The Standard (Part 7) - Sexual Purity (cont.)

Pastors Rocklyn & Eva Clarke - Sunday February 24, 2008

© 2008 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

 
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 2/17 - 2/23: Lev 4:1 - 14:57; Mark 2:13 - 6:56; Psalm 36 - 40; Prov 10:1-12
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V The Standard - Mat 5 - 7
V Introduction
V The Sermon on the Mount was addressed to disciples of Jesus
* The Kingdom of God has wheat and weeds. - Mat 13:24-30, 36-43
* Not everyone at church is a Christian.
V A brother/sister who sins against you - Mat 18:15-20
* Stage 1 - Confront one on one - Luke 17:3
* Stage 2 - Add two or three witnesses
V Stage 3 - Tell the church
* For our purposes: life group, or life group leaders
* Invite him/her to meet with a representative body.
* Elders who sin are rebuked publicly - 1Tim 5:19-20
V Stage 4 - Excommunication
V Withdrawing fellowship
* Hand over to Satan- 1Cor 5; 1Tim 1:18-20
* Don't associate with immoral "believers". - 1Cor 5:9-13
* Wheat and Weeds - Mat 13:24-43
V Adultery & Sexual Sin - Mat 5:27-30
* Get rid of anything that causes you to sin so that you don't end up in hell. - Mat 5:29-30
* If you keep on sinning you're a sinner - 1Cor 6:9-20
V Strategies For Victory
V Find alternative activities
* Learning
* Exercise
* Socializing in groups
* Ministry - serving others
V The way of sanctification
* God is in the character-building business - Rom 5:1-5
V Character is developed by struggle
* Muscles are built by struggling against resistance.
* Character is built by resisting temptation - Heb 5:7; Heb 12:7
V Don't set your mind on the things of the flesh - Rom 8
* Youtube, raunchy humor, etc. keep your flesh active!
* Set your mind on the things of the Spirit
V You can do it!
* God is at war with our individualism and consumer Christianity.
* Take up your mat and walk - Mat 9:1-8; John 5:1-15
V Restoration - Gal 6:1-2
V Repentance
V The wrong way - Nick Leeson: "I'm sorry".
* Nick Leeson gambled a £2 million loss into a £827 million (US$1.4 billion) loss which bankrupted Barings Bank. When he realized that the situation was hopeless he wrote a note that read "I'm sorry" and left town.
V The right way
* State what you did that was wrong.
* State why it was wrong.
* Take responsibility for it.
* Make restitution if possible.
* Don't demand forgiveness from anyone.
V Confession
* To the Lord - Psalm 32; Psalm 51
* Greek - omologew - homologeo - "to say the same thing"
V In the ministry of John the Baptist
* Confession was an essential part of John's Baptism - Mat 3:6
* Note Jesus had nothing to confess - Mat 3:13-15
V History
* Catholic Church
* Martin Luther
* Protestantism
* To each other - James 5:13-16;
* For forgiveness - 1John 1:8 - 2:2
* Extending God's forgiveness to those who repent - John 20:19-23
* Spiritual Recovery Team
V Restore each other!
* In your life groups
* Practice confession
* Extend God's forgiveness to one another
* Your Spouse - Mat 5:31-32
* Your Word - Mat 5:33-37
* Your Rights - Mat 5:38-42
* Your Enemies - Mat 5:43-48
V Your Reputation
* Alms (Giving) - Mat 6:1-4
* Prayer - Mat 6:5-15
* Fasting - Mat 6:16-18
V Your Property
* Accumulating - Mat 6:19-21
* Stinginess - Mat 6:22-23
* Lifestyle - Mat 6:24-25
* Kingdom First - Mat 6:26-34
* Your Observations - Mat 7:1-6
V Final Points
* Look to the Father for whatever you need - Mat 7:7-11
* Treat others the way you want to be treated - Mat 7:12
* Embrace the restriction of the Kingdom life - Mat 7:13-14
* Be careful whom you follow - Mat 7:15-23
* Practice what Jesus preaches - Mat 7:24-27
V Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
V Group A: Sexual Activity
* For the purposes of these discussion questions and topics it is important to have a common understanding of what we mean by sexual activity. Here is a reasonable working definition:

Touching someone's body (directly, through clothing, or with an object) with the intention of arousing or gratifying sexual desire (theirs, yours, or someone else's).
V Group B: Mat 5:27-30
* How has this passage affected your thought life and your relationships?
* What boundaries have you set up to protect yourself from sexual sin?
* Is God telling you to cut something off today? If so, what?
V Group C: 1Cor 6:9-20
* What new things are you doing to avoid sexual sin?
* How are you dealing with people who want to be sexually involved you?
* How are you dealing with people whom you find sexually tempting?
* How can we help you in this area of your life?
V Group D: Rom 8:5-9
* How does your thought life affect your ability to avoid sexual sin?
* What strategies do you find helpful for avoiding sinful thought patterns?
* What is God saying to you about this passage?
V Group E: 1John 1:5-10; Eph 5:3
* What kinds of behaviors do you consider to be on the "down low"?
* What things can you do to "walk in the light" in the area of your sexual and romantic relationships?
* Who confronts you about your sexual and romantic choices?
* Do you spend time alone with people who are a temptation for you?
* What is God saying to you right now about this area of your life?
V Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings
* Make sure everyone in your life group has a prayer partner.
* Pick a base of operations as a focus for your group's outreach ministry.
* Plan a social event for your group to which you can invite some of the unbelievers you've been praying for.