Hi Leaders! Here are the questions for small group discussion time:
- One definition of immorality is unrestrained self-indulgence in areas considered wicked, evil, or immoral by a common standard. List some examples of immorality from Colossians 3. What else would you add to the list? From Colossians 3: sexual immorality,impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander and lying. Then discuss what else could be added. Ideas: murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, slander, (Matthew 15:9) carousing, drunkenness, debauchery, dissension and jealousy (Romans 13:13).
- Compare the list from Question 1 to American cultural standards. In what way have the standards changed over time? Discussion should point clearly to the fact that America’s standards of morality have changed (and are continuing to change) over time. God’s standards do not change. They are the one true standard for morality. This would be a good time to ask how daily Bible reading is going. We need to be growing in our knowledge and application of God’s unchanging truth. A question for parents and grandparents to think about: How am I training my kids to use God’s Word as the standard of morality, rather than that of the world, or even of the church?
- Colossians 3:5 encourages believers to take severe measures to remove 5 fleshly desires. How does each fleshly desire relate to sexual immorality? What sexual activities are immoral according to the Bible? In Colossians 3:5 (NIV) the fleshly desires that we are to put to death are sexual immorality,impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. I’ve included the NKJV here, with MacArthur Study Bible notes. They are fornication (any form of sexual sin), uncleanness (thoughts and intentions), passion (physical lust), evil desire (mental lust), and covetousness (insatiable desire for more of what’s forbidden). All of these lead to idolatry, worshipping our own desires and selfishness, instead of God. Immoral sexual activities include sex outside marriage, pornography, homosexuality, and a host of others; basically anything sexual outside the marriage union of a husband and wife.
- How might the sexual immorality “bait” be different for women and for men? Often for men the “bait” is visual, whereas with women it’s usually more emotionally driven. Also, societal expectations and pressures are different between men and women. This would be a good time to take one “bait” down the two trails that Pastor Wilson shared. BAIT -> BURN -> BITE -> BAKED versus BAIT -> BURN -> BOLT -> BLESSED.
- Why do you think sexual immorality is a relational toxin? Who does it poison? What are the benefits of sexual purity? Sexual immorality is a relational toxin for many reasons, including lack of unity, and emotional and/or physical separation within a marriage. The primary relationship that is poisoned is that between us and God. In addition, the marriage relationship is poisoned and the effects are felt in the kids and grandkids too. God created sex to be enjoyed within the context of marriage between a husband and wife. There is much to be celebrated and cultivated within these boundaries.
- Challenge: Our speaker encouraged us to replace our old identity with our new identity in Christ. Find 5-10 truths about who you are in Christ from the Bible. Share that list, with the Bible references, in group next week. Here’s a list of verses on our identity in Christ: https://www.openbible.info/topics/who_am_i_in_christ [1]. Also, a list compiled by Priscilla Shirer: http://www.goingbeyond.com/blog/who-you-are-in-christ/ [2].
Break into gender groups to discuss the following:
- The goal of the Relationship Rx sermon series is to recognize, reject and replace relationship toxins. Immorality is our toxin focus today:
Answers will vary, but we will continue to ask these questions each week as we try to recognize, reject, and replace these relationship toxins.
What areas of your flesh are the most difficult to control? In other words, what are your greatest temptations? (recognize)
What situations tend to get you in the most trouble? (recognize)
How can you “bolt” from your toughest temptations? (reject)
What do you need to do/think to avoid this toxin? (replace)
8. How are you doing in rejecting and replacing hurtful words? Being offended? These were the first two relationship toxins discussed in this series. Celebrate any successes and encourage continued growth.