Winter Cycle, Week 6
Start your time with a Check-in (about 15 minutes)
inductive bible study (30-40 minutes)
Open your Bibles and begin with a prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you read God's word. Read the passage out loud once together and then silently once more on your own, noting your observations and questions. Then take a few minutes to share your observations and questions together.
Key Scripture: Romans 6:1-11
6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Take some time to answer a key question you've raised as a group and think through how the issues you've explored apply to your lives.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (about 20 minutes):
1) Look at v.1: What are some ways people go on sinning hoping that grace may increase today (in the Church or our broader culture)? Are there any ways you're tempted to view God's grace in this way?
2) Discuss the reasons why Paul says an emphatic "By no means!" in response to that kind of thinking. Why is it inappropriate and illogical to intentionally remain in sin as a Christian?
3) What good news and empowering truth is given in this text that help us in our struggle against sin and destructive ways of living?
4) How does the newness of life, and the "good death" that leads to it, practically change the way we live?
APPLICATION:
Out of all the incredible truth claims that Paul lays out in this text, what is one that you need to take into this week?
In your devotions this week, make use of John Mark Comer's framework to replace the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil with the truth of God's Word. This framework has been called different things throughout the centuries and may already be familiar to you. It offers a simple and practical habit for unlearning lies and living in the truth.
In John 16:13, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the "Spirit of Truth". As you close in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to drive the truth of God's Word deeply into your hearts and minds. Pray for the Lord's empowering presence to enable you to walk in truth and love this week.
Close with a time of prayer.
