U.nder Construction 7
7 U.nder Construction Getting Started 1. Have you ever known someone with an addiction? Which do you think is more important for an addict: changing their thinking or changing their patterns of behaviour?
Recovering from the rule of sin In our last study Paul boldly declared that “sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” And yet, in many Christians’ experience it’s not always easy. They say old habits die hard, and when it comes to our habit of obeying sin and letting our desires rule our decisions that’s particularly true. What is Paul’s recovery plan for sin-addicts? How confident can we be that our sins will stop ruling us the way they once did?
Coming up... rd
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23 -27 Nov Jumpstart Schoolies (Yr 12) 6th December Lord’s Supper 6th December kidZone Christmas Party 12th December Carols by Candlelight
For the Diary Congregational meeting 29th November
What won’t work The first thing we need to hear (if we haven’t heard it already) is that rules won’t work. Not even God’s own rules—the law given to God’s people Israel. Read Romans 7:7–20 2. Even though God gave the Israelites good laws, what is the problem within us that means we are unable to use the law to live the way God desires? (See especially vv.14–20)
God’s solution Paul ends chapter 7 in despair. If it’s up to him and his body of ‘flesh’ he has no hope. But chapter 8 brings real hope as we deal with sin. And hope comes from the Spirit. But before we read, it’s worth reminding ourselves what the Spirit is. In the original language, the word for ‘spirit’ can also means ‘breath’. According to Genesis 2, it was God’s breath (or spirit) that originally brought life to Adam’s dust-formed body. And now here in Romans 8 Paul says it’s God’s Spirit that, through Jesus’ death, brings life to our bodies. It’s also important to remember, the Spirit is God himself. Not just a part of God or some impersonal “force” God provides. His Spirit is his very self, just as our spirit is ours. Read Romans 8:1–17 3. In verses 1–4, what does it mean that there is “no condemnation”?
4. What else do those verses say has happened to those in Christ Jesus?
5. From verses 5–17, describe what it is like to live… according to the flesh.
according to the Spirit.
6. Some people suggest you need a special experience of being “filled with the Spirit” if you want to live a life where you consistently defeat sin. Is that what we find in this passage?
7. Is it possible to be a Christian and not have the Spirit? (Note especially verse 9)
8. Given we have God’s Spirit, how will that affect: our ambitions and desires?
our confidence that we belong to God?
9. If we are finding the Christian life hard, how might these verses help us make sense of the struggle and difficulty we experience?
Prayer Praise God for the gift of his Spirit who changes our desires and helps us pursue different priorities in life. Ask that God would help us in our living for him. Ask also for realistic expectations of what the Christian life looks like. Pray for Christian friends who are struggling with living for Jesus, especially if it’s because of hard life circumstances.
Recovering from the rule of sin In our last study Paul boldly declared that “sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” And yet, in many Christians’ experience it’s not always easy. They say old habits die hard, and when it comes to our habit of obeying sin and letting our desires rule our decisions that’s particularly true. What is Paul’s recovery plan for sin-addicts? How confident can we be that our sins will stop ruling us the way they once did?
Coming up... rd
th
23 -27 Nov Jumpstart Schoolies (Yr 12) 6th December Lord’s Supper 6th December kidZone Christmas Party 12th December Carols by Candlelight
For the Diary Congregational meeting 29th November
What won’t work The first thing we need to hear (if we haven’t heard it already) is that rules won’t work. Not even God’s own rules—the law given to God’s people Israel. Read Romans 7:7–20 2. Even though God gave the Israelites good laws, what is the problem within us that means we are unable to use the law to live the way God desires? (See especially vv.14–20)
God’s solution Paul ends chapter 7 in despair. If it’s up to him and his body of ‘flesh’ he has no hope. But chapter 8 brings real hope as we deal with sin. And hope comes from the Spirit. But before we read, it’s worth reminding ourselves what the Spirit is. In the original language, the word for ‘spirit’ can also means ‘breath’. According to Genesis 2, it was God’s breath (or spirit) that originally brought life to Adam’s dust-formed body. And now here in Romans 8 Paul says it’s God’s Spirit that, through Jesus’ death, brings life to our bodies. It’s also important to remember, the Spirit is God himself. Not just a part of God or some impersonal “force” God provides. His Spirit is his very self, just as our spirit is ours. Read Romans 8:1–17 3. In verses 1–4, what does it mean that there is “no condemnation”?
4. What else do those verses say has happened to those in Christ Jesus?
5. From verses 5–17, describe what it is like to live… according to the flesh.
according to the Spirit.
6. Some people suggest you need a special experience of being “filled with the Spirit” if you want to live a life where you consistently defeat sin. Is that what we find in this passage?
7. Is it possible to be a Christian and not have the Spirit? (Note especially verse 9)
8. Given we have God’s Spirit, how will that affect: our ambitions and desires?
our confidence that we belong to God?
9. If we are finding the Christian life hard, how might these verses help us make sense of the struggle and difficulty we experience?
Prayer Praise God for the gift of his Spirit who changes our desires and helps us pursue different priorities in life. Ask that God would help us in our living for him. Ask also for realistic expectations of what the Christian life looks like. Pray for Christian friends who are struggling with living for Jesus, especially if it’s because of hard life circumstances.
