Kettlebrook West Bend

Questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever been in a ‘game changing’ situation? What was it? How

was the situation entirely changed for you?

2. For context, read Romans 7:14-20. Have you ever experienced anything

like that? Can you relate to what Paul is saying in any way? Explain.

3. What does Romans 8:1 mean to you? What is your emotional response

to this news? Verse two says that we have been ‘set free.’ Have you ever

been set free from anything? How does that feel?

4. How is the Holy Spirit a ‘game changer’ in the life of the believer (Read

Romans 8:5-11)? What do you think our role is in all of this?

5. Read verse 9-11. List all the things these verses say are true of anyone

who has the Spirit living in them. What are they and why are they

important?

6. There are no commands in all of Romans 8. So what difference do these

verses make to you on Monday-Friday? What is our appropriate

response?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Share a time when you felt like you had an angel and a devil on your shoulder and you were in the middle. Which of those two voices do you find to make the better case and why? Who is at the center of the dialogue and what are the implications?

2. Read Romans 8:12-17. What sticks out to you as your read this passage?

3. According to the text, being led by God’s Spirit includes an obligation, an identity, and an inheritance. Which of these three elements do you connect with most easily? Which is most difficult for you to connect with? Why?

4. Share a time when you believe you were led by the Spirit instead of the flesh. How would you describe it and how does it reflect the three above elements?

5. What is the inheritance Paul mentions from this text? Why is suffering part of that inheritance? How does this look in your own life?

6. What is one area in your life that you desire to be led by the Spirit and not the flesh and why? What is one way that you can move towards that this week?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. When you hear the term “slavery”, what comes to mind?

2. Paul uses the phrase “slaves of sin” a number of times in today’s passage. Why do you think he uses this imagery?

3. Is there anything in your life that you feel like you are currently a slave to?

4. Can you think of a recent situation where sin has led to more sin? What was that like?

5. Read Romans 6:14-23. Paul compares two masters and two wages. What are they and how do they compare?

6. Which “master” do you find yourself most often offering yourself to?

7. How is Jesus as master good news? What are the “wages” Paul describes in that scenario? Why does Paul not use the word “wage” in this case?

8. Have you truly offered yourself to God? If not, what is holding you back?

Questions for Reflection:

1. What has been one of your most profound experiences of being set free? Have you seen that dramatized in a movie that really stuck with you? (12 years a slave, Shawshank redemption, Les Misérables) or your own experience? What do you think that was like for either the character or for yourself?

2. Have you ever thought of yourself of being ‘set free?’ What have you been set free from? What might your life have looked like if Christ did NOT set you free?

3. Why do you think the picture of baptism is so important? Read verses 3-4. What is baptism a picture of?

4. What implications are there for you personally if it is indeed true that you have been “set free from sin?” (verse 7) What does that infer or imply?

5. What do you think it means to ‘not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires?’ (verse 12). Do you think you have a choice to sin or not?

6. How do you think these truths of Romans 6:1-14 would change your life and the way you live? This week ask God to reveal to you the power behind these truths.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Based on your life experiences, when you hear the phrase “unwholesome talk” what comes to mind for you and why?

2. Read Ephesians chapters 4 and 5. Identify every time Paul is concerned with our words or what we say. Why do you think Paul brings this up so often?

3. If you did a self-assessment with respect to Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:29, what would you conclude as to how you are doing? Would others agree?

4. Which of the three “levels” of speaking discussed today do you find yourself operating in most often? Why is this the case? What steps could you take to move towards the third level? Who can help you with this?

5. It was stated that “When our words are not wholesome, it’s because we are not whole.” When you use “unwholesome” words, in what ways are you not whole?

6. How can the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ specifically speak grace into your answer to question #5? If you are discussing in a group, the group might be able to do this together...

Questions for Discussion / Reflection

1. Have you ever been held hostage by someone who had a Jesus agenda? How did that feel?

2. What keeps you from naturally, normally talking about Jesus with others?

3. If someone were to ask you “what is the gospel?” how would you reply?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. What, according to Paul, are the elements of the gospel? Why do you think it is important that he includes the phrase “according to the scriptures” twice?

5. What did Mike say are the five movements of God’s Story? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

6. Read Acts 13:13-39 and Acts 17:16:34. How are these two gospel presentations different? Why do you suppose that is? What is similar about them?

7. This week, see if you can go through the five movements of God’s story on your own and pray that God would give you an opportunity to appropriately share with someone in the next month.

Questions for Reflection / Discussion:

1. When you think about others sharing their story, who or what is usually the hero?

2. Read Philippians 3:4-8 – were Jesus not your hero, what accomplishments might be the hero of your story? Why is Jesus a better hero?

3. Talk about a time where Jesus wasn’t the hero of your story? Talk about how God has changed you to where Jesus is now the hero.

4. Share your story of 1 Timothy 1:14 in your life.

5. Why is Paul’s attitude of seeing himself as ‘the worst of sinners’ (v.15) important to Jesus continuing to be the hero of his story? How does it enable him to disciple others towards Jesus being the hero of their story?

6. What is one area were you not intentional, Jesus could stop being the hero of your story?

7. What is one way God is speaking to me and one thing I will do as a result?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. What is your experience with other people asking questions and listening? How would you rate yourself in this area?

2. Who is the best listener you know? What is it like when you are with them?

3. Who is the worst listener you know? What is it like when you are with them?

4. What barriers keep you from asking good questions and being a good listener?

5. Read Proverbs 20:5. In what ways might you grow in becoming a person of understanding? How is Jesus the ultimate example of Proverbs 20:5?

6. Pick one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and skim it looking for where Jesus is asking questions. What did you discover?

7. What is one way you can take time, listen and ask questions this week? How might this better equip you in gospel fluency?

Questions for Discussion:

1. What languages and or topics would you consider yourself “fluent” in?

2. What elements do you think are necessary when learning a language? Why is this the case?

3. Read Ephesians 4:11-16. Highlight recurring themes. What sticks out to you and why?

4. Do you tend more towards “speaking the truth” or “loving”? Why do you think this is the case?

5. What is one area of your life that you need good news in? How is the gospel of Jesus Christ good news to this?

6. Jesus says, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” If this is true, what does your mouth reveal about your heart?

7. What steps will you take this week to begin becoming more fluent in the gospel?