MAIN IDEA || Our goal is to contribute to a community in which it is increasingly natural to talk about sin and ask each other for help. We get to stop covering up or hiding from our sin. Romans 8:1–2 (NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Biblical Perspectives on the Nature of Sin 1. Sin flows from our own natural appetites. 1 John 2:16 (NLT) 2. Sin is the displacement of God. Sinning is any feeling or thought or speech or action that comes from a heart that does not treasure God over all other things. – JOHN PIPER the sin. 1 John 1:7-8 (NLT) 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. something about sin. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Ways to Talk about Sin (Edward Welch, Dare To Care) Start w/questions instead of accusations. Say something specific. Say “we” more than “you”. Sympathize as a fellow sinner. something about sin. Talk to God about it. “Against you alone have I sinned…” Psalm 51 Acknowledge the cost for it. 23 For the wages of sin is death, …” Romans 6:23 (NLT) Accept eternal life in exchange for it. “… but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NLT) Kill it. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Colossians 3:5 (NLT) CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. Can you think of a time when someone spoke to you about your sin in a helpful or unhelpful way? a. How did they do that & why was it helpful or unhelpful? 2. One goal for all God’s people is to be able to identify one area of sin and confess it openly. Identifying & confessing our own sin keeps us turned toward the “light” and exposed to Jesus’s cleansing. It also promotes “in the light” fellowship by stirring up humility and patience as we speak with others. a. What makes it so hard to confess and easy to keep sin our own sin a secret? 3. If we love someone, there will be times when speaking about their sin and temptation is an expression of our affection for them. Parents do this with their children & Pastors do this with their flock. We hope to do it better with each other. a. How might you approach “talking about sin” more effectively? 4. Which of these best describes what you should start to “do about your sin”? Talk to God about it. Acknowledge the cost for it. Accept eternal life in exchange for it. Kill it.