More Than Conquerors

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, “Think of a time when you felt weak—physically, mentally, or emotionally. What did you do in response to that experience of weakness?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You likely won’t 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 8:26-30. This may be a familiar section of the larger text for today. What do you notice about what the text says about the Spirit in the first few verses?
  • What words or ideas from this passage bring comfort or consolation to you?
• What words or ideas from this passage are challenging for you?
• Read Romans 8:31-34. In this section of the passage, Paul is making an “argument” that despite the difficulties of a person’s life, God is still “for us.” (v. 31). The evidence he cites is that he gave up his son, Jesus, “who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (v. 34). This concept is at the heart of the Christian faith. How do you grapple with these ideas?
  • How does knowing that Jesus suffered, died, and was raised impact you?
  • Have you thought about Jesus interceding for us? How does that affect you?
• Read Romans 8:35-39. In this passage, Paul lists several things that have power or are destructive. Why do you think God’s love is more powerful than any of these things?
• The Preaching Note for July 26 says,
  “[In reference to being ‘more than conquerors’] Some commentators argue that Paul is here attempting to contradict, or at least challenge, the Stoic view that we ‘conquer’ suffering by enduring it without complaint or response. [Paul’s] position is that we are more than this kind of conqueror, more than one who endures; rather, we are redeemed in our suffering. And we are conquerors not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done in us…Paul claims that the victory is not ours but a gift from our savior. This is not about power, in other words, but about suffering that can bring us closer to God and to one another.” (emphasis mine)
  • Have you ever thought about how suffering can bring us closer to God and to one another?
  • How do you understand that we are “more than conquerors”?
• Just One Thing: This passage concludes with the reminder that nothing (absolutely nothing) can separate us from God’s love. What is one way that you can remind yourself of this awareness this week?
• 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 selected text ([Genesis 29:15-28 Psalm 105:1-11, 45b Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52]) 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:

Loving God, we confess that it is hard to wrap our minds around how much you truly love us. And yet, your word tells us of that love, and with help from your Holy Spirit, we claim that love. In our weakness, may we look to you, and in our wavering, may we have the grace to believe your promises. In the name of the Father who created all things, and the Son who was raised as our Savior, and the Holy Spirit who sustains us, we pray, 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.