In the final week of the Romans study, the group wraps up with both humor and heartfelt reflection. They highlight Paul’s shift from doctrine to action—Romans 12–16 as the picture of what a transformed life should look like. Romans 15:13 becomes the anchor: God is the source of hope, peace, and joy amid anxiety, cultural change, and uncertainty.

They connect today’s struggles with biblical moments like Habakkuk and Moses, showing how God uses unexpected circumstances to realign His people. Discussion moves into Romans 16, where Paul models humility through gratitude, honoring ordinary believers whose faithfulness helped build the early church. This becomes a challenge to practice gratitude intentionally, honor others, bear burdens, and accept people the way Christ accepts us—lovingly, truthfully, without condoning sin.

They explore prayer as “striving together,” the danger of self-righteousness, and the need to walk in the Spirit to truly love others. The episode ends with personal prayer requests, community concerns, and an encouragement to begin a “gratitude cycle” this week.

If you want to follow along with our daily scripture readings, Victorious devotional guides are available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon.

00:00–02:12

Warm banter; life updates; humor about retirement, RV living, and backyard woes.

02:12–04:48

Confirming next week’s wrap-up; Romans overview—salvation (1–11) and transformed living (12–16).

04:48–06:18

Romans 15:13—choosing hope; God’s control amid culture shifts and elections.

06:18–08:10

Habakkuk and Moses—God using hardship to bring His people back in line with His purposes.

08:10–09:45

Early church growth; everyday believers fueling mission; modern parallels to a post-Christian culture.

09:45–12:03

Paul’s gratitude in Romans 16; humility; importance of thanking and honoring others.

12:03–14:47

Colossians 1—marks of spiritual maturity: fruit, endurance, patience, gratitude.

14:47–18:40

Good Christian misconceptions; Spirit-empowered living; endurance with circumstances and people.

18:40–21:45

Gratitude memories; Mr. Rogers reflection; humorous “holy kiss” tangent.

21:45–23:26

Romans 15:30—praying with urgency; striving together in the work of the gospel.

23:26–29:02

Bearing the weak; Christlike acceptance; confronting sin with grace, not condoning or condemning.

29:02–34:03

Church culture inconsistencies; dangers of self-righteousness; modern Phariseeism.

34:03–37:44

Four practices of gratitude: name blessings, lead with appreciation, honor others, start the gratitude cycle.

37:44–39:57

Prayer requests: patience, peace, healing, family needs.

39:57–45:13

Closing prayer; community tragedy; ministry resources; invitation to support Five Marks; preview of final episode.

In Week 11 of the Victorious series, the Grow Group dives into Romans 13–14, exploring how believers live out love and freedom in a world full of gray areas. After a lighthearted opening filled with stories about marriage humor and a nicotine-soaked Facebook Marketplace sofa, the conversation shifts toward how Christians discern right from wrong when Scripture isn’t explicit.

The group discusses Paul’s teaching on conscience, conviction, and Christian liberty—using his example of eating meat sacrificed to idols as a framework for modern decisions. They emphasize that mature faith balances personal freedom with responsibility, seeking to avoid causing others to stumble. Through topics like Halloween participation, holiday traditions, and cultural engagement, they unpack the principle that believers must discern whether to reject, receive, or redeem cultural practices based on their conscience and love for others.

Joey highlights that spiritual maturity means walking in grace rather than judgment—allowing God to shape each believer’s heart rather than enforcing uniformity. Quoting Romans 14:1–4 (The Message), Barry reminds the group to welcome differing perspectives at “God’s table” and let the Lord do the teaching. They caution against self-righteousness, division, and social media outrage, emphasizing that “being righteous” is more important than “being right.”

Joey closes by urging believers to live in forward motion—pressing on in faith, keeping eyes fixed on Christ’s return, and feeding the Spirit through Scripture, prayer, worship, and community. True victory, they agree, comes from a renewed mind and a heart anchored in love.

If you want to follow along with our daily scripture readings, Victorious devotional guides are available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon.

00:00–03:00 | Playful intro: stories of marriage humor and buying a smoke-filled sofa set up a relaxed, relational tone.

03:00–05:30 | Introduction to Romans 13–14; key theme—loving God and others as the fulfillment of the law.

05:30–08:00 | Paul’s teaching on “meat sacrificed to idols” applied to modern life—freedom guided by conscience.

08:00–11:00 | Debate on Halloween and Christian participation: rejecting darkness, redeeming what’s good, avoiding judgment.

11:00–14:30 | Stories of cultural discernment and spiritual awareness—recognizing hidden influences without fear or superstition.

