Sermon Questions
The Experience of the Gospel! Summary: God loves and accepts believing sinners as if they had done all His only Son had done—He accepts us as sons/daughters.
“There is often a great chasm between what we believe and what we experience practically and emotionally. Paul teaches us that we are justified in Christ—God sees us as perfect in His sight just as wise, righteous, and beautiful as His own Son. Martin Luther says this “is easy to utter in words, but in use and experience is
very hard.” This echoes Paul in Gal 4:6-7 who says we must cherish and rejoice and see ourselves as adopted sons/daughters of God!”
- What is your relationship with your father like? How do you think that affects your view of God?
- Paul imagines a child-heir of a very rich family (who is still taken care of by guardians). How does this illustrate the condition of a person who is under the law/doesn’t have a relationship with God?
- Imagine back in the history of our country or currently in some countries of the world. What are some of the differences between living as a slave or living as a child?
- How do you think you would feel if you had been a slave and someone came and not only set you free, but also adopted you and made you an heir?
- What has God done in order to make us His children? (vs 4-6) What was Jesus’ part? The Holy Spirit’s part?
- What is the significance of being adopted into God’s family? What difference does that make in your life? ~Read Romans 8:15-16 What does “Abba” mean, why is calling God “Abba” significant?
- Which of the characteristics of a slave mentality (a person still living as if they are “under the law”) are strongest in you? How can you overcome that mentality? How can we daily rejoice in the change God has made in our station of life (from slaves to freedom and adoption)?
