Mark Seekins Romans 8:38-39

1. Mark gave several examples of how we use the word “love” a lot but don’t always understand what it means. Do you believer that love is known by many but understood by few? How have you seen that to be the true?

2. Consider Sinclair Ferguson’s quote: “When we think of Christ dying on the cross we are shown the lengths to which God’s love goes in order to win us back to himself. We would almost think that God loved us more than he loves his Son! We cannot measure such love by any other standard. He is saying to us: I love you this much.”

3. How does this change your understanding of love? What does it tell you about God? About yourself?

4. Mark said over and over again in his message: “It doesn’t matter what you have done.” “Nothing can stop God’s love.” “It doesn’t matter what others say.” “Nothing can stop God’s love.” “You don’t deserve anything, but you get everything.” That’s God’s love. How do each of these statements reveal something about God’s love? Which is the hardest for you to accept?

5. God’s love defends. Everything lies within his control and purpose, and nothing can now condemn, accuse, or threaten us. How might the way you live, the things you do or believe affect if rings true or not in your life?

6. Re-read Romans 8:31-39 and pray through this scripture together…thanking God for Jesus, his ultimate plan! Recognizing that God’s love defends, protects, secures, and strengthens us! Praise God for the “good news” of his love.

Steve Stratos - Romans 8:28-30

1. What are the forces that are opposed to God trying to steal from you? (John 10:10)

2. What is your theology of work?

3. How does lamenting help us to identify with God? How does it bring us closer to people?

4. What is the importance of understanding your why?

5. How did Jesus entering our darkness bring about our victory and our ability to walk in light?

Ryan Moffat - Romans 8:18-25

1. What did God say to you through the Scriptures this week?

2. Paul connects our present sufferings to future glories. How have you seen this principle play out in your life? Can you point to times of pain and difficulty that led to future joy and impact?

3. What does Paul’s theology of “Cosmic Renewal” tell us about creation? How should we think about stewardship of God’s world in light of Romans 8:18-25?

4. How can you cultivate Biblically rooted, robust HOPE in your life so you don’t become cynical, hopeless, and live in despair? How does adoption change everything for the son or daughter who is adopted? How does it change everything for the believer who is adopted into Jesus’ family?

Mark Seekins - Romans 8:14-17

1. Do you know someone who is adopted? How would you describe their relationship to the parents who adopted them?

2. Re-read Romans 8:1-17. What are your thoughts so far from this passage? When you think of the word adoption what immediately comes to mind?

3. Discuss Keller’s quote: "Religion says, ‘If I obey, then God will love and accept me.’ The gospel says, ‘God loves and accepts me, therefore I want to obey.' "

4. How do you see this truth playing out in your life?

5. Mark covered four things adoption means for us: - God is loving not controlling - God is near not distant - God is assuring not rejecting - God is giving not withholding Which of these do you struggle with the most? Discuss some of the reasons why these truths would be difficult to accept.

6. How does adoption change everything for the son or daughter who is adopted? How does it change everything for the believer who is adopted into Jesus’ family?

7. Pray for each other. Pray you would know the love and character of God. Pray that you would feel loved by, near to, assured by, and receiving all things from the Father. Pray that we would all reflect the character of our good, good Father!

Steve Stratos Romans 8:1 -14

1. How would you describe the role of the Holy Spirit in your Life? Regeneration, Sanctification, Filling?

2. Can you think of ways in which you have experienced the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?…or the “death” of forgetting the things of the Spirit?

3. Have you experienced the grieving of the Holy Spirit? How have you responded?

4. How have you experienced Romans 8:13 in what is called “Putting On” and “Putting Off”? Look at this as represented in Colossians 3:5 and Colossians 3:12. Describe your journey.

5. How do you need to preach grace to yourself today?

Steve Stratos - Romans 8:1-8

1. What does freedom in Christ mean to you?

2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in providing you freedom?

3. What role does the mind play in your freedom?

4. What role does scripture play in helping you to maintain your freedom? Explain in light of Romans 12:1,2.

5. How should we use our freedom?

6. How can our success rob us of our freedom?

Ryan Moffat - Romans 8:1

1. Martin Luther said; “If the Bible were a ring then Romans 8 would be the gem that enhanced that ring... Romans 8 would be the brilliant splendor that emanated from that ring.” Expound on what you think Luther is saying. Agree/disagree?? Why or why not?

2. How often do you sense condemnation in your life? What have you done to try and solve the feeling of dread? How have those solutions worked?

3. Paul says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you really believed this, how would it change your life? How would you see setbacks, obstacles, and problems differently if you didn’t see them punitively, but redemptively?

4. Later on in Romans 8, Paul says, “If God did not spare us his own Son, how will He not freely give us all things?” How does seeing God through the lens of a generous giver vs. a vindictive/angry narcissist change the motivational structure of your life?

Ryan Moffat - Psalm 134

W/ Special Guest Ryan Hudson

Mark Seekins 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

1. Mark gave several examples of moments when he “hoped they got it”. Have you ever had moments like this? Share one that stands out with the group.

2. How important are the “expressions of unity” to SCC (gather, give, encourage) that Paul describes? Do you feel like we as the body of Christ are doing these 3 things well? Where could we improve?

3. Re-read 1 Corinthians 16:13–14. What are some things that SCC needs to be watchful of, stand firm on, and be courageous about?

4. Having discussed some of these things from verses 13-14 how can we do all these things in love? If we are watchful, standing firm, and courageous…but don’t have love…what does that say about us? What kind of message are we sending to the world?

5. Does it sound harsh to you that God requires our love? And without that love…one could only expect condemnation. Re-read Deuteronomy 6:4-6 and talk about what it means for God to have your love.

6. Did you get it? I hope so.

Steve Stratos - 1 Corinthians 15: 56-58

1. What are the Results and Response to the Resurrection?

2. Why is it important to believe in The Resurrection?

3. Why is it true of you that the way you live your life would make no sense without the future resurrection?

4. How does this passage make you more excited about our eternal future?  

5. What is your greatest frustration with your current body? 

6. What hope does this passage give you that other belief systems do not?