Discussion Guide: What am I supposed to do with all this pain?

PRAYER

Our main goal in this time together is to build relationships and learn to walk alongside one another in all that God has called us to be and do. Let’s start by praying for each other.

Does anyone have prayer requests or personal stories of how God has been moving in your life that we can celebrate together?

THIS WEEK

Today, we’re kicking off a brand-new series called ARISE—a study of Romans 6 and what it means to walk in the new life Jesus offers.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take this journey together, celebrating the one life that changed everything—Jesus. Because of Him, anyone can experience a fresh start. No matter your past or what you’re walking through right now, we’ll discover how Jesus meets us right where we are and leads us into a future that’s brand new.

This past Sunday, Pastor Alvin opened the series with a powerful message titled What Am I Supposed To Do With All This Pain? He shared honestly from his own story—heartbreak and all—and pointed us to a deeper truth: our pain isn’t just about what hurts, it’s often about what’s broken underneath. And the good news? Jesus came to make us whole.

To start our time together, let’s begin with the following questions:

How do you usually respond to pain—do you tend to ignore it, fix it, or sit in it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

SCRIPTURE

Have someone read Romans 6:1-5 aloud. As you listen, notice any words or phrases that stand out, and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight something for you.

Romans 6:1-5

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

What am I supposed to do with all this pain?

Jesus’ death paid the penalty for sin.

“Are you satisfied with your care?”— Baymax, Big Hero 6

Romans 6:1-5 reminds us that Jesus didn’t come just to ease our pain—He came to address the deeper issue behind it: sin.

His death wasn’t just symbolic. No, it was a real, costly payment. Jesus took the penalty we deserved, making us right with God—not through anything we could earn, but through a relationship rooted in grace.

Like Baymax in Big Hero 6, who sacrificed himself to save Hiro, Jesus willingly gave His life to rescue us—not just from hurt, but from the sin that causes it. His love wasn’t passive. No, it acted in our deepest need. And the value of that sacrifice? It shows how valuable we are to God.

Because of Jesus, we’re not just patched up to hobble through life—we’re made new.

What’s one thing you’re curious about or unsure of when it comes to God, sin, grace, and living a new life?

In Romans 6:1-5, Paul writes about a “new life” through Jesus—what does he mean?

What stands out to you about the idea that Jesus’ death was a real, costly payment for sin? Does that feel personal or distant to you? Why?

Share about a time when you experienced pain in a way that pointed to something deeper?

The Baymax story illustrated sacrificial love. What does sacrificial love look like in real life to you? Do you think it still happens today?

How does it change things to think of God wanting a relationship, not just a set of religious rules or transactions?

If Jesus really did offer a new life through His death and resurrection, what might that mean for your life right now?

Jesus’ death broke the power of sin.

“When the elephant was very young and much smaller, we used the same size rope to tie him. Back then, it was enough to hold him. As he grew, he became conditioned to believe he couldn’t break away. So even now—though he has the strength—he doesn’t try.” —Elephant Trainer

In Romans 6:1-5, Paul writes that Jesus didn’t just pay the price for sin—He broke its power.

Like the elephant held by a chain it could easily break, many of us are held back by lies and patterns that no longer have control.

But through Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin’s grip—its guilt, shame, and control—is broken. If you’re in Christ, you’re not stuck. You’re not powerless. You’re free to live a new life.

And if you’re not yet following Jesus, that same freedom is available to you. In Him, the chain breaks.

What part of the elephant story stood out to you? Can you relate to feeling stuck by something that no longer has real power?

This passage says that in Jesus, we’re not just forgiven—we’re free. What does it mean to be free in this context?

The message describes sin as something that has both a penalty and a power. Is it possible to live free from guilt, shame, or destructive habits? Why or why not?

For those who follow Jesus: How has your life changed since experiencing His freedom?
For those exploring faith: What kind of freedom do you long for most?

What’s one “chain” you sense God might want to break in your life—whether it’s a mindset, habit, or fear?

If true freedom is found in Jesus, what would it take for you to trust Him with your next step?

Jesus’ death provides a pattern for living.

“Evil can kill everything but love.” —Pastor Alvin

In Romans 6:1–5, Paul reminds us that Jesus didn’t just die to deal with sin’s penalty—He gave us a pattern for life.

His death was an act of love that shows us how to respond to evil, not with comfort or control, but by dying to ourselves and loving others. Real change doesn’t come from rule-keeping or asking “how” to fix things—it comes from surrendering to the care of Jesus, who meets us in our pain and transforms us.

The cross shows us that while sin brings death, love brings life. And when we’re united with Jesus in His death, we’re also raised to new life with Him.

According to Paul, what does it mean to be united with Jesus in both His death and resurrection?

Why do you think Paul emphasizes dying to sin before walking in new life?

What’s one thing about Jesus’ pattern of life in love or sacrifice that stands out or raises questions for you?

What are some examples of “how” questions we often ask when facing hard situations? How might Jesus’ example challenge those questions?

In what areas of life do you see the pattern of dying to self and loving others as hard—but necessary?

Who might God be inviting you to love sacrificially so they can experience His presence and the gift of salvation?

If Jesus meets us in our pain and offers new life through His death and resurrection, how does that reshape your view of sin, suffering, and the purpose-filled life He invites you into?

CLOSING THOUGHT

Pain can feel like the loudest voice in the room—especially when it’s rooted in sin. But through Jesus, neither pain nor sin has the final word. The cross shows us that God doesn’t just see what hurts—He sees what’s broken and loves us too much to leave us there. Jesus didn’t come to patch us up. He came to make us new. He paid the price, broke the chains of sin, and gave us a new way to live—not in comfort, but in love. So wherever you are this week—in sorrow, in questions, or in hope—remember: in Jesus, you’re not stuck. You are seen, loved, and invited into a new life that begins not by fixing everything, but by trusting the One who gave everything—Jesus.

Let’s close in prayer: Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our sin and its pain. Thank You for the cross that doesn’t just cover what sin we’ve done, but breaks the power of what holds us back. Help us trust Your love, follow Your pattern, and walk in the new life You offer. For those of us still searching—where we live, work, and play, draw us and others into your heart’s love and will. For those of us following You, make us whole. Amen.