DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What did it mean to you to pray to God as your Abba, Father last week?
2. Verses 17–18: What does it mean to you to “share in the sufferings” of Jesus? What do the words “weight of glory” picture for you?
3. Verses 19–37: Is there anything that you are having to wait for right now? How does the truth of God’s hope help you as you wait? How could your group pray for you as you wait?
4. Verses 19–27: Do you feel the freedom to groan as a follower of Jesus? How could you do some honest groaning?
5. Verses 28–30: How have you seen God working “all things together for his good” in your life?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Take some time to read some verses about hope this week, asking God to give you new strength as you wait. Try finding them in an online concordance, and then share with each other some of the verses you’ve found at the beginning of your next meeting. Stretch your faith this week by taking 15 minutes to dream about how God might transform one problem you’re now facing into his glory. If you’ve never memorized Romans 8:28, start on it this week.

PRAYER DIRECTION

Take some time as a group to talk about your specific prayer requests and to pray for one another, especially asking that God will give you hope as you wait.