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

READ: Romans 2:17-29. 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 – What are some ways we can look spiritually mature on the outside while neglecting the health of our hearts? Why is it easier for you to settle for outward religious behavior instead of genuine transformation?

Q2 – When you look honestly at your life right now, where is there a gap between what others see and what is happening in your heart?

Q3 – Think about your last few weeks. What have you done? Who have you interacted with? What impression of Jesus would someone have based on your interaction with them?

Q4 – What is the difference between feeling bad about your sin and allowing God to genuinely change your heart? What might that difference look like in everyday life? How can you practice living with a changed heart about your sin?

Q5 – How does understanding God’s grace change the way we respond to our own sin and the sin of others? How can we pursue holiness without relying on our own performance to earn God’s approval?

Q6 – In what ways have you “shut the door of your heart to God” when you go through hard times? How can this group encourage you even if you are in the middle of a hard time?

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READING:

Each week, we will include Scripture readings that are meant to help you read through the Bible in one year. See this week’s Scripture readings below:

Oct 11 — Judges 20–21; Ruth 1–3

Oct 12 — Ruth 4; 1 Samuel 1–4

Oct 13 — 1 Samuel 5–9

Oct 14 — 1 Samuel 10–14

Oct 15 — 1 Samuel 15–19

Oct 16 — 1 Samuel 20–24

Oct 17 — 1 Samuel 25–29

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

CHALLENGE - SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION

By the end of the ROMANS series, memorize Romans 12. Break the chapter into sections and spend a few minutes each day reading each day's verses ten times, writing each day’s verses ten times, and repeating the verses until you can say them without looking. At the end of each week, see how much you can recite from memory.

The Method: Simplicity + Consistency

1. Read out loud: Choose one verse and read it out loud 7–10 times. Pay attention to each word and let the truth of each passage sink in.

2. Say it from memory: Cover the verse and try to recite it out loud 7–10 times without looking. Even if you stumble, go for at least 7 times before looking again.

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat: Come back to the verse and repeat it multiple times throughout the day. Make it a habit: Use restroom trips, solo car rides, lunch breaks, or any time you'd normally be doomscrolling to repeat the verse.

4. Add another scripture: Each day, say all the verses you’ve memorized so far. Keep adding one new verse using this same method to build on the verses before it.

As you memorize, ask the Lord to show you how these words are meant to shape the way you live, worship, and love others.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

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

●  For topical resources, click HERE to access the ACC Resource Library.