If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 (NIV)

Romans 8:26-30 (NIV)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

1. In humility and confidence…

And we know

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, Romans 14:14 (NIV)

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

2. In chaos and contentment…

God works all things for the good of those who love him

Synergeo to engage in an activity together with someone else—‘”to work together with, to be active together with.”

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV)

3. We are called and conformed to Christ to glorify God in the world.

and all called according to his purpose… to be conformed to the image of his Son,

We humans have been created to bear God’s image in order to reflect it by extending his endeavor to create goodness and beauty as we become those very things. – Curt Thompson, The Soul of Desire

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11 (NIV)

N.T. Wright: Paul is saying that God will work things for good, but to accept that as an article of faith--and our part at the moment is not to stand back as observers and say, “Oh, isn’t that splendid? God’s working it out and we can see that happening.” Our part is to be part of that lament, part of that groaning; our task is to be in prayer at the place where the world is in pain because we know that God’s Spirit will be working at that very place. And that’s part of the vocation of the church. From For the Life of the World podcast faith.yale.edu

CONNECT WITH GOD (Select the below practice or choose a practice from the previous week) 

• Collective Prayer for the World

As your spiritual practice this week, pray together. First, read the prayer by John Calvin and then pray with the below prayer (the bold should be read in unison). Make room for the movement of the Holy Spirit as you pray, adding specific prayers after each petition.

“Save us, Lord, from being self-centered in our prayers, and teach us to remember to pray for others. May we be so caught up in love for those for whom we pray, that we may feel their needs as keenly as our own, and pray for them with imagination, sensitivity, and knowledge. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.” -John Calvin

God of compassion, hear our prayers for the world you love.

For your church in every place, that we may worship and serve

you faithfully…

God of grace, hear our prayer.

For violence and war, that there may be peace…

God of grace, hear our prayer.

For justice throughout the world, that there may be flourishing for all…

God of grace, hear our prayer.

For those who hunger and thirst, that they may be filled with

good things…

God of grace, hear our prayer.

For those who are ill, that they may know your loving care…

God of grace, hear our prayer.

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

• Read Romans 8:26-30 alone and together.
• Journal (10 minutes) 
• Has there been a time in your own life when you didn’t feel like “all things work together for the good of those who love him” and you wrestled with God’s faithfulness to you?
• How have you experienced both the humility of suffering and the confidence of God’s faithfulness in your life? 
• Reflect together (in pairs): Spend 5-7 minutes sharing your journal responses, reflections, or questions.

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE (Select the best questions or customize the questions for your group.) Read Romans 8:26-30 and any additional scripture passages from the message outline.

• Review the main points from the sermon outline.
• Which stories, quotes, or questions from the message have stuck with you this week?
• How does reading Romans 8:26-27 with Romans 8:28-30 help you understand Romans 8:28-30?
• Reflect together on the Greek word synergeo. Why do you think that word is so important to Paul?
• What does it mean to be “conformed to the image of his Son” in verse 29?
• Which of the additional scripture passages from the outline most resonate with you asyou wrestle with Romans 8:26-30?

CONNECT WITH GOD’S MISSION IN THE WORLD (select one question for discussion)

• If we consider ourselves co-workers with God, how does that motivate, energize, or shift the way we live in our neighborhoods, communities, in the world?
• Respond to this quote from N.T. Wright: 

Paul is saying that God will work things for good, but to accept that as an article of faith--and our part at the moment is not to stand back as observers and say, “Oh, isn’t that splendid? God’s working it out and we can see that happening.” Our part is to be part of that lament, part of that groaning; our task is to be in prayer at the place where the world is in pain because we know that God’s Spirit will be working at that very place. And that’s part of the vocation of the church.

PRAYER 

Once again, pray the Lord’s Prayer together (Matthew 6:9-13). Make room to pray it slowly and more than once! I’d suggest praying it once individually and then praying it once or twice together as a group.