Sterling Severns Devotionals, Romans, Paul's letter to

Reflection Guide: Romans 6 and the Pattern of Dying to Self

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11, Sermon by Rev. Sterling W. Severns









Romans 6:1-11, Special Music, and Sermon










Reflection Questions





1. The Continuous Nature of Spiritual Growth





The sermon emphasized that spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. Baptism represents the ongoing pattern of dying to our false selves and rising with Christ, over and over. Paul calls us into a lifelong relationship with God that demands daily surrender to grace.





Quotes:





    

  • “Grace isn’t just for our past sins, but for the ongoing process of transformation in our lives.” — From the sermon
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  • “Spiritual growth is a journey, not a moment. It’s an ongoing invitation to trust in grace.” — From the sermon
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • Where in your life do you feel called to surrender more fully to ongoing spiritual growth?
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  • How might viewing your faith as a continuous journey change the way you approach daily challenges?
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2. Baptism: A Continuous Journey, Not a One-Time Event





Baptism symbolizes more than a one-time moment of salvation. It’s an invitation to participate repeatedly in the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul teaches that we don’t leave behind sin in a single act, but we live in a daily pattern of surrender and renewal.





Quotes:





    

  • “Baptism isn’t a ritual of finality. It’s the starting point of an ongoing journey with God’s grace.” — From the sermon
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • How does your baptism (or your understanding of baptism) inform your current spiritual practices?
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  • In what ways can you more intentionally participate in the “death and resurrection” pattern of spiritual growth in your everyday life?
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3. Sin as Disconnection from God





Sin is not just a list of wrong behaviors, but an expression of our disconnection from God. It’s a failure to trust in God’s love and provision. Paul invites us to go deeper than surface-level morality and look at the spiritual root of sin—our distance from God.





Quotes:





    

  • “Sin is not about being bad; it is about being disconnected from God, and grace is the connection that heals and restores us.” — Greg Boyle
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • How do you typically understand sin in your own life? Do you tend to focus more on behaviors or the deeper issues of trust and disconnection from God?
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  • What steps can you take to reconnect with God in areas where you feel distant or mistrustful?
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4. Idolatry and Fear-Based Living





The root of sin is a failure to trust in God’s sufficiency, leading us to live out of fear. We create idols—control, success, or security—when we feel uncertain. Living in fear keeps us from relying on God’s provision and invites us to hold onto false securities.





Quotes:





    

  • “The root of sin is our failure to trust in God’s sufficiency. Instead of trusting God’s provision, we rely ultimately on ourselves.” — Mark Biddle, Missing the Mark
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • What idols (e.g., control, success, security) do you find yourself clinging to in times of uncertainty?
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  • How can you shift from a fear-based way of living to a life more rooted in trust and surrender to God’s provision?
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5. The Tug of Grace: A Moment-to-Moment Decision





We are continually pulled by fear, the root of all sin. The tug of grace is what gets our attention, but it’s not enough to keep us from being pulled under. It’s the invitation to decide: will we allow fear to drown our true selves, or will we let go of the rope, die to self, and let God’s grace drown our false selves?





Quotes:





    

  • “The tug of grace is God’s invitation. It’s not about resisting fear through our strength but about letting go and trusting in grace.” — From the sermon
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • Can you identify moments in your life where fear has pulled you away from trust in God? How did the tug of grace invite you to respond?
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  • What would it look like to let go of the rope and fully surrender to grace in a specific area of your life?
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6. Dying to Self and Living in Christ





Paul teaches that true spiritual life comes through repeated death to self. We are called to continually surrender our false selves—our fears, pride, and need for control—and trust in God’s resurrection power. This ongoing death and resurrection is what allows us to live fully in Christ.





Quotes:





    

  • “We are called to ‘just keep drowning.’ It is in dying to our false selves that we can truly live.” — From the sermon
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Reflection Questions:





    

  • What aspects of your false self (e.g., pride, control, fear) are you being called to surrender in this season of life?
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  • How have you experienced spiritual resurrection after moments of dying to self? What new life emerged from those experiences?
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Quotes for Further Reflection





    

  1. “Grace isn’t just for our past sins, but for the ongoing process of transformation in our lives.” — From the sermon
    2. 




  2. “Sin is not about being bad; it is about being disconnected from God, and grace is the connection that heals and restores us.” — Greg Boyle
    3. 




  3. “We are called to ‘just keep drowning.’ It is in dying to our false selves that we can truly live.” — From the sermon
    4. 




  4. “The root of sin is our failure to trust in God’s sufficiency. Instead of trusting God’s provision, we rely ultimately on ourselves.” — Mark Biddle, Missing the Mark
    5. 




