groups groups and more groups

Is this normal? Am I the only one who struggles with this? These are some of the questions that I hear from our students on a weekly basis. Students want to ask questions, learn how the world works, discover who Christ is and learn who they really are. The best way to help them along this process is by our Life Groups ministry.

The idea is simple but the results are amazing. Students form groups with five or so of their friends and are assigned an adult leader to help guide the group. All groups will be made up of the same gender and will be lead by an adult of the same gender. So, guys will be lead by guys and girls will be lead by girls. These groups will meet every Thursday night for eight weeks.

The time in groups is designed for students to develop and grow in their relationship with God, and with each other. They will do this by studying scripture together, asking questions about the nights message and teaching series, and praying for one another.

In a time where schedules are double booked, students are buried under a mountain of homework and everyone is so busy its crucial to set aside time to slow down, laugh with friends and reconnect with God.

My prayer is that every high school student will be involved in a life group and these groups will equip them to thrive in their high school years.

Benefits to Sin?

I don't often have an "A HA" moment when I read scripture. Sure I continually learn new things and am challenged by Scripture, but rarely do I jump out of my chair screaming, "That was brilliant! I've never thought of that before!"

I'm reading through Romans right now and in Chapter six verse, twenty-one Paul asks a simple question that for me, became profound. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?" Have you ever had one of those moments when you're arguing with yourself, telling yourself that you're about to do is wrong and I shouldn't do it but at the same time you convince yourself to do it anyways (if you're picturing the little devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other you're right on track!)? Only after you committed the sin do you then feel horrible and are ashamed of what you have done. This is what Paul is talking about and he follows it up with a great question. He asks, What was the benefit? did you get anything out of it? Are you a better person, do you feel better about yourself, are you at peace now, is everything right in the world again because of your sin? Obviously the answer is no.

When I think back through all my favorite sins (everyone has their favorite sins, its the ones that seem to always repeat over and over again) I realized I've never really benefited from them at all. The only thing I have ever gotten out of sinning was losing my self-control and distancing myself from God. Both of which really aren't beneficial.

Paul concludes chapter six of Romans by saying "But now that you have become set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. " - Amen.

How Christians Respond to Sin.

I just finished reading a theologically heavy and dense section regarding sin. Now, I must tell you that I do not wake up in the morning full of energy and excited to read books on doctrine, theology, and sin! However, I made a commitment to God awhile back to learn more about Him and myself in an attempt to understand our relationship to one another. So, that is why I do the difficult and often tedious readings.

BUT WAIT!!!! There was an amazing section in the chapter that talked about what Christians tend to do in response to their sin. I found it fascinating, and rather accurate. I'll list only a few from Mark Driscoll's book, DOCTRINE.

"What Are Some Sinful Responses To Sin?
1. Minimizing my sin. Its really not that big a deal, everyone does it.
2. There is the delusional belief that my sin is different from anyone else because I have good reasons that legitimize my sin.
3. Blame shifting. Where technically my sin is the result of another persons actions.
4. Diversion, where we try to avoid our sin by, saying we were just joking, someone misunderstood us, or the person who confronted us about our sin did so in a manner that was not loving.
5. Partial confession. This is where we tell only part of our sin and hide the other half because of our pride.
6. There is what Paul calls 'worldly grief' where we merely regret the consequences of our sin and not the sin itself.
7. There is mere confession. This is tricky because people who practice it acknowledge their sin, show remorse, and ask for forgiveness. But they do not change and in fact knowingly repeat their sin."

I wonder, what sinful responses do you practice? for me, I primarily practice worldly grief, minimizing sin, and mere confession. Thankfully I serve a loving God who died for my sins and my sinful responses to them. Thank you Jesus Christ.