Tag: life in the spirit

Romans 8:17-30 // The Road to Glory

Lean In // 5 Minutes

What is a great underdog story?

Leader Note: There is something about a great underdog story that inspires us to believe just like them, we can overcome adversary and become all we are meant to be. It points out that anyone and everyone, no matter what life has dealt them, that there is an opportunity of greatness available. Keep in mind in sharing to point out the suffering they went to and how it connects to the ultimate victory those characters experience.

Look Down // 15 minutes

Read Passage – Read Romans 8:17-30

What do you learn about suffering?

Sample Answers:

  • it is impacting all of creation
  • creation is groaning because of it
  • it is causing frustration
  • it it is causing bondage and decay
  • it is not worth comparing to the glory that is being revealed in us
  • it is causing pain

What do you learn about hope?

Sample Answers:

  • That we are having glory revealed in us
  • That we have the hope of adoption
  • That the best is being revealed in us
  • That good is being worked out for the children of God
  • We are justified
  • We are called
  • We have to be patient for this hope

Leader Note: Be sure to really point out the way the passage brings up groaning as an expression of the present suffering that is happening. This will help in your transition to the following questions and the discussion. Highlight the work of the spirit as the one creating opportunity to see and experience this Hope.

Look Out // 10 minutes

Where is our world groaning?

Leader Note: Refer back to the passage and how it talks about the way the Earth is groaning and experiencing this across all of creation. A couple examples of answers would be:

  • Relationships (Marriage, Friendships, Family, Kids)
  • Sickness
  • Taxes
  • Politics
  • Conflict
  • Injustice

Look In // 20 minutes

Where are you groaning, waiting for things to get better?

Where is the Spirit at work? What is your hope in this season of suffering?

Leader Note: This is a great time to lean into stories. The hope is that people will identify their struggle and in the second portion of the lean in, to sit in silence for a moment and really listen in for what God might be saying to them in this season of struggle. Take time either right after they share or at the end to pray for each person for renewed patience in the suffering and a greater sense of the Spirit’s work in this season. Don’t be hesitant if someone responds with “I don’t hear anything.” Simply ask for the Spirit to reveal Himself when praying over them.

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How could you bring hope to those who are suffering?

Leader Note: “There is strength for today because there is hope for tomorrow.” Have this be the theme in praying for those in the group that voiced a struggle they are waiting to be released from? Talk about the healing service from the weekend. Be bold and lay hands and pray with boldness. Point back to the Lean In and remind them that the groaning makes way for the glory. 

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Looking to Join a Life Group? Check out our online group directory to get in touch with leader today.

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

Romans 8:12-17 // Off With The Old

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We’re looking for Life Groups to help us put on the biggest party of the year for our community on Friday, Oct 30th. From manning the rides, serving up food to helping in the reptile petting zoo, there are plenty of ways for your group to jump in! Contact our special events team to learn more.

Lean In // 5 minutes

What’s your guilty pleasure TV show?

Leader Note: From the guy that hates to admit watching The Bachelor, to bing watching House Hunters, most of us have shows that we love because they offer us an escape or a way to unwind! Transition your group to the next section by saying something like… “A lot of the shows we watch are based in some form of a false reality. Let’s see what our passage has to say about the reality and identity we are called to live in as believers.”

Look Down // 15 minutes

Read Romans 8:12-17

What do you learn about God’s Spirit? 

  • We have a choose to live by it or by the flesh
  • Living by God’s Spirit puts to death the ways of our flesh
  • Living by God’s Spirit brings life
  • God’s Spirit leds us and marks us children of God
  • God’s Spirit brings us intimacy, a personal relationship “Abba, Father”
  • The Spirit “testifies” or bears witness to remind us that we are God’s children
  • God’s Spirit does not make us fearful or slaves
  • God’s Spirit is given to us, we receive it we don’t earn it

 Leader Note: Highlight these key four observations from the weekend message.

1. I am a loved son/daughter // God is our Heavenly Father, He choose us, adopted us to be His! Because of this we have an intimate and personal relationship with him. Our identities, whatever they used to be… our now rooted in Him, our identities our in Him! 

