Beware of the Drift – Week 6

Colossians 3:1-7 (NLT)

3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

Guard against anything that is competing with devotion to Jesus.

BEING DEVOTED TO JESUS WILL BE TESTED IN THESE THREE AREAS:

1. Pursuits.

Exodus 20:4-6 (NLT)

4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Are my pursuits competing or aligning with my devotion to Jesus?

2. Affections.

Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed are all the result of desires that have been corrupted by sin.

Are my affections competing or aligning with my devotion to Jesus?

3. Behaviors.

Matthew 15:1-3, 15-20 (NLT)

15 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, 2 “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?

15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”

16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Are my behaviors competing or aligning with my devotion to Jesus?

Colossians 3:7 (NLT)

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: Guard yourself against anything that is competing with your devotion to Jesus.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Colossians 3:1-7. In our society today, what interests or pursuits often compete with our devotion to Jesus?

▶ Read Exodus 20:4-6. How is God’s jealousy for our affection actually good for us?

▶ Read Matthew 15:15-20. How can we learn to identify whatever may be lurking in our hearts or minds and keep away from acting on it?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read Colossians 3:1-3. What do you need to ask God for most in your life right now: courage, endurance, hope, or something else?

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Pray for each other to be able to live out the word you chose in the Activate section. Also pray for our society, especially our children, to understand God’s plan for their sexuality and for parents to be able to lead them well.