Category: Month 4

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: 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: Foundation, Image, God

THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 3:15-17

“…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writing which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

What is the purpose of the Bible?

According to this verse, “teaching, reproof, correcting and training in righteousness” to be equipped for every good work.  Also, the Bible reveals the story of God’s redemption to the world.

1 Peter 1:20

“For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”

Describe the authority behind the words of the Bible.

Foreknowledge of Jesus shows that the Bible has all along been about Jesus coming for people.  Jesus holds authority over me, because He saved me.

JESUS THE CREATOR

John 1:3

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

What was Jesus role in man’s creation?

His role in the creation of man is spelled out in the text.  “ALL THINGS came into being through Him.”

Colossians 1:15

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Through whom were you created?

“The firstborn” shows that we are in His image.  Genesis 1:26-27 -> Connect OT & NT to the same message.

JESUS’S VIEW OF GENDER IDENTITY

Matthew 19:4 & 5

“And He answered and said, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.’”

When was man created on this earth?

God created man “from the beginning” and from the beginning there was distinction.

Mark 10:6-8

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.”

Describe God’s decision for marriage.

God made man and woman different to compliment and make each other better as they become one in marriage.

APPLICATION:

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

LOCKER ROOM:

How would you defend Jesus’ view of gender identity with unbelievers?

MEMORY VERSE:

John 1:3

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

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…

NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY ON HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Romans 1:26-28

“For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, mem with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”

Name four adjective that the Bible used to describe the practice of homosexuality.

Exchanged natural = male -> female for unnatural = male -> male, so God gave them over to these unnatural and indecent acts.

1 Corinthians 6:9 & 10

“Or do you not know that the unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” 

What is God’s view on homosexual activity?

God judges it -> It’s outside of God’s design for sexual activity.

NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY ON SEXUAL IMMORALITY

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?”

How bad does God feel about sexual immorality?

He hates it!  We are sinning against the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are not our own, because we have been bought with a price.

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 are we to do about sexual desires?

Flee and replace with faith, love and peace.  Flee is an aggressive word, are you fighting to flee?

JUDGING

Romans 2:1

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgement, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

Why is it wrong to judge others?

We are all unrighteous, but Christ made us righteous through what He has done on the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).  God is the only one who may judge.

Matthew 7:1-5

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Describe self-righteousness.

Ignoring the log and calling it a speck. It’s being a Pharisee. Thinking you are better and not in need of God’s daily portion of Grace.

CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE RESTORE RIGHTEOUSNESS

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.”

How do we regain peace with God?

IF we confess.  Confession=Humility to submit to God’s authority.

Psalm 32:3-5

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; and You will forgave the guilt of my sin.”

What does God require for our forgiveness?

Expose our iniquity to God, ask to be forgiven and then believe that you are!  So many people ask for forgiveness and then wonder if they will actually receive that forgiveness.  We must trust and believe that God is not a liar!

APPLICATION:

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

LOCKER ROOM:

Why do you think sexual purity is so important to God?

MEMORY VERSE:

Psalm 66:18 

“If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”

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…