Loving God in Reverse: Rushing Toward Evil
Dear friends,
If you are tired of slipping into the same sin over and over, then this Sunday’s for you! If you have friends and family who keep cycling from one spiritual collapse to another, then this is the week to bring them. If you have habits that that you can’t seem to break free of, then make sure you come Sunday.
Loving God in Reverse is about confronting the underlying sin that keeps you stuck. God hates these things that crush your life over and over.
This week’s message “Rushing Toward Evil” will give you some tools to stop the cycle. Do one thing for me and for yourself – Be There! I can’t wait to see you.
Blessings,
Joe
RUSHING TOWARD EVIL
Please read the action steps to prepare for this Sunday’s teaching
- Pray for yourself and those you will invite
- Read the scriptures below as you consider the questions
- Plan to attend one of the preaching services and a small group.
- Contact a friend or family member and invite them to come with you. (If they come, great! If not, keep trying as you follow the Holy Spirit.)
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-19
Small Group Questions…
- Why is it so easy to get tangled up in sin?
Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Describe ways we can set ourselves up to rush toward sin?
Rom 13:13-14 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
- How can humbly accepting your weaknesses protect you from falling?
2Ti_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.
- How can the phrase “follow your passion” lead people to destroy their lives? Share how you have seen this.
Pro_14:30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.
Col_3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
1Th_4:5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
- How did Paul’s confident but misguided zeal lead him to cause great evil he lived to regret?
Php 3:4-7 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Act 8:3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- How have you seen confident but misguided zeal drive someone into harming their family friends, church or witness?
- Why do we all think this teaching applies to someone else?
Pro 30:12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
