Table Talk: ROMANS Part 2: WEEK 5
ROMANS: Part 2: THE GREAT Assurance
The Great Assurance of Romans 5–8 traces the lived reality of the gospel once we have been made right with God. These chapters move from justification into assurance, showing what God’s grace actually produces in us and for us. Paul begins by grounding us in peace with God, hope that holds even in suffering, and love proven at the cross. He then sets Christ against Adam, declaring that grace not only overcomes sin but overwhelms it with new life. From there, Paul invites us into a transformed identity—united with Christ in His death and resurrection, freed from sin’s mastery, and called to live as people made alive to God. He names the honest struggle believers experience with sin and the limits of the Law, pressing us toward our deep need for rescue beyond ourselves. The movement culminates in Romans 8, where assurance reaches its peak as Paul declares a life completely redefined, free from condemnation, animated by the Spirit, rooted in our adoption as God’s children, sustained by hope in the midst of suffering, and secured by a love so strong that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from it. Together, Romans 5–8 proclaim not only that we are saved by grace, but that we are securely held, continually renewed, and forever loved in Christ.
Spiritual Practice: GRATITUDE
Gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to open our hearts to God’s presence and faithfulness. In Scripture, giving thanks is not only a response to blessings, but a practice that shapes us—helping us notice God’s grace in both joy and difficulty. When we intentionally name what we are thankful for, we train our hearts to trust that God is at work, drawing us closer to Him and to one another. Adele Calhoun writes, “Thanksgiving is possible not because everything goes perfectly but because God is present. The Spirit of God is within us—nearer to us than our own breath. It is a discipline to choose to stitch our days together with the thread of gratitude. But the decision to do so is guaranteed to stitch us closer to God” (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook).
Gratitude Practice (Can be done individually or as a household/group):
Choose a consistent time (such as before bed, at a certain meal, or during a devotional time). Begin with a short prayer, inviting God to help you see His gifts clearly.
Name one or two things you are grateful for today—big or small. (You could also choose to write these in “Gratitude Journal.”) Allow your response to flow naturally: a quick prayer, a laugh, a “thank You, Jesus,” or even a short song.
Close by thanking God for His faithfulness and asking the Holy Spirit to help you carry gratitude into tomorrow
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank You for the gift of peace with You through Jesus Christ, for a hope that holds us steady in suffering, and for a love that will never let us go. Today we receive again what You have already given—freedom from condemnation, new life in Christ, and the presence of Your Spirit at work within us. We confess that we often rely on our own strength and grow weary in the struggle, yet we are grateful that our rescue does not depend on us but on Your grace. Help us live as Your beloved children, attentive to Your Spirit, thankful in all circumstances, and confident that nothing in all creation can separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
From the Book of Common Prayer
SERMON SUMMARY Using the illustration of marriage, Paul explains that believers have died to the law through Christ so that they may belong to Him and bear fruit for God. The law itself is not sinful or flawed; it reveals God’s will and exposes sin for what it truly is. Yet the law cannot give life or make us righteous. Instead, it unmasks our need for something beyond ourselves, preparing us to depend fully on God’s saving work rather than our own efforts.
Passage: Romans 7:1-13
Conversation Starters
Kids
Paul talks about how God’s rules help us know what’s right and wrong. What are some of God’s good rules that help you understand how to treat others well? The Bible says rules can show us when something we are doing is wrong, but rules can’t fix our hearts. Who helps us change on the inside? (Talk with your child(ren) about how the Holy Spirit lives in us, helping us to remember God’s way of life and to turn away from wrong choices.)
Students
Romans 7:1-13 shows that rules reveal sin but don’t give us the power to change. Where have you seen this play out in real life? Are there situations where rules have changed behavior but not someone’s inner motivation? Have you experienced this truth in your own life? What would it look like for someone your age to rely on the Holy Spirit—not just willpower or rules—to bring real change in their inner life? What is dangerous about relying only on self-effort to bring about this change?
Adults
How has your relationship with rules, faith, or performance changed over time? Romans 7 says the law is good, yet it exposes sin. How do you hold together obedience and grace in your daily walk with God? Where do you see the danger of trying to fix spiritual struggles through self-effort alone?
