Develop a Discipleship System
Read a Chapter a Day: Small-Group Study on Romans 1-7
By Motoe Yamada Foor
Click here to read the General Leader's Guide.
Enter the Museum/Fellowship:
Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal). Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. If possible, include some art or visual items on the table or wall – these can be printed pieces, a framed image, or even doodles or sketches from participants. The goal is to stir curiosity and conversation.
Hands off the Artwork/Ground Rules:
Before you begin, establish ground rules for the group if you have not already. Just as a museum has rules to keep the art and the people safe, you should develop rules for your time together. (Here is a link to some examples of ground rules.)
The Picture Frame/Gathering Time (5-10 minutes):
In pairs or groups of three, have participants discuss, “Share a time when you met someone in person after only knowing them by email or Zoom. What was that experience like? What surprised you?”
The Big Picture/Group Dialogue:
Paul is writing to two groups of Christians in Rome, and he expresses hope of showing up in person someday. One group has a Jewish background, and the other consists of believers in Roman Gods or others.
- What do you notice in the opening of Paul’s letter to the Romans?
- How does his introduction speak to Jewish-background believers and Gentile-background believers?
The Hi-Def Picture/Going Deeper:
Look closer at Romans 1:7 and the phrase, “called to be saints.” This is like looking at a painting and paying attention to the painter’s strokes or a shock of color that moves you.
- What qualities or characteristics come to mind when you hear the word “saint”?
- When have you met someone who had saint-like qualities?
- What was that person like?
- Would being more like that person work in your life? Why or why not?
The Motion Picture/Take Action:
Now you are the artist. How will your future artwork be inspired by what you have experienced? In these opening chapters, Paul has laid out his calling and authority, and he authorizes all of us, those steeped in religion and those new to it, to be more like saints. The word “saint” comes from sanctus, the Latin word for “set apart.” Think about how to set yourself apart through time, focusing on something new, or changing your current leadership.
- When can you plan to focus more on God this week? If you are busy, consider the regular transitions you have and add a moment, even one minute, to be set apart. Perhaps this is after dropping your child at school or daycare or after coming home from the senior center. If you already feel you have this set-apart time, how might the what you do change as you listen to these scriptures?
- Allow yourself to imagine something holy in your presence. (Feel free to share something you are pondering or to ask for accountability in this step.)
- In a sentence or two, share one thing you will take with you from the study— something that was shared, a portion of the scripture, or a brief insight.
- Name one small step (or a big one!) you want to take this week to practice being “set apart” to grow in holiness.
Prayer (10 minutes):
Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.
Sending Forth (2 minutes):
End with a prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.
Leader’s Guide Notes:
- Fellowship: Encourage participants to mingle and introduce themselves if they are new. Place art or visuals in the space to set the tone.
- Gathering Time: Keep the pairs/groups small to allow everyone to share. Have a leader or facilitator ready to join groups if someone is left alone.
- Group Dialogue: Allow flexibility in the conversation. If discussion flows deeply on one question, don’t feel pressured to cover everything.
- Going Deeper: Invite participants to share only what they are comfortable sharing. Leaders can model vulnerability by offering their reflections.
- Prayer: Provide a gentle reminder that prayer requests are confidential. Ask if someone in the group wants to volunteer to close in prayer.
- Sending Forth: Use a blessing or benediction that fits your community. You can also invite participants to pray the Lord’s Prayer in unison.
Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor, Director of Adult Discipleship, served in local churches for twenty years. She has a wealth of experience at a variety of organizational levels of The United Methodist Church as well as in ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC). She also enjoys serving as a coach to help people and churches grow.
Contact Us for Help
Contact Discipleship Ministries staff for additional guidance.