November 17, 2024 – Romans 8:14-25

Lesson Date: November 17, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 8:14-25

AIM: To lead students to discover that new life in Christ and the glory He has prepared for us are far more important and lasting than any temporary struggles we might face, and to encourage them to focus their attention on the blessings of salvation whenever difficulties come their way.

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 8:14-25 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Perspective” on the board.  Bring the attached “Perspective Pictures” to class.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Perspective” written on the board.  Ask: “What does the word “perspective” mean?”  Allow time for some responses, and then tell the class that the dictionary defines perspective as, “the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance,” and “the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions.”[i]

Direct everyone’s attention to the “Perspective Pictures.”  Ask: “Is the person in the top picture actually holding the moon in his hands?” (no).  Ask: “How do you know that?” (because the moon is 2,000 miles across and 240,000 miles away).  Ask: “Is the man in the other picture actually taller than the Eiffel Tower?” (no).  Ask: “How do you know that?” (because the Eiffel Tower is over 1,000 feet tall, and the man is no more than 6 feet tall). 

Tell the class that two dimensional images can easily fool our eyes because they don’t show depth and perspective like our eyes do.  Tell them if they had been present when either picture was taken, they could easily grasp the true perspective of the scene, realizing that the people in the pictures are much closer to the camera than the large objects in the distance.

Tell the students that perspective is not only important in pictures, but it is also important in every area of life.  Explain that sometimes we get our eyes focused on things that are unimportant, causing us to miss or forget something that is very important.  State that this is especially true when troubles or problems arise; the problems capture so much of our attention that we lose sight of other, more important things.   

