A Second Chance for Purity

(Ministry friends, here's a little discussion tool on purity)

Ice Breaker:  Can you recall a time when when you were the most in need of a shower or bath?  (In other Words:  On a camping trip, during a work day etc…)

I will heal their waywardness

   and love them freely,

   for my anger has turned away from them.

Hosea 14:4

Can you recall a time when you realized that you were “wayward” in a relationship or in your connection with God?

How did you address this situation or season of your life?

You may have struggled with at least one aspect of purity at some point in your life.  It’s an issue many believers still struggle with.  No matter what your past experience has been, God offers you total forgiveness when you repent.  He also offers you complete healing and restoration of the areas that have been broken - either by your own sin or someone’s sin against you.

“The way to preserve the peace of the church is to preserve its purity”

Matthew Henry

Paul mentions that the church should be guided by these traits:

• ·      Love
• ·      Joy
• ·      Peace
• ·      Longsuffering
• ·      Kindness
• ·      Goodness
• ·      Faithfulness
• ·      Gentleness
• ·      Self-control

Which trait do you struggle to maintain in your life?

Purity is predicated by planning!

Think of a personal situation or experience you were in that you shouldn’t have been.  Did you have a plan beforehand to prevent you from getting there?  How might a plan have helped you prevent it?

The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.

Proverbs 14:15

Purity begins by a process of sifting what we see and hear. How are you sifting to remain pure?

Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

1Corinthians 10:12

Confidence is not always a good thing!  How do we develop “God-confidence”? 

How does it affect our choices and our attitudes about our life circumstances.

Let's take a good look at the way we're living

   and reorder our lives under God.

Let's lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time,

   praying to God in heaven:

"We've been contrary and willful,

   and you haven't forgiven.

Lamentations 3:40

How can we reorder our lives as a life group?