WARM-UP Questions

1. Do you remember (from the sermon) what causes so much debate about this section in Romans?
2. When you encounter parts of the Bible that are difficult, what is your motivation and method to persist?

Read Romans 7:7-13

1. According to these verses, what are the purposes of the law? Does this mean that the law is sin (in and of itself) or is it good? How so?
2. As Christians, what law and teaching does Jesus instruct us to obey? What do you find most difficult? In what area have you seen the most growth in your life?
3. When has been a time in your life in which God’s Word has both SHOWN and CONVICTED you of sin? In what way, knowing what sin is, does the law provoke more sin in our lives?
4. How is it possible for sin to hijack law? Have you known this to be true? How was it true in the garden?

Read Romans 7:14-25

1. Have you ever tension like Paul, doing the very things you do not want to do? If comfortable, please share an aspect of this with the group.
2. How can we all be of encouragement to one another as we seek to fight this battle?
3. Because we await being completely free from sin when we are physically resurrected, does this mean that we should give up on resisting sin today?
4. How does recognising that we live in ‘in-between’ times help us amidst this battle?
5. Why is relying on our own performance such a perilous path to take?
6. What does Paul mean when he calls himself “wretched”? Why is recognising our wretchedness actually a good and honest thing to do?
7. When we recognise our inability to meet God’s standards, and the battle of sin that we cannot win, what should that cause us to do?
8. How is Jesus the ultimate rescuer? What does it look like to continually put our trust in him?
9. As you look at the entirety of this chapter, what most strikes you? What do you most identify with?

APPLY (this week): As you face the reality of living in the tension of sin yet also desiring to follow God’s ways, what is your source of strength?

‍

‍

For Families

• Watch the following video and discuss

Audio

• Paul Tripp on Romans 7
• Dick Lucas on Romans 7 (St Helen’s Bishopsgate)
• Simon Manchester and Dr Will Timmins on Romans 7

Helpful Books and Articles

• Ben Bailie on “Lloyd-Jones: Believer or Unbeliever is Not the Point of Romans 7”
• “What’s Really Going on in Romans 7” by Will Timmins
• Tyndale Lecture delivered in Cambridge (1974) on “Romans 7:14-25 in the Theology of Paul” by James Dunn
• Romans (Read, Mark, Learn Series) by William Taylor (St Helens Bishopsgate)
• Romans (The Story of God Bible Commentary Series) by Michael Bird
  

‍

‍