Sermon Based Curriculum
Sermon Date: Feb. 13, 2011
Sermon Title: Financial Burn
Sermon Text: Prov. 6:27-28, Prov. 5, Judges 13-16
Small Group Text: Judges 13-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Introduction
We all of know of someone whose life has been virtually turned to ashes because of their sexual impropriety. Their reputation shot, their family disintegrated, their sense of self-worth and self-respect – down the tubes. This type of scenario is what Solomon had in mind when he wrote: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? Proverbs 6:27-28. Of course not. What a literal fire does to one’s clothes is what sexual immorality does to one’s personal life. It has the capacity to burn you and reduce your life to ashes! This week we’ll look at Judges chapters 13-16, which portray the tragic story of a man of whose life of leadership, power, strength and untold potential turned to ashes because of his lack of sexual self-control. There’s a lesson here for all of us. What is it about our sexuality that makes it one of the more difficult human traits to manage in a moral, ethical or Godhonoring way? To what extent to you think modern culture and media affects the way Christians think about the question of sexual morality or sexual ethics? Do we (Christians) present a “counter culture” to the prevailing norm of “sexual freedom?” If so, how, in what way?
Discussion
Read Judges 13:1-5 1. According to the heavenly messenger, what was God’s plan for Samson’s life – the purpose for which he was to be born? 2. Read Judges 16. What weakness of Samson did his enemies, the Philistines, use against him? (16:1-5) 3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. How is the Christian’s sexual conduct to be different from that of the non-Christian? (4:1-5) 4. How did Paul characterize the heathen? (4:5) 5. Though New Testament Christians do not have a “Nazirite” calling on their lives like Samson did, what calling do we have on our lives as Christ-followers? (4:7)
6. When Christians ignore or reject Biblical instructions regarding sexual behavior, who/what are they actually rejecting? (4:8) 7. How is it possible to wrong another person through sexual misconduct?
Application
1. How would you respond to someone who says it is possible to love God and be a good Christian while also living out a sexually immoral lifestyle? 2. What could you do this week to protect yourself against the sexual temptations that are so prevalent in our culture? What would be sufficient motivation to inspire you to live a sexually holy and pure lifestyle? 3. How might you encourage or even help a relative or friend who is struggling with sexual sin in his/her life?
Sermon-Based Curriculum