Conversation Starters
Conversation Starters help us dig deeper, connecting Sunday’s sermons with our Monday lives. Please know that these questions are meant to be a resource. You do not have to follow them verbatim or get through them all. We trust you to know your group and to ask the questions based on your group needs.

1. Read Romans 5:12–14.

2. What stood out to you from the passage?

3. What stood out to you from the sermon?

4. Consider the effects of sin and death in our current world. What are some of the impacts of this on a personal and community level? What does it look like to have hope in the Coming One in the midst of this sin and death?

5. How will you apply this to your life? What are you going to do, be, or think differently because of this truth?

Title: The Representative Who Wrecked It All
Scripture: Romans 5:12-14
Speaker: Brooks Nesse, BrooksN@cckc.church

> Humanity is under the reign of sin and death.

“while we like to focus on the doctrine of original sin Paul is more focused on original death” -James Dunn

“We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.” - EFCA statement

> OUGHT to be, what currently IS, what CAN BE and what WILL BE.

“Sin is portrayed as the villain, death his weapon, and people his victims. Sin is the sum of evil, personal and impersonal, that found a portal into the world by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Sin immediately became a deadly pathogen, potent, lethal, instantly producing death in all with whom it came into contact. Sin brought death– spiritual death, then physical death, and then eternal death–to all people.” - Michael Bird

“It is equally dangerous to a man to know God without his knowing his own wretchedness as to know his own wretchedness without knowing God.” - Blaise Pascal

> Because Adam disobeyed in the garden we are disobedient in the wilderness.

> But because Jesus was obedient in the wilderness we can one day obey in the garden.

“Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent; According to your promises declared to humanity in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and sober life. To the Glory of your holy Name. Amen.” - from the Book of Common Prayer