Bible ReadingRomans 8:12-17 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
[41:08]Luke 7:36-50 “One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ And he answered, ‘Say it, Teacher.’ ‘A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.’ And he said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.’ And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this, who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”
[45:10]Psalm 130:3-4 “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”
[46:14]1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
[49:22]Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,”
[52:38]Observation questions- In Romans 8:12-17, what contrasts does Paul make between living according to the flesh and putting sin to death by the Spirit? [46:59]
- What words does Paul use to describe believers’ relationship to God, and what do those words show about belonging in God’s family?
- In Luke 7, what are the clear differences between Simon’s response to Jesus and the woman’s response to Jesus? [45:10]
- According to Romans 8:17 and Philippians 1:29, what two things are joined together in the life of a child of God? [52:38]
Interpretation questions- Paul calls believers “debtors,” while also making clear that no one can repay God for forgiveness. How does gratitude for grace differ from trying to earn God’s favor through religious effort? [44:33]
- Jesus does not use the two debtors in Luke 7 to give people a way to rank sins. What does the story reveal about why someone who sees the depth of their forgiveness loves Jesus deeply? [45:43]
- Romans 8 says that believers put sin to death “by the Spirit.” What would distinguish a real fight against sin from simply calling an accepted sin a “struggle”? [47:43]
- Paul says believers have received the Spirit of adoption rather than slavery that leads back to fear. How does knowing that God is Father, rather than a harsh slave master, change the reason a Christian obeys? [50:16]
Application questions- Is there an area where guilt has become the main reason for serving God, giving, attending church, or trying to obey? What would it look like to respond to the cross with gratitude instead of trying to pay God back? [44:37]
- What sin can be named clearly right now—not just as a vague “struggle,” but honestly and specifically? What would fighting it by the Spirit look like this week: confession, cutting off access, asking for help, replacing a habit, or seeking accountability? [54:03]
- When failure comes, is the usual response to hide from God, work harder to earn back his love, or come honestly to the Father? How does the finished work of Christ give a better place to begin again? [49:37]
- Where is fear showing up in the relationship with God—fear that he is tired of failures, fear that he will withdraw, or fear that obedience will never be enough? How does “Abba, Father” speak into that fear? [50:25]
- Can the group point to ways the Spirit has given assurance of belonging to God—through a changed desire, growing obedience, a deeper love for Christ, or a sweet awareness of God’s presence in worship? [51:17]
- Is there a present hardship that has made it difficult to believe God is near or good? How might suffering with Christ be different from suffering alone, even before the reasons for the pain are fully understood? [53:01]
- The Lord’s Table is not for people who have everything together, but for believers who come in honest repentance and faith. Is there anything that needs to be brought into the light before God this week so that grace can be received with gratitude? [54:54]