2. I have a Heavenly Father // God is our Father and he loves us more than we can ever imagine! Consider Matthew 7:11… “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

3. I have a witness // God also gives us his Holy Spirit to remind us of what we so often forget… that we are loved! The Holy Spirit stands to give testimony and witness to what is true about us.

4. I have a heavenly inheritance  // God brings us into relationship with Himself and makes available to us all that is His.

Look Out // 10 minutes

Where do you see people creating their own identity?

How do they manage it and what happens when it collapses?

Leader Note: Invite stories here from you group. What are things people shape their reality and identity around, what does that look like, where have they seen it? What do they do to maintain that image, what are the effects of living that way?

Look In // 20 minutes

What parts of the passage are hard for you to embrace and why?

Why do you need to embrace it?

Leader Note: Point back to the observations from question 2, paying special attention to the four main observations… We are Loved, We Have a Witness and We have a heavenly inheritance. Ask your group to read out the four statements aloud. Which ones are most difficult to beleive, which ones cause the most emotion? Challenge your group to think not only about which of these truths they wrestle with but why do they think God would want this for them and what difference would that make?

Live it Out // 10 minutes

How might your life and the lives of others be impacted if you embraced these truths?

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Looking to Join a Life Group? Check out our online group directory to get in touch with leader today.

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

Romans 8:1-12 // I’ve Got The Poweri

monkimage.php

We’re looking for Life Groups to help us put on the biggest party of the year for our community on Friday, Oct 30th. From manning the rides, serving up food to helping in the reptile petting zoo, there are plenty of ways for your group to jump in! Contact our special events team to learn more.

Lean In // 5 minutes

What’s something you used to be afraid of? How did you overcome it?

Leader Note: Transition you group by saying something like… “it’s amazing how many of our fears feed off the power of our thinking and imagination. Fears become the strongest when we believe that the worst possible outcome of any given situation is the more than likely outcome!” Let’s see what our passage says about that kind of power.

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Romans 8:1-12

What do you learn about life in the spirit? What about life in the flesh?

Sample answers may include…

Life in the Spirit

– Life in the Spirit removes guilt and condemnation
– There’s power in the Life of Spirit
– The power of the Spirit frees us from the power of sin and death
– A spirit filled life causes us to think about things that please the spirit, that bring life/peace and not death
– Without the Spirit we can not please God
– We have the Spirit living in us, he controls us
– The Spirit gives life and makes us right with God
– The power of the spirit in us is the same that raised Christ to life

Life in the Flesh

– It is weak, is drawn to sin
– It thinks about sinful things
– Allow it to control out lives and our thoughts led to death
– It stands directly against ways of God
– It never obeys God’s standards and can never please God
– We do not have to do what it wants us to do

Leader Note: Point your group back to verse 5… “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” This passage and verse highlight the fact the we are given a choice to think powerless thoughts of the flesh or power-filled thoughts which come from and please the Spirit.

Paul is talking about something greater than “positive thinking” to change ourselves. Positive thinking tells us that we can create what we want through our thinking. Paul is saying that power is not simply in our thoughts but in the source of those thoughts. Are we living out the Spirit and allowing him to transform our thoughts and our lives or are we living out the powerlessness of the Flesh?

Powerless flesh guided thoughts will be…
Defensive, judgmental, blaming, fear based, stressed, angry, self loathing and depressed.

Powerful Life in the Spirit thoughts will be…
Grateful, wise, resourceful, full of hope, confident, compassionate, patient and joy-filled.

Look Out // 10 minutes

Where do you see things overwhelming peoople’s lives?

Why do they feel overwhelmed?

Leader Note: Invite stories from your group here. Have them talk through what they see in those situations. What’s the powerless thinking that’s associated with them?

Look In // 20 minutes

Where do you experience powerlessness?

What would it look like to embrace the power of the Spirit over those things?

Leader Note: Another way to ask these questions could be to say… “what are things in your life that seem like they will never change, what’s the hope in this passage for you?” Challenge your group to consider where they (and you!) are living… in the way of the old self which is powerless, or in the Life of the Spirit which is full of power  

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How would others be impact if you lived this way?

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Looking to Join a Life Group? Check out our online group directory to get in touch with leader today.

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.