Introduction
Has anyone in your group been to a target range? What was it like? How did you do?
How hard was it to hit the bullseye? If a definition of sin is to “miss the mark” - what is
the mark at which we are aiming?
Discussion Questions
1. You hear people say “I try to be a good person”. Discuss the idea of whether the
“mark” at which we aim is: 1) obeying the ten commandments 2) being a good
person, 3) Being holy. What does each mean?
2. Look at these two verses:
a. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
b. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Now read Romans 7:15 and 18.
4. Does that sound like your experience in your life in “trying” to be good?
5. Boy, it may start to feel hopeless, but remember Romans chapter 8 follows 7 and
there is really on division of thought.
a. So read this - Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from
the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.”
6. Read Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.
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a. Draw and arrow from the center circle (Spirit) all the way out to the outer
circle (Body)
b. Now draw an arrow from the outer circle (Body) and just let the point be
touching the Spirit circle but not entering it.
7. This is a picture of Romans 7 and 8. Where is the common ground of conflict?
(The area the two arrows have in common?)
8. To live in chapter 8 we must win the battle of the mind. We must renew our minds
with His thoughts, His Truth and the best place to find that is in His Word.
i. One old farmer was explaining
9. Romans 7 feels like defeat. - Satan would love to have us live in the defeat of
Romans 7:15,18 but that is not the story of God! Remember the end of chapter 8
completes Paul’s thoughts on the matter so read this.
a. Romans 8:31 following - What, then, shall we say in response to these
things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those
whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who
condemns?... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble
or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
10. Read the bold part out loud together!
11. God is for us not against us. How does this impact how you have seen God?
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12. Lastly then – If we are experiencing discipline in our lives we need to know God is
not paying us back for our sin he is calling us back into a love relationship.
13. How does discipline differ from punishment?
14. How does that change your view of God as a punisher?
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