Introduction // 5 minutes
What has been the high point of your summer so far?
Leader Note: Allow time for everyone to answer this question. The more participation you can get from the beginning the better your chances are of having everyone participate all the way through!
Observation // 15 minutes
Read Romans 5:1-5
How is peace with God described in this passage?
Sample Answers May Include…
- Being made right in His sight (v1)
- Understanding that we justified by God’s work and not our own (v.1-2)
- Standing in grace (v2)
- The ability to rejoice/glory in trials and sufferings (v3)
What do you learn about suffering and trials from this passage?
Sample Answers May Include…
- Enables us to share in God’s glory (v.2)
- We have cause to rejoice when we encounter them (v.3)
- They can develop endurance, strength, character and hope (v.4)
- They may strengthen our hope (v.5)
Leader Note: The temptation at this point may be to go into personal stories and examples of times of suffering. Do your best to pull answers straight from the text. Looking at God’s word first helps direct conversation and sets up richer discussion and personal application.
Commentary: We have already received an eternal hope and salvation through the work of Jesus on the cross (v.1-2). However, we also live in a present reality where we experience suffering and trials. Suffering when viewed through the understanding of our eternal hope and peace provides us with tangible opportunities to grow in that hope and peace in the here and now.
This passage is so important because the misconception of Christianity sometimes is that life should be perfect, harmonious, without trials or tribulations once Christ has entered your life. This isn’t true, God says just the opposite – you will endure trials, they just don’t have to destroy you, instead you can gain strength in character that leads to hope.
Understanding // 20 minutes
Where have you seen suffering without hope?
Leader Note: From senseless acts of violence to natural disasters and disease our world is very much accustomed to suffering and trials. Lead your group to see that suffering outside of a hope in God leaves us confused, bitter, pessimistic and hopeless. On the other hand suffering with our hope in Christ in mind produces endurance and character.
Where have you seen suffering and hope coexist?
Leader Note: These questions will be easier to answer if you think of a particular person in your life facing a major struggle – describe how they see and are responding (responded) to that trouble.
Application // 20 minutes
What trial are you currently facing? How are you responding?
Leader Note: Listening is the key component at this point. Resist the urge from yourself and others to move into problem solving and advice giving. There’s beauty in honesty and in listening that is rooted in love and care for one another.
In addition to asking, “how are you responding,” you may also ask, “what is the trial producing or revealing in them” or “how has God shaped in a time of suffering.” Allow for honest answers as everyone may be in very different places.
Commentary: Some of your group members may be facing sickness, financial problems or trying to raise a troubled child. It is an amazing and yet difficult thought to consider that we are to glory in these troubles because of what they have the potential to produce in us.
Live It Out // 10 minutes
How might we become more effective in serving others by understanding suffering more fully?
Commentary: Jesus himself experienced trials and suffering (tempted in the wilderness, crucifixion). What he experienced, particularly through dessert temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) prepared Him for His ministry. An eternal perspective on suffering can help remove fear that my hold us back from fully giving ourselves away and increase our faith and trust in God’s leading.
Prayer: Our prayers are two fold this week. We want to pray for God to intervene, for Him to act and bring healing into our pain. We also want to pray that as we experience pain and trials that we can grow in endurance, character and ultimately hope. Often times, we only pray to God to fix something for us, but it makes such a big difference to believe that God cares, that He is walking through the problem with you, and that He will consistently give you strength to face the problem and mature you through the endurance process.