Northgate FMC

The Problem With Sin is Solved!

Main Point: Jesus’ death and resurrection has provided us the bridge we needed to a relationship with God and escape from sin and death.
Takeaway: Celebrate the risen Christ!
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Discussion Questions:
1. Are you experiencing victory over sins through a relationship with Jesus? Are there sins you struggle with that you need to specifically name and ask God to set you free from?

2. Have you made the step of faith from relying on yourself for your salvation, to trusting in Jesus? When did you take that step? How has it made a difference in your life?

3. The Bible says that when we have a relationship with Jesus we no longer need to feel or fear being condemned and we have eternal life as a promise from God. If we really believe that, how will it change the way we live?

Table Discussion Question — What do you think about what Ephaste did, in seeking a marriage that would glorify God’s work in the world? How can our relationships with each other bring hope into the world?

It's A Progression

Main Point: Sin is al­ways progressive. It is never satisfied, and any efforts to contain it are in vain. 
Takeaway: Sin cannot be contained. Kill it or it will take over.

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Discussion Questions: 

1. What are some progressive things that you have seen in life — things that are never satisfied or content and are always moving forward trying to take new ground? 
2. Have you ever seen someone trying to contain or satisfy sin? How did that work out for them in the long-run? 
3. What are practical ways that serious minded Christ-followers can starve our sinful nature and feed our relationship with God? More important than knowing what those things are, how often are you actually doing them? 

Table Discussion Question — Are there any baby lions in your life? What do you need to do with them? How can the other people around the table help you do that

The Consequences

Main Point: God is always willing to forgive us when we sin, but that doesn’t always free us from the consequences of our sin. 

Takeaway: There are consequences to our sins, but the eternal consequence has been

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Discussion Questions 

1. What makes sin look so appealing on the surface? 

2. Why does God frequently impose “Godly Consequences” for our sin? 

3. What are some “Natural Consequences” of sin that can occur even after God has forgiven us? 

4. Has sin ever cost you more than you wanted to pay? What did that look like? 

Table Discussion Question — Do you think that God should have allowed Moses to cross into the Promised Land? How does God not letting him enter shape your understanding of him? 

We Don't Like to Call it Sin

Main Point: Naming the problem is the first step to the solution
Takeaway: God wants to forgive our sin, and will through our faith in Christ
Suggested Memory Verse – Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
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Questions
1. When you hear David’s story what do you wonder about, question, struggle with or want to know more about?

2. Have you ever resisted “naming” something that only began to change after you did?

3. How can the knowledge of someone’s love for us impact our ability to confess our wrongdoings?

4. Confessing sin and receiving forgiveness doesn’t necessarily erase the consequences of sin. Why would God allow consequences to remain? Does that make forgiveness mean less?

Table Discussion Question: Talk about how it feels, and how you respond, when you know someone is no longer angry with you for some wrong you had done to them.

Sin Separates Us

Main Point: Sin causes separation but God offers restoration in Christ
Takeaway: Let God heal the rifts caused by sin
Suggested Memory Verse - Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Questions

1. Have you ever stood on the edge of a cliff, looked across to the other side, and wondered about how the space in-between got there?

2. Can you relate to the idea that sin causes a separation within us as we struggle with two parts of ourselves: the sinful nature and the image of God that we are made with?

3. How have you seen sinful behavior cause rifts in human relationships? Have you seen relationships torn apart through sin be restored? What happened?

4. In the story of Adam and Eve we see that sin causes shame, blame and hiding. How does Jesus overcome the shame, blame and hiding through love, forgiveness and grace?

Table Discussion Question: Read Psalm 86:1-13. What does David ask for in his prayer? What does he acknowledge about God? What does he celebrate?

Do Not Lie

Main Point: Followers of Jesus are to be reliable truth-tellers
Takeaway: How can you begin to live a more truthful life?
(Suggested Memory Verse)
John 8:31 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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Discussion Questions: 

1. We use a lot of words associated with “lying.” What’s the difference between a fib, a white lie, fudging the truth, dishonesty, lying and misleading?

2. Can you recall a time you were lied to and how you felt when you realized it? What was that like for you and how did it affect your relationship with that person?

3. Are you ever tempted to lie, or to “alter the truth”? Can you tell what situations tempt you in that way?

4. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:25 – “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” (New Living Translation) Why does Paul draw a connection between being part of the same body and telling the truth? What is that about?

5. Has there been a time when you told the truth, even though it cost you and it would have been easier to lie? What was that experience like for you?

Table Discussion Question: Why do you think Jesus means when he says “the truth will set you free?”

Do Not Steal

Main Point: Christ-followers should be people of incredibly high moral integrity.
Takeaway: If any area of your life is lacking complete integrity, it is imperative that you immediately fix it. 

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Discussion Questions: 

• How would you describe integrity in your own words? 
• Why is integrity so crucial in the life of a Christ-follower? 
• How does your integrity impact your security? 
• Is there any area of your life that is lacking complete integrity? What do you need to do to immediately fix it? 
• Table Discussion Question — Where do you find yourself tempted to compromise the line of integrity, even just a little bit? How do you handle that? 

Do Not Commit Adultery

Main Point: Adultery is horribly destructive to marriages, families, and children.
Takeaway: Write the story that you want your children to hear when they are adults.

(Suggested Memory Verse) 1 Corinthians 10:13 —  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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Discussion Questions

1. What was God attempting to give his people by prohibiting adultery in the Ten Commandments? 
2. How many societal problems and issues would be solved if there was no sex outside of marriage?
3. What advice would you give to a Christian friend who is in the beginning stages of an inappropriate relationship? 
4. If you are married, what guardrails or boundaries have you incorporated into your life to make it easier to avoid adultery? 

Table Discussion Question — Imagine that you’re telling the story of your marriage to your kids (or your hypothetical future kids if you do not currently have any). How would you like that story to go? 

Do Not Murder

Main Point: Followers of Jesus are called to be life-affirming people

Takeaway: You don’t have to allow anger to rob you or others out of life.

Suggested Memory Verse - Ephesians 4:26-27 - In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

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Discussion Questions  

1. How was anger expressed or not expressed in your childhood home? What did you learn about anger from your family context?

2. When do you think it would be right to be angry? If there are times it would be right, how do you think anger should be expressed in those times?

3. Do you think anger is more or less of a problem in our culture than it was in years past? What makes you think that? What do you think is behind that?

4. What is your personal reaction to the issue of anger? Is there anything you’d like to do differently when it comes to anger?

Table Discussion Question: Read Ephesians 5:26-27, 29-32 together. Identify one thing that you’d like to take away from these verses to remember or work on.

Honor Your Father and Mother

Main Point: God’s desire for the family is that it be a place where parents are honor-able and children honor their parents
Takeaway: Parents acting honor-ably and their children showing honor to their parents is the vision of the family we are asked to make a reality.

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Discussion Questions  

1. What is your first, gut-level reaction to “honor your father and your mother”?

2. What are some concrete ways you can think of that a person can honor their parents when they are pre-teens? As teenagers? As adults?

3. What would you say to someone who said they could not honor a parent because that parent did not deserve their honor?

4. How does knowing Jesus enable us to keep this commandment?

Table Discussion Question: What is one good thing you can say about your parents? If they are available to you (live nearby, can be Face-timed or called) why not tell them that.