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    Nov 29, 2020

    We NEED a Promise

    Passage: Romans 7:18-19

    Speaker: Steven Cooper

    Series: What We NEED for Christmas

    Category: Sermon

     

    Message Summary:
    Week 1 of Advent. You might not expect to find a Christmas message in Romans 7. But the brutal honesty of verses 18-19 highlight our need for God's promise to accept us even in our struggles and failures—and Christmas gives us that promise. "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the soul felt its worth." The birth of Jesus assures us that God is with us, and He will save us from our sins.

     

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What does it do for you to know that the apostle who wrote half the New Testament wrote Romans 7:18-19?
    2. Is it good enough for God that we want what is right even if we can't carry it out? How do you know?
    3. What are the two promises in Matthew 1:21-23? How do these promises encourage you in your struggle with sin and brokenness?
    4. How could this discussion help you share with others this year about the hope of Christmas?

     

    VERSES:

    Romans 7:18-29
    18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

    Matthew 1:18-23
    18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).