What If God Was Actually For You?

ROMANS 8

5) those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

9) You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

10) But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

11) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

13) For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

17) Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

31) What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –
Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of eye –
And for an everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Emily Dickinson, I dwell in possibility

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Mixer

Is there a particular tradition or special something that you feel captures what’s unique about your family?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

1. In Pastor Harry’s 1/12/21 entry, Walk On, he shares an illustration of his grandson transitioning for crawling to walking and his perseverance: “... there's a Voice, deep inside this little guy, that's whispering to him, "You were born to walk...through it all...no matter how steep it is...no matter how uneven it is...no matter how difficult it is...no matter how many times…” What is that Voice saying to you when you want to quit?

2. Have you ever given any thought that since God knew you before you were born, He planned for your arrival at a certain place and time in history? What were you uniquely created for to bring to the table of 2021, in your family, your church, your work, your relationships, your world?

Sermon Questions

Scripture: Romans 8:5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 31

What IF?

1. What is an “If Only” that holds you back from advancing to the future with confidence that God is for you? Why are you stuck there?
2. Pastor Jared reminded us of how we have studied the tension between our flesh and God’s Spirit within us. Romans 8:13 tells of our fate in either the flesh, or in the Spirit. How have you been “dying before you die”? What is the 1% tweak that can give life instead?
3. In Romans 8:17, we are invited to share in Christ’s sufferings. Pastor Jared said: “That’s how we get the glory.” How did that sit with you? How do sufferings benefit us?
4. Pastor Jared said the most significant contribution you can make to the world right now is not something you do,  but somebody you are raising. If you have kids, what is the example you are setting? Who else has God put in your life to raise? What would He have you do and what would it look like?
5. Don’t hang your what if on what you haven’t done. Hang it on what can God do now? Create new memories and new pathways to that person. Don’t let the brokenness stand in the way of the what if opportunity in any relationship.
6. What does 2021 look like if you say it is a what if year?
7. How can we be in this moment differently that what it looked like 1%. What if it changed you for the better than the worse.
8. What if God stepped into it with you?

Go Deeper

This week, Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold began a new study called: HIS-Story - the Bible in 18 Weeks. This study is available online/on-demand on our website at thechurchrb.org/Goodbook. Here are the study questions for Week 1: Beginnings: Creation to the Tower of Babel; Genesis 1-11

1. What are the central themes of the Creation account in Genesis 1-2? What do we learn about the nature of God? About the status of human beings?
2. What would you say is the overall theme of the Primeval History of Genesis 1-11? What does this teach us about human beings? About God’s grace?
3. What does the Fall teach us about the origin of evil, sin, disease and death? Who was responsible for this? How does this help to answer the questions of the “Problem of Evil” (how a good and all-powerful God can allow evil in the world)?
4. In what sense is the story of the Tower of Babel about ​both​ God’s judgment and His grace?

Serve

Good Neighbor Day is Saturday, February 6! Sign up with your group or your family online or in the church center app.

Pray

LORD, help me to believe that Your promises are true for me. That when I step into ___________, You are for me and put a power within me that can make a difference. God, I don’t want to live in the regret of ___________ anymore, and I want to step into a possibility mindset of the future You see for me. I open up to You - be present and active in me. Make me a “What If” person in the lives of my friends and family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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