Sermon Guide

June 28:  Romans 8:1-17

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. If you're in Christ, there is zero condemnation—past, present, or future.
2. The Spirit requires us to slow down enough to listen and follow.
3. What's in your heart will overflow from your mouth. The Spirit transforms from the inside out.
4. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
5. As God's adopted children, we receive all the blessings and inheritance of Christ.

Discussion Questions: 

1. What does "no condemnation" mean to you personally? How does this truth impact your daily life and relationship with God?
2. Read the quote: "We should not be entertained by what Jesus died for." What TV shows, music, or habits might you need to reconsider in light of this statement?
3. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous but still faced hardship (childlessness). How does this challenge the belief that following Jesus makes life easier? Share an example from your own life.
4. What does it mean to "walk" by the Spirit rather than run or rush? Why is this pace important in our digital age?
5. Tyler mentioned missing his exit because he turned off the GPS audio. What "good things" in your life might be drowning out the voice of the Holy Spirit?
6. Read Galatians 5:19-21 (works of the flesh). Which of these do you see most prominently in our culture today? Which do you struggle with personally?
7. Romans 8:7 says the mindset of the flesh is "hostile to God." How should this truth change the way we engage with people who disagree with us, especially online or in political discussions?
8. "Why are we expecting people who can't be holy or righteous to be?" How does this perspective change your expectations of non-Christians in your life?
9. Verse 6 says the mindset of the Spirit is "life and peace." On a scale of 1-10, how much life and peace characterizes your current mindset? What needs to change?
10. What does it mean to be "led by the Spirit" versus living in "slavery to fear"? Which one better describes your current spiritual state?
11. We are called "Abba, Father"—an intimate term. How comfortable are you with this level of intimacy with God? What holds you back?
12. "The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children." If someone observed your life this past week, would they see evidence that the Holy Spirit is affirming you?
13. We are "co-heirs with Christ." Do you truly believe you have the same access and benefits as Jesus? How would your life look different if you lived like this was true?

Practical Applications:

1. Where do you stand? Are you walking by the Spirit or the flesh? If you haven't entered a relationship with Christ, is today the day?
2. Are you walking by the Spirit? Would others affirm that the Holy Spirit is evident in your life based on how you're currently living?
3. Do you acknowledge yourself as a rightful heir with God? How can you lean more into this identity during the week?
4. This week, track how much time you spend on social media, news, or entertainment versus time spent in Scripture, prayer, or Spirit-led activities. Share your findings next week.
5. Identify one "good thing" that's drowning out God's voice and commit to adjusting it this week
6. Memorize Romans 8:1 or another verse from this passage
7. Examine entertainment choices: What are you watching/listening to that Jesus died for?

 Sermon Guide July 5:  Romans 12:1-21

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Worship is a lifestyle, not just a Sunday morning activity - True worship happens when we drive off the hill and live differently in our everyday lives.
2. Living sacrifice means daily surrender - Unlike Old Testament sacrifices that didn't walk home, we must choose to climb back on the altar every single morning.
3. Transformation requires renewed thinking - We're called to be transformed by renewing our minds, not conformed to the patterns of this world.
4. Our gifts are for service - Every believer has gifts meant to be used actively, simply, and with the right attitude.
5. Forgiven people forgive - When we understand the magnitude of what we've been forgiven (200,000 years of wages), we can't withhold forgiveness from others.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Read Romans 12:1-2. What does it mean to you personally that worship is "your reasonable response" to God's mercy? How does this change your perspective on what worship actually is?
2. We've been justified, given peace with God, reconciled, freed from condemnation, adopted as heirs, and nothing can separate us from God's love. Which of these mercies resonates most deeply with you right now? Why?
3. What does it look like practically to "climb back on the altar" each morning? What are the biggest obstacles that keep you from doing this?
4. Read Romans 12:3-8. We tend to either exaggerate our abilities or exaggerate our weaknesses. Which tendency do you struggle with more? How does this affect your service?
5. If you have a gift to serve, you should... serve. Why do we often complicate something so simple? What's one way you could keep it simple this week?
6. Discuss the three principles for using spiritual gifts: get to work (don't wait around), keep it simple (use what you have), do it with the right attitude. Which of these three challenges you most?
7. Read Romans 12:9-13. What does "love without hypocrisy" look like in practical terms? Can you think of a time when you wore a "mask" in how you loved someone?
8. Love should be mixed all the way through, complete and sincere. How can we tell if our love is "sincere all the way through" or just surface-level?
9. Love is a choice which is followed by an action that sometimes brings an emotion. How does this definition challenge the way our culture talks about love? How does it challenge you personally?
10. What's the difference between "detesting evil" in our own lives versus focusing on evil in others? Why is it easier to point out others' sins than our own?
11. Read Romans 12:14-21. "Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep." Why is this sometimes harder than it sounds? When is it most difficult for you—rejoicing with others' wins or weeping with their losses?
12. We've learned to "weep with people without ever getting our cheeks wet." What does it mean to truly sit with someone in their pain rather than just sending a crying emoji?
13. "Live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you." What's the significance of that qualifier—"as far as it depends on you"? Where do you need to apply this right now?
14. Discuss the 200,000 years of wages parable. How does remembering what you've been forgiven help you forgive others? Who in your life do you need to stop "choking over gas money"?

