When Families are not Perfect

Theme: Biblical families

Scriptures

• Genesis 17:9
• Genesis 17:15-19
• Esther 2:5-7
• Acts 16:1
• 2 Timothy 1:5
• Titus 1:4

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: God can use adaptive family models to disciple children and less mature believers in the absence of traditional generational discipleship.

Think: I can help disciple extended family or other less mature believers.

Do: Step in to disciple family members, or other less mature believers who need a mentor.

Notes and questions:

B1 Some statistics from the Sunday School Lesson Book. This on current statistics of grandparents in the United States. (This is an aside to inform us of an issue. Please pray for those who are living this ministry to their grandchildren).

• More than 13 million children live with their grandparents.
• 34% of grandparents are raising their grandchildren without the aid of a biological parent in the home.
• 45% of grandparents helping to raise their grandchildren are over 55 years old.
• The average household income of a grandmother alone caring for her grandchildren is less than $20,000. This is over one million households. 29% of all custodial grandparents live below the poverty line.
• Among grandparents who financially support their grandchildren, 49% of grandmothers and 34% of grandfathers are unemployed.

B2 Discipleship

C1 Defined:

D1 Disciple \Dis*ci"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discipled; p. pr. &
  vb. n. Discipling.]
  1. To teach; to train. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster]

D2 I was surprised to find out modern dictionaries do not have the verb form. I had to find it in a 1913 Webster.

C2 A disciple whether it is our child, a new Christian, or a Christian who has not grown or been taught in the faith needs these things:

D1 Knowledge

E1 Bible knowledge

E2 Doctrine

E3 Life issues

F1 Temptation

F2 Sin

F3 Forgiveness

F4 Assurance

F5 God’s standards

F6 Prophecy

E4 How to grow in the faith

F1 Bible reading

F2 Bible study

F3 Fellowship

F4 Prayer

F5 Suffering

D2 Character

E1 In thoughts, desires, words, and deeds

E2 Time to grow (need experience)

E3 Truth

E4 Confession of sin

E5 Trust

D3 Apologetics

E1 Bible reliability

E2 Jesus

E3 Hard questions

F1 Problem of evil

F2 Creation

F3 Noah’s flood

E4 Issues of society

C3 The role of

D1 The believer (the individual him/herself)

D2 The church (members)

D3 The pastor and other church staff

C4 Attitude

D1 Of mentor

D2 Of student

D3 Be careful with religious lingo.

C5 Another author summarizes it as

D1 Message (Begin with the Gospel)

D2 Mission (Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 1:6-11)

D3 Motive (Mark 12:28-34 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

D4 Knowledge (Proverbs 2:1-6 & Philippians 3:8-14 together)

D5 Character (Galatians 5:6-26 & Philippians 4:4-9)

D6 Conduct (Mark 4:1-20 & Mark 9:33-41)

B3 Guidelines for raising children

C1 Love them

D1 Love is not showering them with gifts and activities.

D2 Love is not letting them do what they want without guidance.

D3 Love is setting limits. God does this with us. We do not have unlimited, sovereign freedom. If possible, it is good to teach them how to sit still at 2 years old. This mom tells us how she did (I can’t vouch for the website, as I haven’t checked it out. I only read the article). The pasture illustration.

D4 Love is spending time with them.

D5 Love is consistency.

D6 Love is steadfastness.

D7 Love is letting them have some freedom. Don’t be a helicopter parent. Some information can be found here—Let Grow. A program followed by a school is here.

C2 Listen to them

C3 Practice what you preach. This is showing a good example.

C4 Give them ideals

C5 Let them fail. Let them try things. Support them, not oppress them.

C6 Live and enjoy life as a family unit, not as separate individuals just living in the same house.

C7 Be a Christian.

D1 Teach them what a Christian is and why.

D2 Show them there are answers to hard questions.

D3 Tell them the gospel.

D4 Live the gospel.

D5 Pray with them.

D6 Confess and ask forgiveness.

D7 Love your spouse openly with kindness, respect, compassion, helpfulness, etc.

D8 Let them see you reading and studying the Bible.

D9 Live by the Bible’s concepts.

