Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend or on you own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for the needs of your Life Group, for our church and our leaders, for personal and corporate renewal, and to allow God’s word to transform us.

2. This Sunday, the message in the Receiving God’s Grace series focused on Guilt and Grace. What thoughts or questions did the service raise for you? Which thoughts or points encouraged you orposed a challenge to you?

3. Receiving grace is for many people more challenging than extending grace. Why do think that might be? With a personal example share what comes more naturally to you – extending or receiving grace and why might that be?

4. Read out loud Exod 19:3-8, 20:1-18, 24:3-8. This is a detailed account of the covenant into which Israel entered with God (Exod 20-23 list details of the law besides the 10 words). The breaking of any covenant was punishable by death. Discuss your understanding of guilt on the part of people who would break such a covenant.

5. How would you answer an unbeliever who asked:Since you and I (and most of the world) have not entered into such an express covenant with God, how can God hold all guilty on the basis of the Law?

6. Read Romans 2:12-15. What is the Holy Spirit highlight to you from this passage? Discuss the nature of the law and guilt, of right and wrong, and our accountability for our actions before God as you see them in this text.

7. In light of the Exodus and Romans reading, how do you see grace that removes guilt? Read the following to support your discussion: Rom 3:23-26, John 3:18, Heb 10:19-22. Read through Psalm 32 in the NIV or NAU versions, focus on :5 and discuss.
Do you think this psalm speaks to the legal condition of guilt or the feelings of guilt? Listen to Steve Bell’s song Psalm 32

8. Take a moment of silence as you consider how God is speaking to you. Do you sense an invitation to something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps?