PRAY: Spend two minutes in silent prayer. After two minutes, have someone pray for your time together as a group.

READ: Romans 1:1-16. Invite different group members to read the passage out loud, two or three times. Each time, use a different Bible translation to allow for the Spirit to highlight key points through different wordings and sentence structures.

Q1 – How does knowing that you are loved by God shape the way you see yourself, your circumstances, and the people around you? How can you continue to practice this belief even when God redirects your plans to look more like His plans?

Q2 – Who has God already placed around you that you might be uniquely positioned to love, serve, or share the Gospel with? What would taking a step toward that person look like? Have you reached out to this person/people already?

Q3 – When God’s plan looks different from your plan, what are you most tempted to do- take control, become discouraged, question God, or press in and trust Him? Why?

Q4 – If the Gospel really is worth giving ourlives to, what priorities or pursuits are most likely to compete with it in yourlife? What would it look like for the Gospel to become the organizing priority ofyour life rather than something you simply add to it?

Q5 – Have you died to your version of God’s planfor your life? What expectations do you have for your life that you may need to surrender to God? What makes those expectations difficult to release?

Q6 – Miles asked the question “Are you ashamed ofthe Gospel?” What tends to keep you from sharingthe gospel- fear of rejection, not knowing what to say, fear of beingmisunderstood, comfort, or something else?

Q7 – Think of a time when God’s plan looked different from what you expected. What did that experience reveal about your trust in Him?

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READING:

Each week, we will include Scripture readings that are meant to help you reflect more deeply throughout the week, personally, or in your group.

• Romans 1:1–17 → Set Apart for the Gospel
• Acts 20:22–24 → A Life Given to the Mission
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 → Ambassadors for Christ
• Philippians 1:3-6 → Trusting God With the Story
• 2 Timothy 1:6–12 → Unashamed of the Gospel

Take time to sit with the Scriptures, return to them daily, and let them shape your prayers, questions, and conversations this week.

CHALLENGE – Contemplating Where God Is Leading

If the Gospel is worth giving our lives to, it is worth bringing before God in prayer. Take time this week to ask God to bring one person to mind who needs to know the hope of Jesus. Pray for that person by name. Ask God to soften their heart, draw them toward Himself, and give you an opportunity to love them well and share the Good News when the time is right.

Pray also for your own heart- that God would remove fear, comfort, or shame that might keep you from speaking about Jesus. Ask Him to give you boldness, wisdom, compassion, and sensitivity to recognize the opportunities He places in front of you.

Pray for the person. Pray for the opportunity. Pray for the courage to be faithful when God opens the door.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Please click HERE to access the Romans series Resource Page to access links to sermons, books, and video resources.

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