D10 Defend the faith.

D11 Show them the greatest fulfillment is loving God, and that the only way to love God is obey Him, and that the New Testament teachings are the voice of God.

D12 Show them by thoughts, desires, words, and deeds that being a Bible believing Christian is very important.

D13 Go to church.

D14 Make it a point to have your close friends be Christians.

D15 Serve and help others as much as possible.

C8 Emphasize empathy.

C9 Praise them for traits and attitudes. Do not praise them for natural talents or beauty.

B4 Bible study

C1 Genesis 17:9

D1 Verse

E1 Genesis 17:9 NKJV And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

E2 Genesis 17:9 HCSB God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant.

D2 What covenant is God speaking of?

E1 Always obey me and be blameless (Genesis 17:1). What does blameless mean, and what is the difference between being blameless and sinless?

E2 Male circumcision (Genesis 17:10).

D3 Why are Abraham’s descendants to keep (obey) God’s covenant with Abraham forever?

C2 Genesis 17:15-19

D1 Verse

E1 Genesis 17:15-19 NKJV Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. “And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.

E2 Genesis 17:15-19 GNB92 God said to Abraham, “You must no longer call your wife Sarai; from now on her name is Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become the mother of nations, and there will be kings among her descendants.” Abraham bowed down with his face touching the ground, but he began to laugh when he thought, “Can a man have a child when he is a hundred years old? Can Sarah have a child at ninety?” He asked God, “Why not let Ishmael be my heir?” But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you will name him Isaac. I will keep my covenant with him and with his descendants forever. It is an everlasting covenant.

D2 What did Abraham have to learn from this conversation with God?

D3 Why did God not accept Ishmael?

D4 How long will this covenant last?

C3 Esther 2:5-7

D1 Verse

E1 Esther 2:5-7 NKJV In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

E2 Esther 2:5-7 HCSB In the fortress of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite. He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile. Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she didn’t have a father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.

D2 What is the importance of this adoption?

D3 What motivated Mordecai to adopt Esther?

C4 Acts 16:1

D1 Verse

E1 Acts 16:1 NKJV Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

E2 Acts 16:1 GNB92 Paul traveled on to Derbe and Lystra, where a Christian named Timothy lived. His mother, who was also a Christian, was Jewish, but his father was a Greek.

D2 Timothy was considered a Jew because his mother was a Jewess.

D3 Timothy’s father may not have been a Christian. How can we help the child of a mixed marriage to believe and live a Christian life?

C5 2 Timothy 1:5

D1 Verse

E1 2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

E2 2 Timothy 1:5 HCSB Clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also.

D2 How do we decide what is genuine faith?

D3 What characteristics would Timothy have shown so Paul would consider him to have genuine faith?

C6 Titus 1:4

D1 Verse

E1 Titus 1:4 NKJV To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

E2 Titus 1:4 HCSB To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

D2 How is Timothy a son of Paul?

D3 Why is it good to pray and bless another?

B5 Next week:

C1 Pass it on

C2 Theme: Generational Discipleship

C3 Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Ephesians 4:11-13, and Galatians 5:22-23

Praying to Avoid Temptation

Here is a helpful sermon by Dr. William T Koopmans on Praying to Avoid Temptation


Dear People of God,
Temptation is like slick ice on the parking lot. One careless move and you fall flat before you know it. Temptation is also like a trap door. One false step and you free-fall headlong down to the next story of sin!

The circumstances and situations of temptation create a danger zone! The warning signs should be up: "Danger – Keep Out!" All of us as followers of Jesus Christ will need to face situations in which we will be tempted. How are we equipped to face and avoid the crippling effects of temptation as we follow God in our Christian walk?

The passages we read introduce the topic of temptation in a clear and helpful way. In 1 Corinthians 10, the apostle Paul reflects upon some of the temptations that the ancient Israelites faced while they were on their journey. On the way from Egypt to Israel, under way to the land of hope and promise, they repeatedly faced the obstacles and barriers of temptation.

