Would you like copies of the slides? Email me at cflorence@wpcgo.com Audio copies of the lessons are on the website: wpcgo.com/grace FRUIT: Respond in love & grace HEAT: what is your situation THORNS: How do you react Good Root: Faith & repentance CROSS: Who is God & What has Jesus done? Bad Root: heart idols lesson 4 1
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Deny, Avoid, Escape Prickly & Hypersensitive Return evil for evil Bogged down, paralyzed Self-excusing, self-righteous Magnify, Expand, Catastrophize Anger Anxiety Fear of Man Depressed Guilt Escapism Question God s Goodness Envy Happiness Relief Your late and stuck in traffic. lesson 4 2
My problem is Lack of knowledge Wrong thinking Other people Situation Physiological Unmet needs So, I will Learn more Replace my thoughts Distance myself Change my circumstances Get more sleep; medication; procedure Get others who will fill up what is missing Occasion vs Causation Ultimately, my real problem is a worship disorder! Growth/ Change happens when we begin to learn about inner sins beneath our outward sins lesson 4 3
Deuteronomy 5:6-21 Inner sin (heart sin) Outer sin (behavioral sin) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. Romans 1:25 ESV Good Things Ultimate Things lesson 4 4
Father wants children to honor and obey. Ultimate goal of respectful children Examples Young man longs to be married. - Marriage has become a god-replacement Woman is gifted and successful in her job. Built life around work James 4:1-4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. lesson 4 5
HEAT: what is your situation Throwing books Scowl Raised voice THORNS: How do you react I ve told you Harsh Stomp off Bad Root: heart idols Being Right Books / Stuff Convenience Typical idolatries: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 Idol Approval Image Irreligion Helping Work Tradition Religion Ideology Greed Life only has meaning / I only have worth if I am loved and respected by. No one is upset with me I have a particular kind of look, body, or reputation. I am totally independent of organized religion.. People are dependent on me and need me I am highly productive and get a lot done. I can only be satisfied when things stay the same I keep my religion s moral codes and live it out. My political / social cause is making progress I have enough stuff or I have been trifty enough lesson 4 6
What are the effects of idolatry? Ezekiel 14:1-3 Can t see clearly Psalm 115:4-8 Unable to see, hear, speak, move, Psalm 19:13 Domination (cf. Ps. 119:133, Rom. 6:12 ff) I Kings 18:25-29 Destruction Look for common themes What is my greatest nightmare? What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not want to live? What do I rely on or comfort myself with when things go bad or get difficult? What does my mind go to when I am free? What makes me feel the most self-worth? What would make me really happy? What unanswered prayer would make me seriously think about turning away from God? When do I tend to become angry? When am I most anxious? lesson 4 7
but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, - Romans 5:20 These discoveries are blessings, because they help us to see how truly lavish the grace of God is. The good news of the gospel shines brightest against the backdrop of sin so don t be afraid to look at these things. Lane & Tripp lesson 4 8