14:30–17:00 | Conversation on church traditions, holidays, and the lack of consistent rhythms in Protestant faith practice.

17:00–20:00 | Legalism and boycotts: the danger of overcorrecting and confusing conviction with control.

20:00–22:30 | Reading of Romans 14:1–4 (The Message)—welcome others who differ in faith; let God be the teacher.

22:30–25:30 | Modern example: a Florida church criticized online; handling disagreement with grace, not condemnation.

25:30–28:00 | Warning against dissension and self-righteousness—pursue righteousness, not just being “right.”

28:00–31:00 | Living forward: don’t dwell on the past; fix your eyes on Christ’s return and daily mission.

31:00–33:30 | Renewing the mind through worship, prayer, and Scripture; replacing negative thoughts with God’s truth.

33:30–38:30 | Joey’s five keys to victory: recognize the battle, stay alert, strengthen your soul, walk with others, and feed the Spirit while starving the flesh.

38:30–44:00 | Closing humor, family updates, and heartfelt prayer for wisdom, family, new babies, and ongoing ministry.

In this Grow Group Podcast episode, the team wraps up the Victorious series by moving from Romans 9–11 into the transformational call of Romans 12:1–2. The conversation begins lightheartedly—with talk of family, politics, and parenting—but quickly transitions into the rich theology of surrender, worship, and daily discipleship. The hosts explore Paul’s urging to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,” connecting it to practical renewal of the mind and the act of worship that extends far beyond Sunday services.

They discuss humility, trust in God’s timing, and joining His mission as essential steps toward spiritual maturity. The group emphasizes the danger of conforming to worldly molds—whether political, cultural, or personal—and unpacks how to remain set apart through intentional focus on Christ. Drawing on neuroscience and spiritual discipline, they note how consistent time in God’s Word rewires not just thinking but living.

Quiet time is reframed as a “date with Jesus”—a relational, worshipful space rather than a rushed routine. The episode builds toward the idea that true worship is whole-life surrender: every thought, action, and decision submitted to God’s will. The hosts close with humor, honest reflection, and heartfelt prayer—thanking God for His mercy and asking for wisdom to stay on the altar of surrender daily.

If you want to follow along with our daily scripture readings, Victorious devotional guides are available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon.

00:00–02:00 | Lighthearted banter about community involvement, parenting adult children, and lessons in patience and prayer.

02:00–04:00 | Reflections on letting go of expectations, trusting God’s better plan, and avoiding attachment to personal visions of success.

04:00–06:00 | Humor about marriage and family life before transitioning to Romans 11’s doxology—acknowledging God’s unfathomable wisdom.

06:00–08:00 | Discussion: trusting God even when mysteries remain; surrender leads to true worship.

08:00–09:50 | Key takeaways: wear humility, trust God’s timing, join His mission, live as a mercy receiver/giver, and rest in sovereignty.

09:50–12:00 | Overview of Romans 9–11: God’s plan for Jews and Gentiles, salvation through faith, and God’s sovereign purpose.

12:00–14:30 | Transition to Romans 12:1–2; meaning of “renewing your mind” and the concept of spiritual metamorphosis.

14:30–17:00 | Practical discussion on forming godly habits; daily focus on Jesus; the role of Scripture in mind renewal.

17:00–19:30 | “Quiet time” defined as relational, not ritualistic—personal worship, prayer, and presence.

19:30–21:20 | Worship as whole-life surrender—our work, relationships, and choices as acts of devotion.

21:20–24:00 | How culture molds belief; resisting conformity through obedience and offering ourselves to God.

24:00–27:00 | Honest talk on hypocrisy, love, and genuine transformation; loving others as proof of renewal.

27:00–30:00 | Living out faith in the workplace—showing Christ through joy, patience, and authenticity rather than judgment.

30:00–33:00 | Practical obedience: start daily at the altar, refuse the world’s mold, and identify cultural pressures.

33:00–36:00 | Naming temptations (“name your no’s”); setting healthy spiritual boundaries and practicing “micro-surrenders.”

36:00–38:00 | Daily choice between self and Spirit; social media distractions; staying Christ-centered amid noise.

38:00–41:00 | Summary of Romans 12 as a “mountaintop” of Christian living; worship as lifestyle, humility, and service.

41:00–43:00 | Reflection on loving God versus loving people—true love for God produces love for others.

43:00–47:00 | Closing prayer requests for new babies, family transitions, and ministry growth.

47:00–48:30 | Final prayer and outro—encouragement to live surrendered and stay connected in community.