God's Plan for Purity: "Free Love Isn't Free"

August 24, 2008 - Rev. Rurel Ausley; Rev. Kevin Kelly

II Samuel 12:7-18

1. Since all of us have sinned, each of us can probably think of some wrong that we have done that has brought us painful consequences. Can you think of someone you know that is paying a price for wrongs done? How are consequences sometimes seen and sometimes not seen by others? What are the spiritual consequences of sin? The physical consequences? The emotional consequences? The mental consequences?

2. Read II Samuel 11 for the details of King David's sin. What in the world do you think he was thinking? How could this have possibly happened? What did this sin do to his character? His peace? His kingdom? How do you think David justified his sin? How do we justify our wrongdoing? Read II Sam. 11:27. Though everything appeared secret, who knew everything?

3. How did David's sin take him further than he ever intended to go? How did this end up in a murder case? What do you think were David's initial intentions? What does this tell us about our human nature? What does it tell us about the deceptiveness of Satan and sin? Who ever determines from the beginning to become an addict? A criminal? An adulterer? A liar? What is the fallacy of the "just this once won't hurt" justification?

4. Trace all of the things that David did to cover up his sin. (I Sam. 11) How does it get easier and easier to sin? How does one sin lead to another? Why is it that sin always takes us further than we intended to go?

5. How did David=s sin keep him longer than he intended to stay? When did Nathan come to confront David? (II Sam. 11:27-II Sam. 12:1) How long was David living with his unrepentant secret sin? What do you think his relationship with God was like? What key Psalms was he writing? How was the music of his harp? Why do you think that David never intended to wreck his relationship with God for a year? What about his life from then on? Did he plan on being miserable? How do we know how David felt? Read Psalm 32 and 51. Why does sin keep us longer that we want to stay? What benefits do we receive from disobeying God?

6. How did David's sin cost him more than he ever intended to pay? (Vs. 7-12) What were the painful consequences of David's sin? How could all of this have been avoided? What lesson is there here for us? How can we avoid painful consequences? Why does sin cost us more that we ever intended to pay?

7. Why is it so much harder to be pure in our impure world? How have you noticed that sexuality is used in advertising? What does that try to communicate? How does this distort God’s plan for marriage? How does most of it cheapen women? How do TV programs and movies present an inaccurate view of our sexuality? What do you think is the impact of the continual bombardment of sexual themes upon us? Upon young people? Upon children?

8. Read and study I Thess. 4:1-3. What does the word for “sexual immorality” mean? What word does the KJV use? If you have a commentary or Bible dictionary, look-up the word and discuss how this is a broad term that refers to any improper sexual activity. In the message six areas of entrapment were given for why having sexual relations outside of marriage is destructive. Can you remember them? (Psychological, STD’s, Abortion, The Law, Pornography, Homosexuality). Can you give any of your own?

9. When the author of Proverbs writes, “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well,” what does he mean? Why does the writer use the metaphor of thirst and water to talk about the healthy dynamics of sexual intimacy?

10. What sexual traps exist in our world today? Why do so many fall prey to these traps? What can you do to avoid these? Why does the Bible warn so adamantly against falling into sexual immorality? What pain and harm occurs as a result of sexual immorality? Are there things in your life that you need to stop now?

11. If your marriage has hit upon hard time, what appears to be the issue(s)? Why do you believe you are struggling in these areas? What suggestions did the sermon make at the end that would help overcome these struggles? Will you apply them? Why or why not?