L. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE

A young boy grew up in the South, surrounded by the love and care of his parents. However, his school years were marked by rejection and ridicule from his peers, leaving him with a deep longing for acceptance from both his family and those around him. Although he had heard Bible stories about God’s love, he struggled to grasp their meaning, leading him to live a life focused on pleasing others. This need for approval eventually impacted his marriage and parenting, manifesting in attempts to control those closest to him. During a time in his life when he felt like a failure, he experienced the profound realization that the same love the Father has for Jesus was also extended to him because of his faith and relationship with Jesus. This understanding filled him with renewed joy and hope. A Bible verse that he meditated on deeply helped him embrace this truth.

Romans 5:5-9

⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

1. What does it mean at the right time?

2. What does ungodly mean?

3. Who do people decide to die for?

4. Who did Jesus Christ decide to die for?

5. How do you see that God demonstrated love?

6. What does it mean to be saved from God’s wrath?

7. What questions do you have about this?

1. What do you feel about God’s love for you?

2. How did you see he demonstrated it?

3. What will you do to escape the wrath to come?