Scripture: 9 What then? Are we any better off?[a] No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10 as it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who has understanding,
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned aside, together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness,
there is not even one.”
13 “Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Questions

What?
1) How’s everyone doing? Check in with the group.
2) What were your initial thoughts after hearing this scripture from Romans?
3) What is sin? Take a second to write down your definition of sin. Share with the group and discuss.

So What?
4) When have you felt “beaten by sin?
5) Can you think of a time when you experienced an “ending” that turned out to be incredibly finite in the grand scheme of things? I.e., Where have you experienced what you thought was a period, but was actually just a comma?

Now What?
6) Charles points out that there is something beautiful in that Paul writes “there is no one who is righteous” because it helps us avoid us fighting over who the one righteous person is. Have you ever found yourself feeling self righteous compared to someone else?
7) How does Charles’ argument of “wait, there is more” affect the way you view the worst, darkest, most sinful parts or experiences of your life? Where does Jesus fit into the timeline?


Prayer

God we are sinful. Yet you redeem us. No matter what we do, we know that there is always more grace, more love, and more forgiveness. Walk with us in our paths. Equip us to receive grace and pass it along. Amen.

B-sides

Scripture: Romans 14:7-13

7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.

The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Questions
What?
1) How’s everyone doing? Check in with the group.
2) What are some of the classic differences that we tend to focus on?
3) Look around your group. What differences exist between each other? Where similarities exist?

So What?
4) When are you able to be vulnerable with what sin you struggle with?
5) How do we balance a “drive to be different/unique” with a realization that “we really aren’t all that different.”

Now What?
6) Do you agree with C.S. Lewis’ statement “comparison is the thief of joy?” Where in your life has comparing your life to someone/something else stolen the joy of being in the present moment?
7) Where might it be helpful to talk about differences between people or groups of people? Are than any instances where it has been helpful?



I know we want to be different because we want to continually change reflecting the reality of our landscape, AND we acknowledge there are some deep similarities that bind us as people following Jesus to those at every other church. We have similarities with those who don’t go to church.
—Rev. Dawn Hyde

B-Sides

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.


So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!


Questions

What?
1) How’s everyone doing? Check in with the group.
2) What does sin mean to you?

So What?
3) When are you able to be vulnerable with what sin you struggle with?
4) Do we have a hierarchy of sins? If you think that we do, do you think it fits within the model given by Paul?

Now What?
5) Can you feel within yourself the paradox of being made for good, but infected with the capability for evil? How does that show up in your own life?
6) Have you ever felt defined for your sin? Have you ever defined someone else for their sin?
7) Dawn writes “we hurt those we love the most?” Do you agree/disagree? Why?

“ I may not have power over some of my sin, but leaning on the strength of Jesus, I can be better.”
—Rev. Dawn Hyde