Title: The Sin I’m In: Part 2 - Don't Forfeit Your Benefits

Synopsis: Last week our discussion centered on what sin is. Today we are going to talk about what sin does. The "does" means what it does when we commit it and what it does when we resist it. And there are certainly benefits to resisting. Jesus is teaching us how to rely on him so we can try our best NOT to give in to it. One of the ways we can encourage ourselves to resist sin is to know if we don't, ultimate we will forfeit our benefits. Do you, want to forgo your benefits?

James 1:13-25 (CEB)

13 No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14 Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. 15 Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. 18 He chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created. 19 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.

20 This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you. 22 You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23 Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror.

24 They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. 25 But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.

Message Points:

1️⃣ Our benefits are up to us.

2️⃣ Make sure you get all the information so you may know how to make the best choice. "We are in control of our choices. We are not in control of the consequences."

3️⃣ There are benefits at stake. This is true even if it takes a while. Stay in the process.

Closing Charge:

Temptation will always present a choice, but grace gives us the power to choose wisely. Every decision carries consequences, but it also carries potential. Do not trade what God is building in your life for what only satisfies a moment. Stay in the process. Stay anchored in truth. The benefits God has prepared for you are worth protecting. Walk into this week remembering that your choices matter, your growth matters, and God’s grace is still working in you.

🕊️ Join Us for a Worship Experience at Impact

Join us for Sunday Worship Experiences at 8am, 10am, or 12pm, and Engage Thursdays at 6:30pm.

Worship live on impactdcd.org, the Impact App, or Facebook.

Wherever you are.

Whatever season you’re in.

You belong here.

At Impact, we gather to grow in faith, engage in community, build connection, and be transformed by God’s presence—because God meets us right where we are.