In our home, it is the season of children’s songs. Amy and I actually have a “break upon emergency” playlist populated with every imaginable variety of “Old MacDonald” and “The Wheels on the Bus” for when afternoon toddler-mania begins to spill over.

But as I’ve been reading Romans 4 this week, I’ve realized one song missing from our playlist is “Father Abraham.” Of course, for the sake of my girls, I wish the lyrics were a bit more inclusive of “daughters” and not just “sons,” but nonetheless the point of the song cuts close to Paul’s argument about the incredible faithfulness of God to “our forefather” who “in hope believed against hope that he should become the father of many nations” (Romans 4:1, 18).

How did Abraham grow in faith, even when he couldn’t see the outcomes? How can we grow in faith too?

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: Together For Good: Together for Good—Fa(i)ther Abraham // Scripture: Romans 3:1–31

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
In Romans 4 we see the incredible faithfulness of God to our forefather who in hope believed against hope that he should become the father of many nations (4:1, 18). How did Abraham grow in faith, even when he couldn’t see the outcomes? How can we grow in faith, too? Faith is reasonable because the object of our faith is trustworthy! What do we need to know about God in order to trust him? He is not only powerful but also faithful. He is not only able but also reliable. Weak faith sees the human reality of a situation, and that becomes the focus, which leads to despair; strong faith sees the human reality of the situation, yet still chooses to look at God to make a way.

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
As humans, we’re consumed with keeping score. God is not consumed with keeping score, but with keeping promises.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): Did Abraham “win” because he was faithful? When did God credit him with righteousness? (Gen 15)

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): It was counted to Abraham as righteousness, and not for his sake alone. What does that mean for me?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How can I move from a keeping-score mindset into a trusting-God mindset?

BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week?
Change UP – Exercise
It seems like God was having Abram number the stars during the daytime. What strikes you about this exercise of faith? Take time to pray into what God is speaking to you.

Change IN – Group Activity
God invites us out of keeping score and into trust. Create space to talk about places where you want to grow in faith and stop keeping score.

Change OUT – Life Application Assignment
Go forward into this week with one specific place/relationship that you’re going to set aside scorekeeping and choose faith.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.