The Gift of a Future with God

Where do we find hope at Christmas in the midst of a challenging year? Join us this Sunday at CrossWinds Church in Spencer as we wrestle with this question from the book of Romans.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. “I do not know what the heart of a bad man is like, but I do know what the heart of a good man is like, and it is terrible” (Ivan Turgenev). What does this quote mean? Why must we understand our sin before we can delight in the gospel?
2. What is one highlight from the sermon and one question that you had after hearing the sermon?
3. J.I. Packer states that Christmas is the most important piece of the Christian faith to believe, because everything else in the Gospels makes sense if Jesus is both God and man. Do you agree or disagree with him?
4. Read Romans 3:21; 5:8; Ephesians 2:4; 1 Peter 2:10. Why is the word “but” one of the most important words in the Bible? What does it communicate?
5. Read Romans 3:21–26. What is “justification”? Why is it important?
6. Read Romans 4:19–22. How does Paul define faith here? What are some examples of where you struggle with unbelief? What does faith look like for you?
7. Read Romans 5:1–5. How does the promise of future glory give us hope in today’s suffering? Where do you need the hope of the New Creation?
8. Read Romans 5:6–11. If God has loved you at your worst, he won’t stop loving you now. How do these verses give you hope in your struggle against sin?