St. Matthews Emmaus Groups
Facilitator’s Biblical Equipping: Jan-April 2004
ROMANS 8: 18-28
THE MEN’S GROUP BIBLICAL EQUIPPING – MARCH 10, 2004
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Background
Writer: Paul, as a letter to friends in Rome, not to a specific church, but to an emerging Christian community. He wrote the letter from Corinth. He was laying the groundwork for what he hoped would be a future visit (he had never been there). As it turned out, he did come to Rome two years later – in chains.
Date: About 56-57 AD.
What’s Going On: In Rome, there were more Gentile believers than converted Jews. Paul focuses the book mostly around the concept of “salvation”: what it is, how to get it, and what role the Holy Spirit plays in it. Believers are led by the Spirit, are aided by the Spirit in prayer, and are the first fruits of the Spirit.
ROMANS 8: 18-28
THE MEN’S GROUP BIBLICAL EQUIPPING – MARCH 10, 2004
Explore:
1. What does Paul mean by the creation and how was it subjected to futility?
2. What are believers hoping for that they cannot see?
3. How does the Spirit help believers in prayer?
Connect
1. What are your prayer weaknesses? Do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your prayer?
2. What do you hope for that you cannot see? (May need to ask this after Explore Q #2)
3. Given what has happened recently in our community, what is your reaction to verse 28?
Prepare
Everyone writes down how they plan to apply the concepts discussed here to their daily life in the ensuing week. We will discuss how that went during
Check In next week.