Author: Michael Johnson

Mark these Key Words: Body, Abstain, Honor

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

If your body, heart and mind is the place where Jesus lives and if indeed He purchased your being with His blood on The Cross, describe the standard of personal purity you need to live by.

The standard is “not even a hint” (Ephesians 5:3).  Luckily, as we fall short of this standard, there is ever-lasting grace to reconcile us to God; however, this is the standard God has called us to strive for.  He doesn’t set this as our standard to punish us or spoil our fun; after all, He is the one who thought up sex in the first place.  God knows best, and wants us to have the best life possible!

2 Timothy 2:22

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

What is a “pure heart” and what does this verse tell you about your personal standards for movies, television and social media time?

A pure heart is one that is clean, blameless and unstained from guilt.  This verse tells us to pursue righteousness, which means we should be careful about the media we allow into our hearts and mind.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.” 

In terms of sexual themes, innuendos, and pictures; what standard would Jesus live? G, PG, PG-13, R, X? What standards is He asking you to live? (Describe your answer.)

Jesus would live by the standard “not even a hint” perfectly.  This is the same standard He desires us to pursue.

Hebrews 13:4

“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”  

How can you ensure that your marriage bed will be undefiled?

You can ensure that by believing you have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), so Christ took all your sin and nailed it to the Cross.  Also, by pursuing righteousness from this point forward and saving yourself for your spouse.

At what point in your relationship does sexual activity become acceptable? Dating, in love, engaged, marriage?

Marriage

A CLEAN SLATE

Romans 8:1

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Mark 1:15

“And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”1 John 1:9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

What is God saying to you about your past, present and future?

FOR FUTURE STUDY

Describe Dave’s fallacies and what you learn from his mistakes.

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life?

LOCKER ROOM: 

Who is the purest man you know? How can you start becoming more like Him?

MEMORY VERSE:

Job 31:1 

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?”

MY PRAYER

Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…

Confession: Father, please forgive me for…

Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…

Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…

Mark these Key Words: Trials, Jesus, (Lord, Christ, Him)

Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Like an automatic transmission shifting gears s needed, Paul speaks in this passage about how hard times shift “through the gears” ultimately to hope. Describe how you have seen this amazing process become a reality in your personal experience with trials and tribulations.

Might have to help people get here. Trials remind us that this is all broken, and God has promised to fix it, and He doesn’t lie.

Mark these Key Words: Sin, God, Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:19

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 

What does the “temple of the Holy Spirit” mean?

It means the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.  In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit was within the temple, and had a specific room called the holy of holies in which he dwelled.  After Jesus came and gave His life for us on the cross, He took our sin and we became the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It was because of this act that we became the new “temple” and dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:20

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

With what price did God purchase your body?

God purchased us through the death of His son on the Cross.

1 Corinthians 6:18

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body?”  

What is God saying when He says, “the immoral man sins against his own body?”

God is saying that immorality is against your own body, and ultimately sinning against the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. 

Why is sexual immorality worse than other sins?

Sexual sin is worse because it is against the human body; Christians are committing the sin against the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

John 8:34

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin…’”   

How does sin enslave you?

Everyone is a slave in the spiritual sense. We are either slaves to sin, which is our natural state, or we are slaves to Christ.  When Christ died on the Cross for our sins He paid the penalty, and allowed us to become slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18) instead of sin.

1 Corinthians 6:12

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”  

What is God saying in this passage?

God is saying that we have been set free from the law!  Therefore, we have the freedom to take part in “all things”, but due to our sin nature and love for Christ, we abstain from certain things to show our reverence and love for Jesus and to not be mastered by anything. 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”

If sanctification means to be “set apart” for God’s honor and glory, what is this passage urging you to do with your “vessel” (your body)?

This passage is urging us to be set apart, and abstain from sexual immorality.  We must do whatever it takes to set our vessels apart for holiness (Hebrews 12:1).

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life? 

LOCKER ROOM: 

What does God’s Word say is the reason for purity?

MEMORY VERSE:

1 Corinthians 6:12

 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

MY PRAYER

Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…

Confession: Father, please forgive me for…

Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…

Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…

Mark these Key Words: Ambassador, Disciples, Imitate

2 Corinthians 5:20

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled for Christ.” 

What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?

Ambassador: greek: prosbeuo = aged.

Elder, representative, ambassador.  Sounds like being an image bearer (Genesis 1:26-27). 

Being an ambassador is appealing to the world for God.

How does an “ambassador” represent the one he portrays?

