Read a Chapter a Day: Small-Group Study on Romans 8-16

Click here to read the General Leader's Guide.

Enter the Museum/Fellowship:

Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer if there’s a meal). Keep creating a welcoming, intentional space.

• If online: Ask someone to light a candle on camera and spotlight that person as a sign of welcoming light.
• If in person: Place a candle near last week’s artwork as a symbol of continuity and warmth.
• Consider displaying the John Wesley quote, either printed or on a slide: “I felt my heart strangely warmed…”

Hands off the Artwork/Ground Rules:

Open or reaffirm your group’s ground rules. These are the gentle boundaries of your shared space. (Examples of Group Rules)

The Picture Frame/Gathering Time (5–10 minutes):

Group participants into pairs or groups of three. Then ask:

• “Describe the most recent time you listened to music or looked at something that moved you deeply.”
• “When has your understanding of faith changed, not because of what you learned, but because of what you felt? What was that like?”

The Big Picture/Group Dialogue:

Romans 8–16 marks a shift from what God has done to how we live. Paul contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit and invites believers to be transformed to live in radical community, grace, and unity.

Reflect on John Wesley’s famous experience in 1738 with Romans 8. A lifelong rule-follower, he was transformed while listening to Luther’s preface to Romans: “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins…”

• Imagine the moment. How do you think Wesley felt as grace took root in his rule-bound life?
• How does Romans 8–16 invite you to a similar shift from obligation to transformation?

The Hi-Def Picture/Going Deeper: Focus on Romans 12:1-2.

Like a layered painting, this passage invites deeper reflection each time it is read. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

• What does the phrase “living sacrifice” stir in you emotionally, practically, and spiritually?
• Wesley’s “warmed heart” became the spark of the Methodist movement.
• What revives you in this phase of your life and faith?

The Motion Picture/Take Action:

Now you become the artist. Romans 8–16 isn’t just about belief; it’s about embodiment.

Paul paints a vision of Spirit-filled people:

• blessing enemies
• sharing generously
• worshiping humbly
• living as one body

Wesley’s experience didn’t stop at personal assurance. It ignited a movement of grace and justice.

• Where might God be warming your heart toward action today?
• What one relationship, habit, or part of your life is calling for transformation this week?
• Take a few slow, deep breaths. Let the phrase “strangely warmed” settle into your heart.

Allow for silence. Invite participants to share something stirring within them or request prayer for what’s next.

• What image, word, or moment from today’s study will you carry with you?
• What small or bold step will you take to live as a “living sacrifice” in your home, workplace, or neighborhood?

Prayer (10 minutes):

Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes):

End with a prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.

Leader’s Guide Notes:

• Fellowship: Encourage participants to mingle and introduce themselves if they are new. Place art or visuals in the space to set the tone.
• Gathering Time: Keep the pairs/groups small to allow everyone to share. Have a leader or facilitator ready to join groups if someone is left alone.
• Group Dialogue: Allow flexibility in the conversation. If discussion flows deeply on one question, don’t feel pressured to cover everything.
• Going Deeper: Invite participants to share only what they are comfortable sharing. Leaders can model vulnerability by offering their reflections.
• Prayer: Provide a gentle reminder that prayer requests are confidential. Ask if someone in the group wants to volunteer to close in prayer.
• Sending Forth: Use a blessing or benediction that fits your community. You can also invite participants to pray the Lord’s Prayer in unison.

Rev. Manohar Joshi (aka Mantu) has been a minister and elder in the United Methodist Church for more than twenty years. He teaches at Western Michigan University and serves as a chaplain at Trinity Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Drawing on his life as a stay-at-home dad, sports coach and referee, writer, teacher, and chaplain, he helps people explore new, meaningful ways to connect with what matters most. He’s also the author of the bestselling book The Resilient Parent: Everyday Wisdom for Life with Your Exceptional Child.