What’s causing you to groan lately? This Sunday Pastor Rob taught on Romans 8:18-30 reminding us that God is working even when we don’t see it or pray about it. The Holy Spirit helps us to live with eager hope! This week, ask God to help you see that everything happening to you is part of God’s way of conforming us to the image of His Son.
Introduction
What words or phrases come to mind when you hear the word “groan”? When was the last time you groaned? What did you groan for/about?
Present Sufferings and Creation Groans: Read Romans 8:18-22
- What is the “glory” that Paul mentions in v18 and v21? Paul writes that it is not yet fully here, but that it will be revealed in the children of God one day.
- Why does Paul “consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with” this glory? Does this resonate with you - why or why not?
- How can prayer help us focus on glory in the midst of our present sufferings?
- What are some examples of decay in creation?
- Firstfruits and foretastes: What are some examples from the Gospels where a decaying creation was made right or put in order by Jesus?
Believers Groan: Read Romans 8:23-25
- What is the “hope” that Paul mentions in v24?
- What does it mean to pray and groan with hope, waiting “eagerly” (v23) and “patiently” (v25)?
- Firstfruits and foretastes: How have you experienced a taste of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) in this middle place between groaning and glory?
The Holy Spirit Groans: Read Romans 8:26-30
- Paul writes that “we do not know what we ought to pray for” in v26. If this resonates with you, what does this look like in your spiritual life? For example: listening but not speaking, avoiding prayer altogether, not being sure where to start, groaning, etc.
- What does it mean to you that the Holy Spirit is always interceding for you through “wordless groans” even when you don’t know what to pray (v26)? What does this tell us about the Trinity?
- How does the Trinity know what to pray for when we don’t know what to pray for? Sort out all the names and pronouns in v27.
- What does it mean to be “conformed to the image” of Christ in v29? How did Jesus consider His present sufferings? How did Jesus pray in his suffering?
- Firstfruits and foretastes: In your life or community, how have you seen God continuously working “for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (v28)?
Prayer
Practice praying through the Scriptures by:
- Opening your group’s prayer time by having someone read Romans 8:31-34
- Praying through the group’s prayer requests
- Closing your group’s prayer time by having someone read Romans 8:35-39
