Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

This weekend is Grounded Student Ministries annual DNOW weekend. This is a weekend of biblical exposition, small group discipleship, service, and relationship building. Rick Holland is going to be preaching for DNOW, which means he will also be preaching on Sunday morning. We’ll be looking at various passages throughout the weekend that are specifically directed at having a biblical worldview. On Sunday morning we’ll be in Romans 5:3-5 looking at how a believer should approach difficulties with a biblical worldview.

Carefully Think

• Read Romans 5:1-5. What are the benefits of justification Paul describes in vv. 1-2? 2. What is a believer’s rejoicing grounded in according to v. 2? What does this mean?
• What does v. 3 say the believer’s rejoicing is in? Why can we rejoice in our suffering according to v. 3? What is the role of “knowing” for the believer in suffering? What is it that we know that enables us to rejoice in our suffering?
• Describe the chain of what suffering ultimately produces in the life of a believer. How have you seen this play out in your life or in the life of another? What is the believer’s ultimate hope according to this passage?
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

• Describe how it is that suffering ultimately produces hope. What is the key to rejoicing in suffering according to Romans 5:3-5?
• How should this passage impact the Christian’s view of suffering? How does this passage help you with something you’re going through right now? In what ways can you apply this passage even if you aren’t in the midst of suffering?
• How can you apply this passage in a discipleship relationship? How should this passage impact our church? How can you apply this passage in a conversation on Sunday morning?