Transformed: Shaped by Grace

As a church, we will focus in 2021 on memorizing scripture together.

Weekly Reading Plan + Resources

Week 13 | April 12 - 17

Romans 10 | Paul maintains that the way to bring others to a saving knowledge of the gospel is to preach the gospel to all who will listen (Romans 10:8–17). This means that we must keep taking the good news of Jesus into our workplaces, communities, families, and friend groups, with the hope that many will come to saving faith in Jesus!

As we dig into Romans 9:30–10:13, Paul exposes one huge reason that many people in his day resist the gospel—people look for right moral standing in all the wrong places. This is just as true in our day as it was in Paul’s. Many of us try to convince ourselves that we are good enough for God through upright behavior, involvement in charities, political advocacy, or even church attendance. Unfortunately, when we get so tied to these forms of self-justification, we become unwilling or unable to accept the true work of justification through the gospel of Jesus.

Reading Plan

Monday, April 12 // Romans 10:1-13 - The Message of Salvation to All
Tuesday, April 13 // Romans 9:14-21 - Preach the Gospel to all who will listen
Wednesday, April 14 // Galatians 6:1-10 - Do not be deceived God is not mocked
Thursday, April 15 // Deuteronomy 30:1-10 - Repentance and Forgiveness
Friday, April 16 // Jeremiah 42:1-17— I will have compassion on you
Saturday, April 17 // Psalm 61 - Create in Me a Clean Heart

Memory Verse

"If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9–10 (CSB)

Video Resource

Week 12 | April 5 - 10

Romans 9 | Paul’s wrestling can cause us to reflect on our own times of wrestling with God. We might wonder why God hasn’t moved in the lives of our neighbors. We mourn over the reality that our family members remain far from Christ and uninterested in the gospel. We wonder how people who have seen God work fail to trust him for salvation. We fight to continue on believing that God knows what he’s doing.

In our prayers we exclaim, “God, why haven’t you saved them yet?” But we must look at how Paul wrestles with God. In Paul’s emotional wrestling over the salvation of his kinsmen, he moves to the question, “Is God’s Word trustworthy?” Paul’s concerns start with God’s character, not a felt need or a perception of how God should act. As believers, our focus should—like Paul—be on God’s righteous character and his ever-faithful Word.

Reading Plan

Monday, April 5 // Romans 9:1-13 - God’s Word has not failed, nor will it ever fail
Tuesday, April 6 // Romans 9:14-29 - Our salvation is an act of God’s mercy, as well as God’s choice
Wednesday, April 7 // Romans 9:30-33 - Israel’s Unbelief
Thursday, April 8 // Deuteronomy 7 - A Chosen People
Friday, April 9 // Isaiah 55:1–9 - The Compassion of the Lord
Saturday, April 10 // Psalm 62 - My Soul Waits for God Alone

Memory Verse

"For he tells Moses, ‘I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." - Romans 9:15 (CSB)

Video Resource

Week 11 | March 29 - April 3

Romans 9 + 10 | Paul doesn’t leave his struggles open-ended. He knows the lack of Israel’s belief doesn’t negate God’s covenant or tarnish his character. What could be seen as an unfulfilled promise is far from it. The answer to Paul’s wrestling appears in Romans 9:6, where Paul explains with confidence that God’s Word has not failed, “because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” Paul shows that being an ethnic Israelite does not automatically make someone a part of God’s chosen people.

There is ethnic Israel, and there is chosen Israel. Not every ethnic Israelite is a chosen Israelite. Paul makes sense of this reality using two Old Testament accounts. These truths help us understand Paul’s motivation for writing this letter, specifically chapters 9–11. Paul writes these words from a place of deep anguish for his own people (the Jews), because many of them had not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ. Many in Israel—Paul’s very kinsmen!—were missing out on the best part of God’s plan. Despite all that God had done for them, they had yet to understand and see clearly his greatest provision—Jesus, the Messiah

Reading Plan

Monday, March 29 // Romans 9:1-29 - God’s Sovereign Choice
Tuesday, March 30 // Romans 9:30-33 - Israel’s Unbelief
Wednesday, March 31 // Romans 10:1-21 - The Message of Salvation to All
Thursday, April 1 // Hebrews 9:11- 28 - Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
Friday, April 2 // Deuteronomy 30:1-20 - Repentance and Forgiveness
Saturday, April 3 // Philippians 2:1-10 - Christ’s Example of Humility

Memory Verse

Video Resource

Week 10 | March 22 - 27

Romans 8 (part 2) | We are individually undergoing restoration at the hands of the Spirit who lives inside of us. We are weak, we don’t know how to pray, we don’t know God’s will, and our faith fails. But the Spirit intercedes for us and helps us develop a real-time connection with our Heavenly Father. The Spirit also confirms that the hope we have in the gospel is true. Romans 8:29–30 tells us that in order for us to be saved, God knew us before Creation. God then set his rescue plan in motion thousands of years ago in a distant land through his only Son, and one day he will also glorify us (8:17).

This plan has been in place for so long and Christ has accomplished so much on our behalf—why should we doubt that God will finish this work? The suffering we will experience is part of, not a distraction from, the sanctification and glorification that the Spirit is working in us. All of the rhetorical questions from Romans 1–8 are answered in Romans 8:31–39. If God has accomplished all this—everything mentioned in the first eight chapters of Romans—through Jesus Christ on our behalf, how can we doubt God’s love for us? Do we think that the trials and tribulations we experience are going to derail God’s purposes for the people that he has chosen? Of course not! Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! Let God’s Spirit feed our souls with these words as we study Romans 8:18–39.

Reading Plan

Monday, March 22 // Romans 8:18-30 - Future Glory
Tuesday, March 23 // Romans 8:31-39 - God’s Everlasting Love
Wednesday, March 24 // Romans 8:1-39 - All of Romans 8
Thursday, March 25 // Romans 5:1-11 - Peace with God Through Faith
Friday, March 26 // 1 Peter 1:3-11 - Born Again to a Living Hope
Saturday, March 27 // Psalm 40 - My Help and My Deliverer

Memory Verse

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38–39 (CSB)

Video Resource

Week 9 | March 15-20

Romans 8 (part 1) | The trajectory of Romans 8 is astounding. At the beginning of the passage, we hear the declaration that we longer stand condemned for our sinfulness (8:1). By the end of the passage, we are so far from condemned sinners that we are actually children of God, inheriting what Christ deserved by his obedience. The final verse of our target passage for this week (8:17) actually says we will be glorified with Christ. In the space of these seventeen verses, we see the complete story of the gospel.

We, who were once enemies of God, have now been justified; we will no longer be judged for our sin. But God did not leave us there, he sent his Spirit to help us overcome sin and become freed from its slavery (sanctification), and with Christ, we also receive sonship. And that’s not even close to the end of the story. One day, we will become fully new creations, dwelling with God in heaven, being perfectly righteous in all that we do (glorification). Glorification is not a word that we often focus on when it comes to our blessings in the gospel, but it is one of the most exciting aspects of what we have in Christ.

Reading Plan

Monday, March 15 // Romans 8:1-8 - Life in the Spirit
Tuesday, March 16 // Romans 8:9-11 - Life in the Spirit
Wednesday, March 17 // Romans 8:12-17 - Heirs with Christ
Thursday, March 18 // Romans 1:16-17 - The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
Friday, March 19 // Galatians 2:15-21 - Justified by Faith
Saturday, March 20 // Psalm 51 - Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

Memory Verse

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. - Romans 8:11 (CSB)

Week 8 | March 8 -13

Week 7 | February 22-27

Romans 6 | God unites sinners to Christ in his death and resurrection by faith. Paul presents this precious truth in Romans 6. Paul comes to this truth as he deals with the objections that might arise from his teaching on God’s grace. He has said that sinners are justified by grace alone, apart from works (Romans 4:4–6).

But at this point, someone could find fault with God and his grace. If our justification is based on God’s grace and not our works, can’t we just keep sinning so that we experience more grace? In other words, does the gospel encourage unrighteousness? (6:1).

Monday, February 8 // Romans 4:1-12 - Abraham Justified by Faith

Tuesday, February 9 // Romans 4:13-25 - The Promise Realized Through Faith
Wednesday, February 10 // Psalm 32 - Blessed Are the Forgiven
Thursday, February 11 // Genesis 15 - God’s Covenant with Abram
Friday, February 12 // Romans 4 - The Righteousness of God Through Faith
Saturday, February 13 // Psalm 63 - My Soul Thirsts for You

Memory Verse

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” - Romans 4:3 (ESV)

Video Resource

Video Resource

Weekly Discussion Questions

Week 13 | April 12 - 17

In what way is Christ the “end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (10:4)?
Why is it important that the “message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (10:8)?
Describe the role belief plays in God’s plan of salvation according to Romans 9:30–10:13. Why is belief such an important part of salvation?
How does Romans 10 motivate us to share the gospel?

Week 12 | April 5 - 10

Why is it important that Paul grounds his points in Old Testament scriptures?
How do God’s characteristics of mercy and judgment work together in the story of salvation according to Romans 9:14–29?
How does this passage encourage you in your efforts to see your loved ones become believers?
Are there any circumstances in your life right now where it’s difficult to trust God’s sovereignty? Share them with your Lifegroup and pray together.

Week 11 | March 29 - April 3

Romans 9:30–10:13 helps us see the dangers of looking for righteousness in the wrong places. How have you chased after a false sense of righteousness? How can we know when we are drifting into these habits again?
Why is it important that the “message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8)?
Describe the role belief plays in God’s plan of salvation according to Romans 9:30–10:13.
Why is belief such an important part of salvation?