According to this verse it starts with being “reconciled to God.”  But an ambassador should accurately portray the full and true picture of who they portray.  Do you do that?

Mark these Key words: Future, Providing, Sovereign

Psalm 103:19

“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”

Daniel 7:27 (b)

“His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.”

Daniel 4:17

“This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.” 

Daniel 4:35

“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?”

Why is this core characteristic of God monumental in your personal faith experience?

These verses point to the sovereignty of God.  When we see He is in control of all, we can rest that surely He is in control of our lives as well.

TRANSFORMATION (Metamorphosis – true grace transforms)

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

No matter what, you and I mess up. What is one area of your life that you want God to make new?

Remind them that in Christ they are already new!  So they can stop choosing the old self now.  They are free to run away from sin.

Mark these Key Words: New, Renewed, Transformed

The absolutely unexplainable scientific miracle that atheists and evolutionists cannot begin to understand or fit into theory of godless evolutionary biology is the marvelous wonder of metamorphosis through which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly or moth. Careful study of this mysterious process reveals that the caterpillar weaves for itself a tiny coffin (cocoon or chrysalis) in which it dies. In a matter of hours, the caterpillar’s very DNA develops into the basic molecules from which its DNA was formed. Yet, somehow in this process of complete decomposition there is a “dream” on a destiny inside that tiny casket of a sense of a “new creation”; a moth or butterfly in no way similar to the furry little crawling creature from which that moth or butterfly originated. The original creation dies and deteriorates at the molecular level and somehow “knows” how to reestablish itself into a majestic winged creature that from the first minutes of regeneration knows how to soar in the wind never to return to its lowly journey in the dirt of its pre-existing life.

The New Testament uses the same words to describe the transformation of a non-believer in Jesus to a converted believer in Jesus.  Let’s study how the bible describes this magnificent  process in which the “old “ has passed away and behold the new has come.

Ephesians 4:22-24

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

What does it mean to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind?”

Renew means to “begin something again.”  In other words, God is giving us a new beginning; He outlines a new way to think and act in scripture and in order to live that out we must fill our minds and hearts with the words of the Bible.

Describe how you have “laid aside the “old self” in the past 12-24 months.

Personal Answer

Describe the “new self” that you have seen emerging in yourself over the past year or two.

Personal Answer

2 Timothy 2:20-22

“Now in a large hours there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

What is a “vessel for honor” when talking about your body according to this passage?

A vessel of honor is a vessel that “cleanses himself from these things.”

What activities need to be avoided to maintain your body as a “vessel of honor?” What activities need to be encouraged?

Avoid youthful lust and encourage a pursuit of righteous, faith, love and peace.

Proverbs 23:31-35

“Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things and your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. They struck me, but I did not become ill; they beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.” 

What is the warning here?

It is a warning against drunkenness.

Name three reasons drinking alcohol is a bad decision.

• Can lead to fornication
• Causes others to stumble
• Impairs judgment

Ephesians 5:18

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…” ”

How does the Holy Spirit fill you?

The Spirit fills us through faith, and dwells within us.

How does the Holy Spirit empower you to say no?

As the Holy Spirit dwells within us He acts as our helper and guide to assist us in our battle against sin.

John 16:8, 13

“And He (the Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come…”

How does the Holy Spirit guide you?

 He convicts us and guides us into all truth.

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life? 

LOCKER ROOM: 

What is your greatest temptation and how are you overcoming it?

MEMORY VERSE:

1 Corinthians 6:9 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own.”

MY PRAYER

Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…

Confession: Father, please forgive me for…

Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…

Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…

Mark these Key Words: Discipleship, Faithful, Multiplication

Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

“Famous last words”…history’s most famous last words! Why do you believe Jesus “saved His best for last?”

We learn that the heart of God is directly connected with discipling people not in our name, but in the name of Jesus.

Like an explanation mark at the end of a sentence to provide an enthusiastic conclusion; what does this verse say to you today? 

First = Go! Second = Make!  Third = Doing it in Jesus’ name, not in your name.

Mark these Key Words: Death, Reborn, Renewed, Transform

Just as a caterpillar weaves itself into a cocoon and dies inside his self-made coffin, a truly converted follower dies to his “old self.” Likewise, as the DNA of the caterpillar deteriorates and reconstructs itself into the DNA of a majestic butterfly, so the new believer becomes a brand new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

What is a “new creation”?

New = Christ’s work on your behalf

Old = your sin and life outside of Christ

Compare your personal experience as a “new creation in Christ.”

We should see growth in the life of a new creation in Christ.  We should see growth not just in action, but in belief and knowledge of God.