The Man of Romans 7 – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Jesus righteousness covers us and in Him we stand perfect before God, who promises to sanctify us, give us victory over sin, and conform us to the image of Christ..
1. Have a volunteer read Romans 7:8-11.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What is Paul showing about the interaction of law, sin, death, and the flesh here?
c. Personal Application : In what sense have you died before the law? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “I feel like Paul here. I feel like I’m overcome with sin in my life. When I start to feel good about myself, then I read the Bible or the Testimonies and it shows me my sinful nature and how unChristlike I am.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Romans 7:16-20.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What struggle is presented by Paul here?
c. Personal Application : Are you having the victories over self and sin that Christ promises us? If not, why not? Are you making wrong choices? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “Is Paul saying that, as a Christian, he wants to serve God and do the right thing, but because he has a sinful nature, he can’t and ends up sinning because of his natural inclinations?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Romans 7:21-25.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Have you experienced this same struggle in your own life?
c. Personal Application: Why is marriage a fitting comparison for being joined with Christ in relationship with the legal requirements of the law? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “What is the difference in serving the law in the mind and spirit and serving by the written code? Is the new way more liberal or more strict?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Romans 7:12-15.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. In what ways do we know that the law is spiritual?
c. Personal Application :If the law is holy, just, and good, why do so many people have trouble wanting to follow or accept it as relevant in their lives? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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