Week 10 | March 22 - 27

 What do we learn about God’s Spirit in Romans 8:18–39?
What do we learn about God’s character from Romans 8:18–39?
Think of something you fear or worry could separate you from God’s love. How does knowing that nothing can separate believers from God’s love help deepen your relationship with him
As we conclude this study series in Romans 8, how has God worked in your life through your study of his Word? Share one or two verses that have impacted you and how the Spirit has applied them to your life.

Week 9 | March 15 - 20

What has the Spirit of life done for all Christians that the law could not do? Why is this significant?
Many Christians feel condemned because of their sin. How does Romans 8:1–17 encourage you and release you from feelings of condemnation?
How does Romans 8:1–17 encourage you to cultivate your relationship with God?
What practical steps can we take to have our “minds set on the things of the Spirit” (8:5)?

Week 8 | March 8 - 13

What does Romans 7 teach you about God? What attributes or characteristics of God are highlighted?
What does Romans 7 teach you about yourself or others? What is true of your default sin nature?
What truths from Romans 7 will you share with others? Witg whom will you share? By when?

Week 7 | February 22-27

According to Romans 5:1–11, how does Christ’s salvation affect us right now in the present? How will Christ’s salvation impact us in the future?
Verse 3 says that we “rejoice in our sufferings.” What does this mean? How is it possible for Christians to rejoice in our sufferings without minimizing the pain we feel?
Recall an experience of suffering in your life and be prepared to share it with your small group. As a group, take time to enter in and “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
What keeps us from responding to God with the posture of joy and praise found in Romans 5:1–11? What would it look like to respond with joy and praise in the midst of your circumstances?
How can hope in things God will do bring positive changes to your life right now?

Week 6 | February 15-20

According to Romans 5:1–11, how does Christ’s salvation affect us right now in the present? How will Christ’s salvation impact us in the future?
Verse 3 says that we “rejoice in our sufferings.” What does this mean? How is it possible for Christians to rejoice in our sufferings without minimizing the pain we feel?
Recall an experience of suffering in your life and be prepared to share it with your Lifegroup. As a group, take time to enter in and “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). What keeps us from responding to God with the posture of joy and praise found in Romans 5:1–11? What would it look like to respond with joy and praise in the midst of your circumstances?
How can hope in things God will do bring positive changes to your life right now?

Week 5 | February 8-13

Paul uses Abraham as an example in Romans 4:1–17. In verses 1–5, what does Abraham’s story teach us about being justified by God?
What do verses 9–15 teach us about how faith, righteousness, and obedience work together?
Why was Abraham’s faith not a work that earned the wage of righteousness?
How do you usually think of your works before God? What works hinder your ability to live by faith? How does Romans 4:1–17 challenge you in your thinking of works? How can you help others trust God instead of working for righteousness?

Week 4 | February 1-6

Romans 1–3 teaches we cannot find lasting significance on our own apart from Christ. Where are you tempted to find your identity or significance apart from Christ?
How does believing the gospel humble us and enable us to be honest about ourselves?
What everyday implications does Romans 3:24 have on our lives?
How is Christ’s sacrificial death an appropriate solution to the problems and questions Paul has been raising up to this point?

Week 3 | January 24 - 30

In Romans 3:1–20, why is it important that Paul establishes that all people are unrighteous?
How does the unrighteousness of humankind fit into the good news of the gospel?
A common position in our culture believes some people to be more or less sinful than others. Based on our understanding of the gospel and the end of Romans 3:9, is it worth our time to debate who among us is more or less sinful? Why or why not?
The news that no one is righteous can be unsettling to hear at first. How have you come to accept your own unrighteousness apart from Christ?

Week 2 | January 17-23

Romans 2:15 says, “the law is written on their hearts.” This phrase is borrowed from Jeremiah 31:33. How do we demonstrate that the law is written on our hearts?
Share something that you consistently feel guilty about or a way that you are trying to justify yourself before God and others. What does Romans 2:1–16 say about our interaction with guilt and self-justification?
How does this passage affect the way you interact with your family, neighbors, coworkers, church, and community?

Week 1 | January 11 - 16

Reflect on the ways Romans 1:1-17 shows us that Jesus deserves our worship. How do these truths encourage you to share the gospel? Share practical steps you will take this week to display the gospel for the sake of someone else.
Paul clearly says he is "not ashamed of the gospel" in Romans 1:16. What would it look like to be ashamed of the gospel? How have you experienced temptations to hide what you believe about Jesus?
What does it look like to mutually encourage one another as believers like Paul desired to do in Romans? How can we do that as a family, Lifegroup, or Discipleship group?
Verse 6 says that believers are "Called to belong to Jesus Christ." What does it mean to belong to Jesus Christ? How is your life different because you belong to Jesus? What actions, decisions, or priorities is the Holy Spirit prompting you to consider?
Where are you guilty of judging and condemning others for sins that you excuse in your own life? How might the gospel influence such tendencies?