Week 2
Read: Romans 6:15-23 and your notes from Sunday morning’s sermon.
Intro: The word slavery brings with it a host of emotions and word associations, and I would even venture to guess that they are all negative depictions. Paul in his letter to the Romans challenges people to view slavery in a different way. Although we are no longer slaves to sin, does that then mean we are free? Are we free to ourselves? Are we so covered by grace now that we can do whatever we like?
The Roman culture and our own are so similar that Paul’s words are still very powerful today. It’s as if he could be speaking straight to the Church in America.
Questions:
When you think of being “free” what do you picture?
Paul presents a new kind of freedom which he compares to slavery in verses 15-18. How do you feel about being a slave to righteousness? Is this a different view of christianity than is widely taught in our culture?
What does it look like to be free in Christ?
How can being a slave to righteousness actually benefit us?
Feel free to discuss or ask additional questions as they arise
Spiritual Practice: We are currently focusing on the spiritual discipline of submission. This week we’ve talked about being slaves to righteousness instead of slaves to sin. Part of Romans 6:19 says: “Just as you used to offer parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” Reflect on the ways you have offered yourself in slavery to “wickedness” as Paul puts it. This can be difficult. Paul even says in verse 22: “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?” Maybe some of these things brought us short term pleasure but did it ever truly benefit us, especially in light of eternity? Paul recognizes that when we leave those ways, we are naturally ashamed of how we used to act. But we don’t stay there. Paul continues to point us towards submission to Chist and reminds us of the great benefits we reap when we offer ourselves into slavery in that way. This week, be on the lookout for any “old ways” that you still need to let go of. Be very mindful of things you might have up to this point made excuses for in order to have your own way. God is calling us out of our desire to have our own way, and into submission to Him. If we believe what Paul has written, we know that this submission ultimately leads only to our own benefit.
Closing Verse: Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
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