Delight in the Law

Small Groups

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer the question, “Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Why or why not? Do you remember what your resolution was this year? Are you keeping it?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You may not get through all the questions in your time together. Consider inviting group members to work through any remaining questions on their own throughout the week.

• Read Romans 7:15-25a aloud. Invite participants to have the scripture in front of them, either in a Bible, on a phone app, or printed on paper. This text contains many repeated ideas. It invites slowing down and looking at the words. Ask the group what they notice from the text about the following:
  • What Paul says about what he does
  • The law
  • Sin and evil
  • Good
• Can you think of a time when this phrase would have described you? “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
  • If that no longer describes you, why do you think that is?
• In Romans 7:22, Paul writes, “For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self.” What do you think Paul means?
  • The following verse (v. 23) points to the tension of sin at work “in my members” and “with the law of my mind.” What do you think Paul means?
• The Preaching Notes for July 5 say:
  “’Who will rescue me?’ That’s the key to the passage. That question is a cry of faith. It follows the cry of despair, ‘wretched man that I am.’ Wretched woman. Wretched creature. In a world without hope, that is the final cry. But praise be to God, there is another cry to follow. ‘Who will rescue me from this body of death?’ The Lord of life, that’s who.”
  • How does the possibility of rescue give you permission to vulnerably confess your need of it?
• The idea of being rescued is complicated. Which of these statements resonates the most with you?
  • I’ve got things under control in my life, and I do not need to be rescued.
  • I’m too [busy/distracted/___________] to know whether I need to be rescued.
  • I’m fully aware of many ways that I need to be rescued, but I struggle to relinquish control.
  • I can surrender to the Rescuer in some things, but struggle in others.
  • When I need to be rescued, my first possibility of it comes from surrendering to the Rescuer.
• Just One Thing: This week, share with someone in your life a time when you needed rescue; then commit to pray for each other for “the Lord of life” to provide rescue.
• Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
  • Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
  • Read the text of your choice (Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Psalm 45:10-17, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30) out loud.
  • What do you notice about the text?
  • What questions arise?
  • What do you think God might be saying to you in this text?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

O Lord of Life, you see all the times that we desire to follow you, but we desire more to do what we really want to do. Forgive us and help us know that your rescue in our lives is good. You are our Savior. Help us to delight in your law and see what is truly good about your way. Thanks be to God who delivers us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Director of Adult Discipleship, an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, served in campus ministry for twelve years and in leadership with the Great Plains Conference for over a decade. She has a passion for connecting people with resources and encouraging them to nurture their faith and walk in step with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She has a D.Min. in spiritual direction from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ashlee also has a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching through Discipleship Ministries.