Session Extras

Year 2

Overcoming Sin: Session 7
Lust

Below are some great links for further study and discussion. Check out the book suggestions. We've also included additional resources for leaders.

Digging Deeper:

• Read the devotional “A Deadly Sin: Lust” by Henry Kranenburg.
• “When we find ourselves giving in again to lust, we need to look beyond the behavior itself to what's going on in our hearts. Lust is a clue that something about the way we're approaching life is not right. ” Read more in the article “Letting Go of Lust” by Adam Holz.
• In the article “What Dr. Ruth Couldn't Tell You” Stephen A. Hayner points out how we can hear God’s voice about the confusion of our culture.
• Marriages reflect God’s love. Read more in the article by Gary Thomas “A Marriage After God’s Own Heart.”
• One of the greatest gifts you can give is prayer. Learn more in the article “A Marriage Gift That Lasts.”
• John Piper encourages us to turn to God in the article “Battling the Unbelief of Lust.”

For Small Group Facilitators/Leaders:

The discussion session is designed for a one-hour session. Here are suggestions for how to shorten or lengthen the session, as well as what part to emphasize.

Shorter session:

• In the Word Search, select one or two passages to discuss. In the Bring It Home section, use Option 2 focusing on one of the questions.

Longer session:

• Review the Live it Out section of the devotionals. Discuss whether any of the suggestions are helpful to members of your group. Why or why not?

Hare are some additional ideas to help you tailor the lesson to your group.

• For Starters:
  • Ask your group to consider some of these myths: “Everyone has sex before marriage.” “All married couples have sex every day.” “Everyone has sex by age twenty.” “Men want sex more than women do.”
• Let’s Focus:
  • Ask your group members to read the introduction and the paragraph under Let’s Focus silently, looking for a statement that strikes them or a statement that gives a summary of the devotionals.
• Word Search:
• 2 Samuel 11. David and Bathsheba.
• Read the sermon “When All Is Well, Beware” by Richard deLange on 2 Samuel 11.
• Listen to the sermon from 2 Samuel 11 called “You are the Man” by Jack Roeda.
• Bring It Home:
• Option 1: Bring in a newspaper or magazine. Check out the images being presented in these media. Consider watching some movie previews (at the beginning of any DVD). What message about sex and lust is being presented?
• Option 2: In the first session we learned that pride is the root of all sin. How is that true for lust?
• Option 3: Check out the article “ANTHEM: Strategies for Fighting Lust” by John Piper.
• Pray It Through:
  • Make sure you leave enough time for prayer. Split the prayer into parts and ask group members to read one of the parts of the prayer.
• Live It Out:
• What have you learned in this study? How will it impact your life? As a group, think about what you will tell your friends and family.

Check out this list of resources on Discipleship.

Submit your ideas!

Do you have suggestions for this particular session? Something that was especially meaningful for you or your group? Extra reading you’d like to suggest? Help others get the most out of this session. Send your ideas to editors@FaithAliveResources.org and we’ll consider adding them here!