GSCC Small Group January 9, 2007

Prayer: Pray for people to have new resolution to spend time with Jesus in prayer and bible reading.

Bible Verses: Romans 8:31-39

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Ask the following questions:

1. Who is against us today in our lives? (police, boss, poverty, illness, death, devil, everyone)
2. Who can provide us with all things I need? (parents, self, spouse, lottery, uncle Sam, God)
3. Who is accusing and condemning us? (self, folks, friends, neighbors, competitors, society)

2. Now Read V31-34, answer and give reasons for answers for the above three questions.

1. God is for you so no one can be against us. (things may go against us for now, but they will not prevail, since God is on our side till the end)
2. God did not spare his own son for us, so God will give us all things that we need. (God has given us what is the most precious to him and the most important to us, he will definitely provide us with our daily need)
3. God is the judge who has justified us, no one can accuse and condemn us. (as if in the court, God is the judge and has sentenced us not guilty, and Jesus continues to intercede for us even now)

3. What are the afflictions that might leave us doubts to the love of Christ? Read V35-39. (hardship, poverty, death, threat and temptation) How does Paul mean by we conquer these sufferings? (Though God does not promise to abolish suffering, He promises that the love of Christ will never leave us in those sufferings.)

Prayer: Pray for each other for love of Christ to bring peace in our lives.