  5. “When we live out of fear, we are essentially choosing self-reliance over grace, and in the end, that will always pull us under.” — From the sermon
    6. 







	

		

			

				TBC Richmond
			

			

				

					

						TBC Richmond					

					
Reflection Guide: Romans 6 and the Pattern of Dying to Self

				

				

					

						
						
						
					

					

						
						

							
						

						

							

								
								
								
								
							

							

								
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			 Sterling Severns Children's Formation, Rule of Life					


Going Deeper: Exploration of Romans 3:1-20 with Your Children
		

		

			

Dear Parents:





Faith conversations with children can be full of wonder and curiosity. This guide is here to help you continue—or start—those conversations with your child about the big ideas we’ve been reflecting on Romans 3:1-20. The goal isn’t to arrive at perfect answers but to encourage your child to ask questions, reflect, and engage creatively. We want these conversations to be a fun and meaningful part of your family’s daily life.





As your family begins to build a “rule of life”—a shared rhythm that makes space for God—remember that this is a journey, not a sprint. You don’t have to use the whole guide at once. Here are some ideas to help spark creativity:





    

  • Pick just one question to explore this week.
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  • Invite your child to respond through drawing or storytelling.
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  • Think of a Jesus Follower your child enjoys spending time with. Maybe they can join in a conversation or share their thoughts.
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Let’s take this journey one step at a time and enjoy the process!





Key Themes from the Sermon





1. Everyone Makes Mistakes (Romans 3:10)
We all make mistakes, and no one is perfect—that’s something Paul reminds us of in Romans 3. It’s okay to mess up. God knows we aren’t perfect, and He loves us no matter what. The important thing is to be honest when we make mistakes and trust that God will always help us start fresh.





2. God’s Treasure in Us (2 Corinthians 4:7)
Paul says that we carry God’s love like a treasure inside us. Even though we aren’t perfect, we are still very special to God. Like a clay jar with cracks, it’s sometimes through our mistakes that God’s love shines through us. God made us to share His love with the world, even when we don’t feel perfect.





3. We Are Loved Even When We Mess Up (Romans 3:3-4)
Paul also reminds us that when we aren’t faithful, God is still faithful. God’s love doesn’t depend on us getting everything right. Even when we make mistakes, God is always ready to forgive us and love us through it.





Reflection Questions for Children





These questions are meant to be fun, simple, and open-ended. Let your child share their thoughts and ideas. Feel free to add some hands-on activities like drawing or storytelling to make the experience more engaging.





    

  • God’s Treasure in Us: We learned that God’s love is like a treasure we carry inside us, even though we aren’t perfect. Can you think of something special you love that you’d want to share with a friend? How can you share God’s love with others this week?

      

    • Activity Idea: Draw a picture of a “clay jar” and talk about what treasures (like love, kindness, or friendship) God has placed in your heart.
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  • Missing the Mark: Sin was explained as “missing the mark,” like aiming for something but not hitting it. Can you think of a time you tried to do something right but it didn’t go the way you planned? What did you learn from that? How do you think God feels about you when you make mistakes?
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  • Feeling Loved by God: We sang Father Abraham in Sunday school, and it reminds us that we’re all part of God’s family. How does it feel to know you are loved by God, even when you make mistakes? What’s one way you can show someone else that they are loved by God too?
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  • Making Mistakes and Being Forgiven: Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s okay! Can you think of a time when you made a mistake and someone forgave you? How did that feel? Remember, God forgives us too, and He helps us start fresh every time.
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Spiritual Practice: Create a “Treasure Jar”





This week’s practice is hands-on and creative, designed to help children understand that they carry God’s love, even when they don’t feel perfect.





How to Do It:





    

  • Get a simple jar (or make one from paper) and label it “Treasure Jar.”
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  • Throughout the week, encourage your child to put slips of paper in the jar with one thing they’ve done to show God’s love to others. It could be sharing a toy, helping a friend, or saying something kind.
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  • At the end of the week, open the jar together and celebrate all the ways God’s love has shone through them.
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  • Finish with a simple prayer: “God, thank you for helping us share your love with others. Even when we make mistakes, we know your love is always with us.”
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Conclusion





Remember, these conversations are meant to be enjoyable and part of your family’s growing rhythm. Take it slow—there’s no need to rush through all the questions or activities at once. The important thing is creating space for your child to reflect and express their faith in their own way. As you build this “rule of life” together, celebrate the small moments and enjoy the journey.





Additional Reflection Guides on Romans 3:1-20







Going Deeper: Exploration of Romans 3:1-20 with your Teen









Adult Reflection Guide: Romans 3:1-20