Filed under: Sermon Interaction
Please read Romans 7:14-8:6
1. (v.7, 8, 13) It is the purpose of the law to show us something. a) What is it and b) in what ways does it do this?
2. (v.8-9) How, do you think, does the law actually aggravate or stir up the sin in our hearts (cf. v.5)? [Consult your own experience.]
3. (v.8-9) What do you think Paul meant when he said, “I was alive apart from the law”? And what do you think he meant when he says “Sin came and I died?”
4. (v.7-8) Which Biblical commandment seems to have “slain” Paul? Why, do you think would a Pharisee like Paul be so convicted by it?
5. (v.14-25) Is Paul speaking in these verses of an unbeliever’s struggle with sin, or is he talking about a believer’s struggle with sin? What is the evidence (in the text) for your answer?
6. (vv.14-25) What does Paul tell us here about a) what has changed b) what has not changed, c) what our need is, d) what our hope is as Christians?
7. If this is the Apostle’s present experience, how does this both warn and comfort us?
During the rest of this week, please keep the following “tongue assignment”. (These prescriptions come from various places in the New Testament.)
1. Do not complain or grumble.
2. Do not boast about anything.
3. Do not gossip or a repeat a matter.
4. Do not run someone down — even a little bit.
5. Do not defend or excuse yourself, no matter what.
6. Do continually affirm others.
The purpose of this assignment is to reveal your own heart to you. Most people will have trouble lasting more than 3 or 4 hours without breaking it. (Of course, if you do last longer, you can’t brag to anyone of it!) This is a practical way to see the purpose of the law as Paul describes it.
8. (Romans 8 v.1) What does the phrase ‘no condemnation’ mean? Paraphrase it several ways. Does ‘no condemnation’ refer only to our past, or also to our present and future?
9. (v.1-2) What two great benefits have been given to us who are in Christ Jesus? (v.3-4) How did we get each of the two benefits come to us? What is the final purpose of both of them (v.4)?
10. (v.5-6) What does Paul say here is the connection between “minding” and “living”? What do you think it means to ‘set the mind’ on the Spirit in light of the rest of Romans 8?
11. (v.6) Write down some very practical ways in which ‘minding the Spirit’ leads to peace, but to forget the things of the Spirit leads to death?
Thanks to Timothy Keller for these questions
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