For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
ROMANS 8:15 (NIV)

SERIES OVERVIEW

Take a journey together with your small group to greater faith! If you’ve ever had feelings like, “I’m not good enough,” “I’m never going to change,” or “Life is too hard,” Romans eight is the chapter for you! Pastor Tom Holladay taught this series beginning at the bottom and moving to the top of Saddleback Mountain through each of the four sessions to help us see clearly the journey from doubt to faith—from discouragement to hope—that God has for us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Did you get a chance to share the message of “no condemnation” with someone this last week? How did they respond?
2. What items would you put on the top of a list of things that frustrate you because they take longer than they should?
3. Verses 4–7: What could you do to rely more on the Spirit and less on your own willpower in your battle to live as the Spirit desires?
4. Verses 4–7: What helps you to set your mind on what the Spirit desires for your life?
5. Verses 8–13: How does it impact you when you see the truth that living under your own control can never be pleasing to God?
6. Verses 14–17: What does it mean to you personally to call God Father? How about to call God Abba, or daddy?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

From verses 14–17: Pray to God as your “Abba, Father” this week by addressing him as “Abba, Father” in your prayers, by talking to him about your simplest needs and your deepest hurts and by thanking him that because of Jesus you are his child and his heir.

PRAYER DIRECTION

Start the prayers to God as your Abba Father in your group prayer time.