ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

FROM SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2007

ROAMING ROMANS SESSION 7: ROMANS 5:1-11

1. Begin by reading Romans 5:1-11 together.

2. Paul summarises where he has got to so far in the first eight words of this chapter:  'Therefore, since we have been justified through faith...' What follows spells out the consequences of this. First, then, what does Paul mean by 'peace with God'? How does Paul describe it? What does this mean to you?

3. What does Paul mean by 'the glory of God' in verse 2? In what ways do we 'rejoice in the hope' of it?

4. Paul certainly knew what it was to suffer for the sake of the gospel! How then is he able to say that we 'rejoice in our sufferings' (verse 3)?

5. What would you identify as 'sufferings' in your life? How do you respond to the suggestion that you should 'rejoice' in them?

6. Looking at verse 5, why might hope 'disappoint' us? What prevents this from happening? How is what Paul writes about here reflected in your experience?

7. How do verses 6-8 describe the extent of God's love for us?

8. In verse 8, how can Paul say that 'God demonstrates his own love' in the fact that 'Christ [ie, someone else!] died for us'?

9. Take some time to pray for the deepening of our spiritual lives along the lines set out in this passage, especially for situations where rejoicing in suffering is an especially hard call at the moment.

David Stone
26 November 2007