Jessica Godfrey

1. Read Romans 8.26-39. What does this text say about God’s character? How does this text speak to His love for His world, and His people? What in this text speaks most personally to you? 

2. Romans 8.26-27, and 8.34 reference ongoing intercession in heaven. Who is interceding, and what is the purpose of their intercession? 

3. In its simplest form intercession is standing in God’s presence on behalf of another. For whom do you regularly intercede? Who intercedes for you? 

4. On Sunday, instead of a normal sermon we spent the majority of our time interceding on behalf of others. We focused our prayers in four key areas of our faith. We’ll do the same here. Instead of a series of additional questions about intercession we want you to invite you to intercede. The four areas of prayer, and the passages that were used to anchor these spaces are below. Spend time standing in God’s presence interceding for others. 

Unity – John 17.20-22

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. 

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Community – Romans 12.3-8

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Suffering – Psalm 25

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.  

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.  

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?  He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.  Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Faith – Psalm 143

Lord, hear my prayer,  listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.  Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.

So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

1. Read Romans 8.18-27. What does this text say about God’s character? How does it help you know the grace of God? How do you see God’s love in action in the text? 

2. Paul is writing this letter from prison. At the beginning of this section Paul references suffering. What kind of suffering is Paul addressing? 

3. When have you, or do you, suffer with Christ? When have you or do you suffer for Christ? 

4. Paul writes in verse 18, our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. In your own words describe the “glory that will be revealed” in you. 

5. Who suffers with you? With whom do you suffer? How has God used suffering in your transformation process? 

6. Reflect on Romans 8.20-21 and answer the following questions. Why is creation frustrated? Who is responsible for subjecting it to frustration?Who will bring it into “freedom and glory”? How does this verse give an apologetic for natural disasters? 

7. Read Psalm 19.1-4. In the midst of a fallen world, how does creation still declare the glory of God? 

8. What does Paul mean by saying “we who have the first fruits of the Spirit?” 

9. Read Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 12.7-10 and answer the following questions.What is the overarching message of Paul’s testimony? How does weakness translate to strength? Why doesn’t God take away something that “torments” Paul? How have you seen God work by saying “no” to a prayer you’ve desperately prayed? 

10. Reflect on Romans 8.26-27 and  answer the following questions. How does this passage proclaim the Good News of Jesus? What does it mean to you that the Spirit prays in accordance with God’s will? In your own words define “intercession.” For whom do you regularly stand in God’s presence? How do you sense the Spirit is interceding for you today? 

11. Where and what in your life today causes you to groan? Who joins you in those spaces of groaning? How do you believe the Spirit is interceding for you right now? 

12. Read and reflect on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3.14-21

Review and reflect on the power and presence of the Spirit in Scripture. Answer the questions that follow. 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22.17 

Today, awareness of the activity of the Holy Spirit is as vital to the Church as it has ever been. The Spirit invites us to an infilling, a deep drink, of the living water Jesus offers us.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit” in John 20:21-22. As we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit today, there will be parties of salvation and joy (Acts 2:1), a few things will get moved around (Acts 2:2), we’ll be filled with the fire of love for others (Acts 2:3), and we’ll be empowered with gifts for the mission of loving the world to life in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:4-8,11b).We learn from the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible), that the Holy Spirit is the Breath of God (ruakh) and the Original Artist (Gen. 1:1), bringing beauty from chaos (Gen. 1:2), animating human life (Gen. 2:7), and sustaining all things seen and unseen (Gen. 2:1). The Holy Spirit speaks to people (Gen. 15:12a), helps us obey (Gen. 22:1-2), rushes to a humble heart (1 Sam. 16:13a), and renews us in worship (Ps. 51:10-12). 

The Holy Spirit is with us everywhere (Ps. 139:7-10), leading us to the good life (Ps. 143:10), stirring praise in our spirit (Exo. 15:19-21), and welcoming us to awakening moments (Exo. 3:2-4). The Spirit gives us prophetic discernment (Gen. 41:38), works through our skills (Exo. 31:1-6), orchestrates such-a-time-as-this moments (Est. 4:12-14), and uses God-hearing leaders (Jud. 4:14). The Spirit gives us a heart of flesh ( Eze. 36:26-27), calls a kingdom of priests (Exo. 19:4-6a), pours out God’s presence (Joel 2:28-29;32a), and rests on the Messiah (Isa. 11:1-3). The Holy Spirit empowers the Good News that sets captives free (Isa. 61:1-2a), and gives us life (Job 33:4).