Tell the class that the title of today’s lesson is Life in Perspective.  Tell them we will learn where to focus our attention when suffering and difficulties come our way.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Tell them that the previous chapters of Romans revealed the following:
     • Everyone on earth is a sinner (chapters 1 – 3).
     • God made a way for us to be justified (made right with Him) through faith in Jesus Christ (chapters 4 – 5).
     • Even after we are justified (saved), we still have our old sinful fleshly nature, making it a struggle to resist sin and obey God (chapters 6 – 7).
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Not Guilty; in spite of the fact that we still struggle with sin, if we belong to Jesus, God has declared us to be not guilty in his sight).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Romans 8:1).
2. Remember Who You Are In Christ.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:14.
   • Ask: “What does this verse say about those who are led by the Spirit of God?” (they are the sons or children of God).
   • Read Romans 8:9.
   • Stress the fact that everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit of God living within them, so that means everyone who is saved is a child of God.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:15.
   • Ask: “What have we NOT received if we belong to Jesus?” (a spirit of bondage, in other words, we are no longer slaves).
   • Ask: “What have we received?” (the Spirit of adoption).
   • Tell the class that “Abba” is a term of affection and intimacy for one’s father, somewhat like our modern word “Daddy.”
   • Explain that Jesus doesn’t rescue us from slavery to sin just to make us His slaves; instead, He sets us free, adopts us as His children, and gives a close, intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:16.
   • Ask: “How do we know that we are children of God?” (the indwelling Holy Spirit bears witness and confirms that fact with our human spirit).
   • Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Perspective” written on the board.
   • Summarize: When we face struggles and difficulties, we can keep life in perspective by remembering who we are in Christ: we are children of God.
3. Remember God’s Promises For Your Future.
   • Read Romans 8:17.
   • Ask: “In addition to being adopted as God’s beloved children, what else has God done for those who belong to Jesus?” (made us heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ).
   • Ask: “What is an heir?” (one who receives an inheritance).
   • Tell the class that when a will is read here on earth, some major heirs might receive a lot, while other minor heirs might only receive a little.
   • Ask: “Are we just minor heirs of God?” (no, we are heirs on an equal level with Jesus!).
   • Ask: “If we suffer for Jesus here, what can we look forward to?” (future glory with Jesus).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:18.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell us about any suffering we experience now?” (it is not even worth mentioning, when compared to the glory awaiting God’s children).
   • Direct everyone’s attention again to picture of the man standing beside the Eiffel Tower.
   • Explain the following:
     • When problems come our way, they often seem huge and overwhelming, like the man in the picture.
     • In reality, however, the man is miniscule compared to the Eiffel Tower.
     • Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Perspective” written on the board.
     • We often get our problems out of perspective, viewing them as massive and overwhelming.
     • In reality, however, our problems here on earth are miniscule and not even worth mentioning in comparison to the glory God has prepared for us.
   • Summarize: When we face struggles and difficulties, we can keep life in perspective by remembering God’s promises for our future: we are heirs of future glory.
4. Realize that Natural Disasters Assure Us that Jesus Is Coming Back.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:19.
   • Explain the following:
     • The words “earnest expectation” literally mean anticipation, intense longing, and yearning.
     • The word “creature” refers to all of creation.
     • The words “manifestation of the sons of God” refers to the time in the future when Jesus returns and reveals the future glory of His children.
     • All of creation – the world, plants and animals, planets and stars – eagerly long for the time when Jesus returns to glorify His children.
   • Read Romans 8:20-21.
   • Ask: “According to verse 20, why is creation longing for our ultimate glory?” (because creation was cursed when man sinned, and it is eagerly waiting for the time when God takes away that curse; Gen. 3; Rev. 21 – 22).
   • Stress the fact that when man sinned, all of creation was made subject to corruption; that is why people, animals, and plants die, and man-made objects rot and decay.
   • Ask: “According to verse 21, what will happen when Jesus returns to glorify His children?” (all of creation will be delivered from “the bondage of corruption” and will join in “the glorious liberty of the children of God”).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:22.
   • Tell the students that hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are actually the earth groaning and writhing in birth pains, awaiting Christ’s return.
   • Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Perspective” written on the board.
   • Summarize: When we face struggles and difficulties, we can keep life in perspective by realizing that natural disasters assure us that Jesus is coming back.
5. Rest In the Confidence and Patience God Gives Us.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:23.
   • Ask: “Is this verse addressed to Christians or non-Christians?” (Christians, those who have the Holy Spirit).
   • Ask: “What does this verse say about us?” (we “groan within ourselves,” eagerly waiting for our ultimate adoption when we are freed from these bodies of corruption and receive new, glorified bodies).
   • Explain the following:
     • When Christians die, their spirit goes immediately to be with Jesus in heaven.
     • Their body, however, is placed in the ground to decay.
     • When Jesus returns to Rapture the church, He will raise the bodies of dead saints, transform them into glorified bodies, and reunite them with their spirits which have been with Him in heaven (1 Thess. 4:13-16).
     • The bodies of those who are alive at the time of the Rapture will be instantly transformed into gloried bodies (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
   • Read Romans 8:24-25.
   • Explain that the word “hope” means confident assurance and expectation, and refers to the confident hope Jesus gives us when He saves us.
   • Ask: “According to verse 24, do we hope for things we already have?” (no).
   • Ask: “According to verse 25, what does God give us as we hope and long for the ultimate glory Christ has prepared for us?” (patience).
   • Tell the students if they know with confidence that someone is coming, they can patiently wait for their arrival. Tell them we know Jesus is coming back, so we can await His return with confident patience.
   • Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Perspective” written on the board.
   • Summarize: When we face struggles and difficulties, we can keep life in perspective by resting in the confidence and patience God gives us.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the “Perspective Pictures.”  Remind them that the pictures are actually illusions, because the objects in the pictures are not shown in their true perspective.  Tell the students that when problems, difficulties, struggles, illnesses, and natural disasters come our way, we usually focus so much attention on the problem that it seems gigantic and overwhelming.

Remind the class that the title of today’s lesson is Life in Perspective.  Tell them when we face suffering and difficulty, we must focus on Jesus and His promises instead of the problem at hand.  Remind them that we have learned the following:

• To keep life in perspective we must remember that we are God’s children.
• To keep life in perspective we must remember that we are heirs of future glory.
• To keep life in perspective we must realize that natural disasters assure us that Jesus is coming back.
• To keep life in perspective we must rest in the confidence and patience God gives us.

Tell the class this entire passage is summed up in Romans 8:18, which says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 

Tell the students that we all face difficulties and problems, but our new life in Christ and the glory He has prepared for us are far more important and lasting than any temporary struggles we might face here and now.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to confess the sins of worry and fear.  Tell them to focus their attention on the blessings of salvation whenever difficulties come their way.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 8:18.  Tell them to quote that verse whenever they face troubles.  Give everyone a copy of the new Sunday School Member Quarterly for the Winter quarter, during which we will continue our study of Romans.

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspective