Session 7

Indwelt

Romans 8:14-27

Memory Verse: Romans 8:15

Those who trust Jesus are indwelt by the Holy Spirit when they are adopted into the family of God.

As a child, my dad represented everything I wanted to be.
He had played minor league baseball.
So, when I was old enough to qualify for the team, he signed me up for t-ball.
That’s when I got my first baseball glove.
When it was new, it was stiff and didn’t quite close all the way.
But the longer I used that glove, the more comfortable it became.

But baseball gloves are useless without a hand inside of them.
You could put nine gloves on the field, but none of them would catch a ball on their own.
The glove and hand serve as a great metaphor for our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Without Him, we are like a glove on the field.
However, when we trust Christ, the Spirit indwells us.
At first, we may be stiff and resistant to His leading.
But the longer we walk with Him, the more comfortable we get yielding to Him.
The Holy Spirit indwelling us is that perfect fit.

FIRST THOUGHTS

A happy family always makes space for everyone.
During holiday gatherings, the house might feel packed, but no one worries about being left out at bedtime.
Beds fill up fast, and cozy spots on the floor become welcoming places to sleep.
Come breakfast, there’s plenty for all-
because the kitchen never runs out of pancakes. (PSG, p. 64)

Ask:

• When you picture a happy family, whose family do you think of?
• How does being a part of God’s family shape your sense of belonging?

ENGAGE

Review:

Paul used the idea of family to illustrate the Christian life for his readers in Rome.
This family isn’t connected by DNA but the work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul used the image of adoption to highlight the believer’s secure relationship with God.
Living by the Spirit rather than the flesh proves that one is truly God’s child-
a relationship marked by intimacy and guaranteed inheritance.
Those who belong to God by faith are “heirs of God and coheirs with Christ” (8:17). .

Through the Spirit’s presence, Christians live with hope,
anticipating the full redemption at Christ’s return.
Positionally, believers already belong to God’s redeemed family,
even as they battle the flesh in this life.
Practically, the Spirit empowers them to resist sin and live according to God’s will. (PSG, p. 65)

Ask:

• How does being a part of God’s family shape your sense of belonging? (PSG, p. 64)

Transition:

Sometimes, the Bible’s teachings about the Holy Spirit
can make believers uncomfortable or confused.
But Romans 8 makes it clear that the Spirit’s work in our lives is a blessing
and evidence of our family relationship with God.