Practical Applications:

1. Take 3-5 minutes of silence for personal reflection: What specific area of Romans 12 is God highlighting to you today? What's one way you've been "conformed to this world" that you need to change? Is there someone you need to forgive this week? What gift has God given you that you're not currently using?
2. Daily spend 5 minutes consciously "climbing back on the altar"—surrendering your day, your plans, your relationships to God.
3. Identify one person you've been loving "with a mask on" and take one concrete step toward sincere, complete love toward them.
4. Practice "philoxenia" (love of strangers) by intentionally reaching out to someone who seems uncomfortable or alone—at church, in your neighborhood, or at work.
5. Make a list of what you've been forgiven (your 200,000 years). Then list what others owe you (100 days wages). Pray through releasing those debts.
6. Identify one relationship where there's tension. Ask yourself: "As far as it depends on me, what can I do to pursue peace?" Then do it.

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Sermon Guide

July 12: Romans 16

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Every believer matters to God and has a role in the body of Christ. There are no "nobodies" in God's family.
2. The gospel creates radical unity across all human divisions. Economic status, ethnicity, gender, and social position are transcended by our identity in Christ.
3. Meaningful relationships require consistent presence. You cannot build deep Christian community by showing up sporadically or only when convenient.
4. Faithful service often goes unnoticed by people but is always seen by God. Many of the people Paul mentions are unknown to history except for this passage, yet God knows them intimately.
5. We need each other. The "me and Jesus" approach to faith is not biblical. We were created for community and need skin-and-bones relationships.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Before this sermon, had you ever read Romans 16 closely? What surprised you most about this chapter? Romans 16 comes after 15 chapters of deep theology. Why do you think Paul ended this theological masterpiece with a list of names?
2. Look at the diversity of people mentioned: Phoebe (a deacon), Priscilla and Aquila (a ministry couple), Tertius (a former slave), Erastus (a city treasurer). What does this tell us about God's kingdom?
3. Nobody is a nobody in the family of God. Have you ever felt like a "nobody" in church or in life? How does Romans 16 speak to that feeling?
4. Paul describes various people by their service. How does this challenge our modern view of significance and success?
1. Phoebe: "a servant... a benefactor of many"
2. Mary: "worked very hard for you"
3. Tryphena and Tryphosa: "worked hard in the Lord"
5. How did "you can't have close friendships if you never leave your house" and the philosophy that "me and Jesus" is enough challenge the way you do life? How do you respond to this? Where do you see individualism affecting your faith?
6. Priscilla and Aquila served together as a couple. They discipled Apollos, hosted a church, and "risked their necks" for Paul.
1. For married couples: How can you serve together more intentionally?
2. For singles: Who could you partner with in ministry or service?
7. Tertius was born a slave and given a number instead of a name, yet Paul let him add his personal greetings to this letter. What does this reveal about the gospel's power to restore dignity and identity?
8. The gospel "doesn't just decimate the ceiling that keeps us from reaching God. It tears down the wall between all of us.” What "walls" still exist in our church or Christian community? How can we actively work to tear them down?
9. We build deep relationships by showing up. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your consistency in "showing up" for church, small group, or Christian community? What barriers keep you from showing up more consistently? What's one practical step you can take this week to "show up" better?
10. Review the different roles people played in Romans 16. Which role most resonates with your gifts? How are you currently using those gifts? How could you use them more?
1. Servants/Deacons (meeting practical needs quietly)
2. Disciple-makers (like Priscilla and Aquila)
3. Hard workers (like Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa)
4. Hosts (like Gaius)
5. Encouragers (like Rufus's mother)
11. The sermon emphasized greeting "one another with warmth." Who in this group or in our church:
1. Do you need to greet more warmly?
2. Might be feeling like a "nobody" who needs to be seen?
3. Could you intentionally connect with this week?

