The Day I Died – Week Three

 

Read 7:21-25

Is there any way to have victory over the thing that for so long has had victory over me?

***For Leaders – Do not give sin the power it doesn’t have! Pastor Josh gave the example that 12 step programs don’t address the new identity. They take identity in continued bondage.  Focus needs to shift from beating what is tempting you to focus on following Jesus.

 

Quick study of sin! Read Psalm 51:1 and 51:9

[1] Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions…[9] Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

 

What are some words for sin are mentioned in text? What’s the difference between them? Why does it matter?

 

***For Leaders

  • [v1] Transgression (pesha in Hebrew) mean rebellion, sin, trespass. Essentially there is a line we shouldn’t step over, but we do it anyways.
  • [v9] Sin (chet in Hebrew) missing the mark. It can refer to an arrow or slingshot missing the mark. It has more to do from straying from the correct path and missing our target.
  • [v9] Iniquity (awon in Hebrew) bend, twist or distort the law of God and bring punishment.

 

Discuss how these are examples of how we come against the Lord and how we do it in various ways. Discuss how we sometimes run across the boundary and sometimes we wander over it.

 

What is the important piece in the discussion above?

 

***For Leaders – The most important piece is our response! Regardless of whether we wandered over the line or we ran over it. See David’s response below:

Read Psalm 51: 10-13 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

 

Psalm 51 was written as David’s response for having Bathsheba’s husband (Uriah) purposefully killed in battle so David wouldn’t face shame for getting her pregnant while Uriah was in field fighting for Israel. How should we process David’s repentance in saying he will “teach transgressors”? Do you think it was kind of bold for David to say after he had someone killed? How does all of this fit in light of Pastor Josh’s message?