We learn from the New Testament that Jesus was with the wind (pneuma) of the Holy Spirit at creation (John 1:1-5), and the Spirit gives us the strength to obey (Luke 1:35)—working powerfully through a person aware of the Father’s love (Matt. 3:16-17). The Spirit makes us born again (John 3:5-8), is our Helper (John 14:16-17), reveals Jesus (John 15:26), and guides us into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14-15) and reveals to us the depths of God (1 Cor. 2:9-12). The Spirit always builds up the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-14), empowers us with the Father’s love (Rom. 8:14-15), and teaches us what to say when we need to declare our faith (Luke 12:11-12). By the Spirit we learn how to walk on the path of life (Gal. 5:16-17), experience freedom (2 Cor. 3:17), gain the fruitful character of Christ (Gal. 5:22-25), quench our spiritual thirst (John 7:37-39), and come out of deserts with power (Luke 4:1-2;14-15). 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus’ Resurrection within us (Rom. 8:11), lavishly given by the Father (Luke 11:13), showing us the way of love (1 Cor. 13:1-6) and equipping us for ministry with profound spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-3). That Great Symphony of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7) is expressed through the Church, and gifts are distributed to all (1 Cor. 12:4-6), many and abundant (1 Cor. 12:7-11), for the building up of the local church (Rom. 12:4-8).

The Holy Spirit strengthens the Body through gifted leaders (Eph. 4:11-13), speaks to us through the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:14-17), through impressions and intuitions (Acts 20:22-23), through gifts of wisdom (James 3:13,17; Col. 1:9-12), and through the Body of Christ (Acts 13:2-4; Rom. 12:5). The Spirit is a deposit and guarantee of resurrection and the New Creation to come (2 Cor. 5:5), helping us wait in hope (Gal. 5:5), giving us divine perspective (Ps. 73:16-17), and opening us to the Father’s love (Gal. 4:6). 
We are strengthened inwardly by the Spirit (Eph. 3:16-19), and invited to partner in the healing of the world (John 16:7). The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word (Eph. 6:17), and worship is to flow from us in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). The Holy Spirit gives us righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom. 14:17), fills the temple of the Church (1 Cor. 3:16), and helps us in our weakness (Rom. 8:26-27). And the Holy Spirit does much, much more. While experiences with the Holy Spirit can’t be manufactured, they can be nurtured. Breathe deeply of the Holy Spirit, and drink deeply of the living waters Jesus promised. The Church of Jesus Christ is given the gift of the Holy Spirit—for the sake of the world. 

(excerpt from Seedbed. Used with permission)

Where do you see the Spirit at work in and through our Faith Family? Where do you sense the Spirit at work in your family? Where are you desperate for the Spirit to be at work? 

Read John 3.16 and 1 John 3.16. How do you see these verses stand alone? How do they complement each other? Reflect on John 3.16. How have you experienced the truth of this verse? Reflect on 1 John 3.16. How are you experiencing the truth of this verse? 

What is the primary role or purpose of the Spirit in our world, our church, and your life today? 

Reflect and respond to the role of the Spirit in moving from a transactional relationship to a transcendent reality. 

The primary purpose of the Spirit’s work in our lives is to move us from a transactional relationship with God to a transcendent reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory. The Spirit’s role in our lives is to lead, guide, direct, advocate, and comfort. Additionally, the Spirit animates and motivates believers in living in the transcendent reality of the Gospel. Ultimately, for the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus, and for our Faith Family the Spirit’s role is to lead us to become love – the love made manifest in the Gospels.

Reflect and respond to the role of the Spirit in leading you toward “profound love.” 

The (second half) Gospel is about becoming the love of God. A love that becomes a burning bush that is on fire, but not being consumed. A love that’s not so much discovered out there, as it’s summoned – from deep within. A love that is called forth – like Lazarus – a raised from the dead kind of calling, “Lazarus, come forth.” A love then, that is willing to lay anything and everything down for the sake of others. A profound love for God and a profound love for others. Profound love is the end and the means of the Gospel – a transcendent vessel of God expressing His love on earth, as it is in heaven. That’s the work of the Spirit. 

Read Romans 8.1-4 and answer the following questions. 

• In your own words describe what Paul is communicating regarding the Spirit. 
• The text begins with “Therefore.” Read Romans 7 to more fully understand the purpose of Romans 8. 
• After reading Romans 7 what do you sense is the primary purpose of this text? What verses most resonate with you? 

Read Romans 8. What do you sense is the primary purpose of this text? What verses most resonate with you? 

Summarize the primary difference between Romans 7 and Romans 8. 

Where and how is the Spirit leading you today? 

Spend a few moments praying through the chorus, “Spirit of the Living God.” 

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall afresh on me. 

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall afresh on me. 

Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall afresh on me.