This week, we wrap up our series on the book of Romans, “Together for Good.” We’ll meet the Apostle Paul’s missional family as we walk through this final chapter. It’s a beautiful and unusual section that reads more like a People Magazine than a typical Pauline Epistle, but it’s far from throwaway. These fascinating people from diverse backgrounds and social classes, all knit together in the gospel, have much to teach us about our own lives today.

I can’t wait to dive in to this incredible letter together, one last time.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: The Critical Call to Missional Family // Scripture: Romans 16

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
The book of Romans closes with a letter of thanksgiving and recognition for those who have walked so faithfully in the Lord and served Paul and the church in Rome. Each person mentioned is known within the community and has played a key role in the ministry. These people represent ethnic, gender, and economic diversity. It would have been easy for there to have been divisions among them, but serving God together brought unity. Satan divides and causes dissension among us any way he can. But the God of peace crushes Satan’s head. As we continue to live in obedience by welcoming others with hospitality and devoting ourselves to each other by being in missional community, we experience God’s best.

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Unity in Christ demonstrates the beauty of Christ to the world.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): Who were the names on Paul’s list of his missional family? What groups of people did they represent? What was the purpose of mentioning division within the body?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Do you have a “family” where you can be truly known? Satan wants to tear people, families, communities, and countries apart, whereas God wants to hold all things together. Where are you letting Satan tear you apart?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Is it possible to have community with differences and without division? What would it take to welcome differences, but not division?

BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week?
Change UP // Worship
Pick out a few of your favorite worship songs and sing them together as a group. The power of worship is that people with very different voices sing together in one voice. After you spend a few minutes worshiping together, discuss how worship creates an atmosphere and community where people with different voices sing with one voice.

Change IN // Exercise
Coming together in unity requires us to love and forgive. Joining together in prayer can be a practice of unity. Spend some time praying for each other and with each other for unity and forgiveness to thrive.

Change OUT // Life Application Assignment
How are you intentionally loving on your missional family? Brainstorm ways in which you can be overt in showing love and recognition toward the people who are on your list.

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.