Winter Cycle, Week 2
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 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 boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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 (about 20 minutes):
Some thoughts for shaping your time together: As a small group leader, press in and allow people to open up about the suffering and struggles they have experienced in their life. Make sure to allow everyone the opportunity to share. All of us can in some way connect with human suffering. Through this Scripture, help people see how God can use and work through suffering to bring glory to his Name and birth hope in our hearts.
Discussion Questions:
1) What is an experience of suffering that has shaped who you are?
2) What does it mean to glory in our sufferings? Is that something you are able to relate to? What makes this challenging?
3) What does the progression to hope look like (v3-4)? Spend some time discussing how this happens in our life and shapes us as disciples of Jesus?
4) Look at v. 5: what do you think is the connection between hope and God's love? How do these come together for us as followers of Jesus?
5) Is there any area in your life where you are in need of hope? How is the Spirit of God speaking into that area through Romans 5:1-5?
Close with a time of prayer.
