Romans 6:15-23 - Small Group Discussion Guide

Summary
In this sermon from Romans 6:15-23, the pastor explores Paul's teaching on freedom from sin through Christ. Paul uses the metaphor of slavery to illustrate how believers have been freed from being slaves to sin and have become slaves to righteousness. The sermon emphasizes that grace is not freedom to sin but freedom from sin, and that obedience to God leads to righteousness and life, while obedience to sin leads to death.

Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Your Word, we thank You for the freedom You offer through Christ Jesus. We ask that Your Holy Spirit would open our hearts and minds to understand what it means to be slaves to righteousness rather than slaves to sin. Help us to be honest about the areas where we still yield to sin, and give us courage to surrender those areas to You. May our discussion today draw us closer to You and to one another. In Jesus' name, amen.

Ice Breaker
What's one rule or boundary from your childhood that you initially disliked but later came to appreciate because it actually protected you or helped you grow?

Key Verses

• Romans 6:16
• Romans 6:18
• Romans 6:22-23
• Galatians 5:22-23
• Jeremiah 17:9

Questions

• Paul says we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. How does this metaphor of slavery help us understand our relationship with sin and with God?
• The pastor said, 'Grace is not the freedom to sin. Grace is the freedom from sin.' How does this statement change how we might think about God's grace?
• In verse 19, Paul talks about presenting our 'members as slaves to righteousness.' What practical steps can we take to present ourselves to righteousness in our daily lives?
• How have you experienced the 'wages of sin' in your own life? What were the consequences?
• The sermon mentions that obedience is 'the engine that pulls the train cars of the Christian life.' How have you seen obedience lead to growth in your spiritual journey?
• Paul contrasts the fruit of sin with the fruit of righteousness. What differences have you noticed in your life when you've yielded to God versus when you've yielded to sin?
• The pastor said that God changes what we want over time. Have you experienced this transformation of desires in your walk with Christ? What changed?
• Romans 6:23 says 'the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' What does it mean that salvation is a 'free gift,' and how should this impact how we live?

Life Application
This week, identify one area where you've been 'presenting yourself' to sin rather than to righteousness. It might be a thought pattern, a habit, or a relationship. Each day, make a conscious decision to yield that area to God instead. When temptation comes, pause and pray, asking God to help you present yourself as a slave to righteousness in that moment. Keep a journal of how God meets you in those moments of obedience and how your desires begin to change.

Key Takeaways

• We have been freed from slavery to sin through Christ and can now choose to be slaves to righteousness.
• Obedience to sin leads to death, while obedience to God leads to righteousness and eternal life.
• True freedom is found not in doing whatever we want, but in living according to God's design for our lives.
• The transformation God works in us changes our hearts so that we begin to desire righteousness rather than sin.
• Salvation is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ, not something we can earn through our own efforts.

Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the free gift of eternal life that You have given us through Your sacrifice on the cross. We acknowledge that we were once slaves to sin, but You have set us free and made us slaves to righteousness. Help us this week to present ourselves to You in obedience, yielding our hearts, minds, and bodies to Your will rather than to sin. Transform our desires so that we increasingly want what You want. May the fruit of righteousness grow in our lives as we walk in step with Your Spirit. We pray this in Your powerful name, Jesus. Amen.