April 06, 2025
Assigned Scripture
John 8:1-11
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Romans 8:1-6
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[b]from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Group Response
Following the weekly gathering, you’re invited to respond to the service by engaging in group discussion.
One of the core teachings of the Christian faith is that “in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.” The problem is: we don’t believe it… at least not enough to release us from the crushing weight of shame. In this sermon, we’ll explore John 8 and Romans 8, seeing how Jesus demonstrates – and Paul codifies – a new posture toward the most vulnerable, unpresentable, unworthy versions of ourselves and each other.
Discussion Questions
Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Why do you think it’s so difficult for us to fully embrace this truth? How does shame or fear of being “found out” impact our ability to live in God’s grace?
The sermon suggests that when we’re at war with ourselves, we tend to make casualties of those around us. Have you experienced this in your own life or relationships? How can understanding and accepting God’s grace help us find peace within ourselves and with others?
In John 8, Jesus challenges the crowd by saying, “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” How does this story challenge us to examine our own hearts before judging others? What practical steps can we take to extend grace instead of condemnation?
Vulnerability is described as a pathway to healing. What might it look like for you to invite someone into the “not-yet-presentable” parts of your life? What holds you back from asking for help or sharing your struggles with others?
Forgiveness, as illustrated in the story of Tracey forgiving her husband after his betrayal, is described as both scandalous and transformative. How can we practice radical forgiveness in our own lives, even when it feels unfair? What role does God’s grace play in making forgiveness possible?