week to cover all the values.
Upward (Connecting to God)
A1. Do you really believe – from Vs 7-8 - that we were helpless to submit to God – or even please Him until this big internal change happened within us?
A2. Can you describe the status change that the Holy Spirit brings to us?
What does it mean to you?
A3. How are you able to recognize the “new Realm of the Holy Spirit” working in you?
Inward (Connecting to each other)
A4. Are others seeing your new life being practically lived?
A5. Chapter 7 talked about the continuing struggle that exists between “the old and the new.” How might you encourage another person in this struggle?
A6. What is one area of your life in which you particularly struggle with wanting the Holy Spirit to take full control of?
Outward (Serving through mission & outreach)
A7. What can we do to both model and encourage Holy Spirit’s realm in others?
Forward (Equipping)
A8. During Lent, we often undertake certain spiritual disciplines, such as fasting, periods of silence, or refraining from certain activities, as a way of focusing on Christ. How might we approach these disciplines while keeping in mind the Holy Spirits realm over our lives?
Onward (Discipling)
A9. Is there anyone in your life who would benefit from participating in a small group, especially during Lent? Who might you reach out to during this Holy Season to invite to upcoming services during Passion Week? Begin praying about who you might feel called to invite to this Holy Drama.
Closing Prayer
If your small group prays together, some of the following concepts might be helpful to invite the Holy Spirit to help each member of the group grow in areas that may have come up during the group's discussion.
-Thank the LORD Jesus Christ that He didn’t just come to require a new way of living from us - but instead came and provided a new way of living empowering us to actually make living in the freedom of Christ a reality by means of the Holy Spirit’s rule through us!