September 10, 2023 • Jameela Ewell, Anthony Brown, Courtney Rainer • Romans 5:1–11, Romans 7, Genesis 3, Genesis 4:6–7, John 8:34
A panel discussion on the topic if sin and mastering it. Some questions to consider:
In Genesis chapter 4, we find God pleading with Cain concerning sin approaching in his life. Does God still
speak to His people this way? In what ways is God still speaking to His people now?
In Rom 5 we find that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, we are reconciled to God by His death, and saved by His life. How can a person be sure that they are reconciled to God and saved?
In John 8:34, Jesus expresses that to sin is to be a slave of sin. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
being a slave to sin? (what if it’s just a small misstep?)
Can a Christian sin? Can a Christian continue to walk in sin? If so, can we say that they are a Christian at all? (Consider Rom 6:1-4)
All over the Bible we find God healing people from various ailments to include their pasts and mental well-
being. We understood from the series that to reject God’s healing is sin. Why would a person hold onto their ailment particularly if it’s based on an offense?
Abel became Cain’s ideal for acceptance in God and that twisted into envy and malice. Have you ever had an
issue with envy? How did you overcome it?
Part of walking in victory over sin is mastering self-control or temperance. What can this look like daily? How can a person get help in walking in self-control?
The Inner Critic
August 13, 2023 • Pastor Duane Butler • 2 Corinthians 12:6–10, Psalm 119:71, John 8:36, Genesis 4:6–7, Romans 8:1–4
The inner critic wants to siphon your faith in God with agreement. It wants you to agree with what it is saying as opposed to what God has said about you. The inner critic through agreement will have you hyperfocused on feeling and emotion but the inner critic is defeated by the gift of Jesus Christ. We must break the spiritual agreement we have with the inner critic. Accept the freedom Jesus has given us, agree with Him and break the inner critic agreement.
Go Heal
August 6, 2023 • Pastor Duane Butler • Genesis 4:6–7, 2 Kings 5:1–14, Romans 8:33–34
When we reject God's healing, we are missing the mark (sin). When we refuse to be healed, we are easily walking in sin. How do we heal from sin?
1. Admit that we are sick: Name the thing that ails you; put a name on it. Ephesians 1:21
2. To be healed it takes energy: Consider our consumption; we become what we eat
3. It takes rest to heal: Realize the necessity to stop, pause, and rest; take our superhero capes off. Hebrews 4:11
4. It takes life-altering choices: A complete lifestyle change
5. Healing takes humility: Get low and be completely humble.
It is not our obligation to heal each other. God is doing the healing we must submit and surrender!
Dark Parts
July 30, 2023 • Pastor Duane Butler • Genesis 4:6–7, Hebrews 12:18–24, Romans 7:21–25
How do we deal with our dark parts? Those parts where sin wants to continue to live in us.
1. Consult God & not just myself. 1 Thess 5:17: My idea is not the best one because I had it.
2. Understand my desires, remembering I am dead to sin. Rom 6:11-12: Got a desire question it before we just accept it; where did this desire come from?
3. The best self-help book is still the Bible. Heb 4:12
4. Stop trying to be a better person. Rom 13:14 Stop trying to be a better me and strive to be like Christ.
He is the Answer to our dark parts!
Distractions
July 23, 2023 • Pastor Duane Butler • Genesis 4:6–7, Luke 10:38–42, Genesis 3:1–6
Sin intends to rule over us but we must master it! Distractions are easily caused and are critical. They affect our present and future lives. Distractions cause us to focus on what is distracting us as opposed to what are we being distracted from. Eve was distracted from the Tree of Life by her imagination of what the Tree the Knowledge was offering. Martha was distracted from spending time with Jesus unlike her sister Mary who chose the better part. Eve and Mary were both distracted from Jesus, are we distracted from Him as well?
Cycles
July 16, 2023 • Pastor Duane Butler • Genesis 4:6–7, Jeremiah 18:1–6, Romans 7:24–25, Genesis 8:20–22, 1 John 2:15–17
Sin is a parasite. It desires and hates us but it needs us to survive. This is why we must master it. Jesus Christ has delivered us from sin. He has given us the us the power and authority to rule over sin.