Practical Applications:

1. Commit to attending church and/or small group for the next four weeks without exception (barring genuine emergency). Notice how consistency affects your relationships.
2. Identify one practical need in your church or small group this week and meet it without announcing it or seeking recognition.
3. Identify someone newer in the faith or younger in life and intentionally invest in them this week—invite them for coffee, offer to pray with them, or share your story.
4. This Sunday, arrive 10 minutes early and intentionally seek out three people —especially someone who might feel like a "nobody" or someone you don't usually talk to.

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 Sermon Guide July 19:  1 Corinthians 7 

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Marriage should be honored, not idolized - Marriage is a good gift from God, but it's not the ultimate goal or measure of spiritual maturity.
2. Singleness is a gift, not a waiting room - Being single isn't a consolation prize or a deficiency; I
3. Neither marriage nor singleness is the "easy road"; both require sacrifice and offer distinct advantages.
4. Your worth was fixed at the cross - Your value doesn't increase with marriage or decrease with singleness; Christ already determined your worth.
5. Serve Christ where you are - Faithfulness to God in your current circumstances matters more than changing your status.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-7. Why do you think Paul quotes the Corinthians' statement before responding? What does his response tell us about God's design for marriage?
2. Read verses 7-9 and 32-35. What specific benefits of singleness does Paul identify? Why might these have been particularly important in the early church context?
3. Look at verses 17-24. How does Paul use the examples of circumcision and slavery to make his point about marital status? What's the main principle he's teaching?
4. Be honest: Have you ever viewed singleness as a "waiting room" rather than a legitimate calling? Where do you think that perspective came from?
5. For married people: In what ways has marriage been both a blessing and a challenge in your walk with Christ? How has it shaped your sanctification?
6. For single people: What are some ways you've experienced the unique benefits of singleness in serving Christ? What are some of the challenges you face that married people might not understand?
7. How do we balance the pursuit of joy in marriage with the reality of sanctification?
8. In what ways has our church culture (or Christian culture in general) communicated that marriage is the "default" and singleness is a "deficiency"? Can you think of specific examples?
9. Read Matthew 19:10-12. The disciples thought Jesus' teaching on marriage was so difficult that it would be "better not to marry." Why do you think they responded this way? What does Jesus' response about eunuchs teach us?
10. How can we, as a small group, better honor and support the single Christians among us without making assumptions or applying pressure?
11. What are some practical ways we can shift our conversations to focus on spiritual growth rather than relationship status? (Like asking "What's God teaching you?" instead of "Are you seeing anybody?")
12. For everyone: What does "denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus" look like in your current season—whether married or single?

Practical Applications:

1. Examine your heart: Do you view your current status (married or single) as a limitation to serving Christ, or as an opportunity? Journal about this honestly before God.
2. Bring your ache to Jesus: If you're struggling with singleness or difficulties in marriage, practice bringing that pain honestly to God rather than pretending it doesn't exist or letting it define your worth.
3. Evaluate your conversations: This week, pay attention to how you talk to or about single people. Are you unintentionally communicating that they're "less than"?
4. Create intentional community: Plan a group activity that includes both married couples and singles, ensuring no one feels like a "third wheel."
5. Prayer partners: Pair up (mixing married and single group members) to pray specifically for faithfulness to Christ in your current circumstances.
6. Accountability: Ask someone in the group to help you recognize when you're making marital status an idol or treating it as more important than obedience to Christ.