Union With Christ Is What It's All About

In one paragraph

Pastor Ray walked the congregation through Romans 8:1-18 on Father's Day 2024, centering the whole message on union with Christ as the core of the Christian life. He had been waiting to get to Romans 8 after months of working through the difficult territory of chapters 6 and 7, and he wanted to bring the church into it together rather than leave it to the weekday email. The "therefore" that opens...

Read together

1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 opening encouragement before singing, about God making light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God seen in the face of Jesus Christ
2. John 15:9-11 introduction to the offering song, Jesus telling disciples to abide in his love as he abided in the Father's love, so their joy may be complete
3. Romans 8:1-18 the main passage preached through the sermon
4. Romans 13 cited as practical outworking, owe nothing except to love one another, love fulfills the law
5. Micah 6:8 briefly referenced when asking what the requirement of the law is, love mercy, act justly, walk humbly
6. Colossians 3:1-3 command to keep seeking things above where Christ is seated, set your mind on things above not earthly things
7. Matthew 16 Jesus telling Peter get behind me Satan, you are not setting your mind on God's interest but man's
8. Galatians 5 works of the flesh listed contrasted with the fruit of the spirit
9. 2 Corinthians 4 closing, light and momentary affliction working an eternal weight of glory
10. Hebrews 13:20-21 benediction, the God of peace who brought Jesus from the dead equipping us to do his will

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray walked through Romans 1 through 7 as building toward the 'therefore' in Romans 8:1. What has your own experience been with the frustration Paul describes in those earlier chapters, wanting to do right but finding yourself unable to?
2. Pastor Ray used the image of the law of flight overcoming the law of gravity to describe how the Spirit enables believers to overcome the law of sin and death. How has that kind of 'lift' shown up in your own life, and where do you still feel the pull of gravity?
3. Pastor Ray pointed out that the word 'might' in 'the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us' is a subjunctive, expressing God's will but also requiring our alignment with it. What does it look like practically to bring your will into alignment with God's will on a given day?
4. Pastor Ray said that a believer can set their mind on things of the flesh rather than things of the Spirit, and that this does not please God, even though their standing in Christ is secure. How do you personally notice when your mind has drifted onto earthly things, and what tends to pull it back?
5. Pastor Ray said the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, but that we have an adversary constantly trying to convince us that past sins still define us. When has that adversarial voice been loudest for you, and what has helped you trust the Spirit's testimony instead?