04.01.07
Small Group Plan - April 1, 2007
“The Shock of Grace”
Small Group Plan
April 1, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
A few thoughts on Grace:
The word grace emphasizes at one and the same time, the helpless poverty of man and the limitless kindness of God.
– William Barclay
There will always be the seeming contradiction … that while God’s saving grace is always and forever free, it is never, never cheap.
– Herman W. Gockel
Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve
– Unknown
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Who is the peacemaker in your family?
· How do they accomplish it?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Good … The Bad … the difference …
Romans 5
· As a group list the words in Romans 5 that describe the Good News. Quickly define them and identify which ones give you the most positive feeling.
· As a group list the words that describe the Bad News. Define them and identify which ones give you the most ominous feeling.
· As a group find all the statements similar to (Vs. 1) “through our love Jesus Christ.” Key words to look for are “through” and “by.” Why does Paul repeat the same thought over and over?
The Rock of Grace …
Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but` we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
· How is “peace with God” different from peace of mind (Vs. 1)?
· How can we have peace when life isn’t peaceful (Vs. 1)?
· Theology — What does it mean to “stand” on grace (Vs. 2)?
· Experience — How does it feel to “stand” in grace (Vs. 2)?
· Does suffering always produce endurance (Vs. 3-4)? Explain.
The shock of Grace …
Romans 5:6-11
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
· What does a “powerless” life look like (Vs. 6)?
· Why does Paul call our powerlessness “the right time” for Jesus to die (Vs. 6)?
· Why do we doubt God’s love for us (Vs. 8 )?
· How were we God’s enemies (Vs. 10)?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Why does Paul want them to remember a “powerless” life? Why is it important that we remember it?
· What happens to our view of “good news” if we forget the “bad news” ?
· What can we daily do to remember where we’ve come from and how Jesus is changing us?
Begin your closing prayer with a time of silence for all to remember their personal rescue from “powerlessness.”