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

READ: Romans 11:33-12:1. 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 – Grant began his teaching by posing two questions that nearly all of us have wrestled with before: Is my life valuable and does it have purpose? Consider sharing your experience in answering these questions in relation to your own story. What led you to feel like you lacked value or purpose? What helped you discover that your value comes not from what you accomplish, but from being created by God and for His glory?

Q2 – We learned that worship is far more than a song- it actually encompasses the entirety of life. What area of your life is hardest to fully surrender to Jesus right now? Why do you think that is?

Q3 – True worship is sacrificial worship-it actually costs you something. When was the last time your worship cost you something (dreams, comfort, preferences, etc.)? What negotiations do you continue to try to make with God rather than submit to His lordship?

Q4 – The Gospel is the fuel for the Christian life. In what ways do you often need to be reminded of the Gospel to propel you forward in your day to day life? When you feel discouraged, guilty, anxious, or prideful, what truths about the Gospel help bring your heart back to Jesus?

Q5 – Remembering Grant’s example of“2008”, how can you start your days getting the mercy of God in view? What has He done in your life that can remind you of that mercy?

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.

● Psalm 95:1-7 → Who is God?

● Ephesians 2:1-10 → What has God done for me?

● Luke 9:23-26 → Who is Jesus as Lord?

● Philippians 2:5-11 → What does surrender look like?

● Colossians 3:12-17 → How do I live a life of worship?

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

CHALLENGE - Pray for Gem City Church

As we pray this week, we want to be a church that champions Pastors in other cities who are doing kingdom work. Spend time praying for Gem City Church and for Grant Partick as they launch their church.

● Pray for a deep commitment toJesus.

● Pray for lives to be changed.

● Pray for favor in the city ofMarietta, GA.

● Pray for Grant’s Leadership and the others that will shepherd.

● Pray for the next generation that will grow up at Gem City Church

● Pray for unbelievers to be drawn to the people of Gem City Church that they might come to know Jesus.

● Pray for deep, strong community between the people as this new church grows.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

● Reading Romans Backwards by Scot McKnight. Click HERE to purchase.

● Into the Heart of Romans by NT Wright. Click HERE to purchase.

● Conformed to the Image of His Son by Haley Goranson Jacob. Click HERE to purchase.

● Book of Romans Guide with Key Information and Resources by The Bible Project. Click HERE to access.

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

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