Circumstances and situations in life may change, but the Christian life will continue to challenge all of God’s children to avoid temptation. The sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer asks that God will not lead us into temptation but will, rather, deliver us from the evil one. Jesus truly understood the challenges that his followers would face. And we must understand that the quality of our Christian life will be directly related to the way that we are empowered to avoid temptation.

In this message we focus first upon the link between temptation and sin. Second, we look more closely at the prayer to be delivered from temptation and evil.

1. The link between temptation and sin
As God’s children we will experience...



Link: https://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/praying-avoid-temptation

Marriage: The Foundation for Family and Discipleship

Theme: God created marriage

Scriptures: Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 3:1-18, and Ephesians 5:22-23

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: God created marriage, and intends for a husband and wife to experience oneness through that relationship.

Think: My goal is to experience oneness with God and with my spouse.

Do: Recognize and follow biblical guidelines for marriage.

Notes and questions:

B1 What is marriage?

B2 Genesis 2:18-24,

C1 The word for man in Genesis 2:18 is אָדָם 'adam. It is a masculine noun.

C2 The word for help is עֵזֶר `ezer.

D1 It means help or assistance.

D2 It is usually used in a military sense as Deuteronomy 33:7 NKJV And this he said of Judah: “Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people; Let his hands be sufficient for him, And may You be a help against his enemies.”

D3 It is also used for someone helping as Psalms 33:20 NKJV Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  

D4 Also, Psalms 121:1-2 NKJV I Will lift up my eyes to the hills– From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

D5 What kind of help, assistance, did the Psalmist need?

D6 What kind of help, assistance, would Adam need?

D7 Was Adam lacking something?

D8 Was the help Adam needed just an assistant, a slave, to do his bidding?

D9 Was the help Adam needed was a partner to face life together?

C3 All livestock, birds, and all other animals were named by Adam, but there was not one that could be his helper. Why did not these meet Adam’s need?

C4 In Genesis 2:24 how many types of marriage meet God’s standard?

C5 The principle of one flesh

D1 One in body, soul, and spirit. One physically, emotionally, intellectually, in worship, in prayer, in troubles, in joys, whatever. Oneness in purpose. It is facing life together as a team.

D2 Other verses with oneness in the same sense

E1 John 10:16 NKJV “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

E2 John 17:11 NKJV Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

E3 Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

D3 If there is fighting, how can there be oneness?

D4 How can oneness be promoted, encouraged, assisted?

D5 How can husband and wife promote this in their marriage?

D6 How can the church help?

B3 Genesis 3:1-18,

C1 Eve was deceived. Does this mean that men are not deceived or less deceived?

C2 Adam sinned with purpose and knowledge. What was the result? (Romans 5:12 NKJV  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned).

C3 What happened to their oneness after they both sinned?

C4 What happened to their oneness with God?

C5 What does being reconciled with God mean?

D1 Romans 5:10 NKJV For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

D2 2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

C6 Genesis 3:7 NKJV Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

D1 What were the eyes closed to before they sinned?

D2 Why did nakedness bother them now?

D3 How did sin affect their oneness and their marriage?

D4 How does sin affect us?

C7 Genesis 3:8 NKJV And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

D1 Why did they hide?

D2 What did God want?

C8 Genesis 3:12 NKJV Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

D1 Is Adam helping the oneness of his marriage?

D2 Why wasn’t he honest?

C3 Who is really being blamed for the sin?

C9 Genesis 3:13 NKJV And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

D1 At least Eve tells the truth.

D2 Why is confessing to God good?

C10 Genesis 3:14-15, is there anything good in God’s curse?

C11 Genesis 3:16

D1 Versions

E1 NKJV To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”

E2 ESV  To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

E3 NLT Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband,but he will rule over you.

E4 GNB  And he said to the woman, "I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth. In spite of this, you will still have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.

D2 Susan Foh in 1974 wrote an article on the meaning of Genesis 3:16, “What is the Woman’s Desire?”   An seasoned Christian response to this can be found: THE DESIRE OF THE WOMAN: A RESPONSE TO SUSAN FOH’S INTERPRETATION

D3 The most common view is that Eve now had the desire to rule, boss, her husband. Knowing this, God cursed Eve and commanded her to submit to her husband in all things.

D4 This is wrong because:

E1 The word desire is תְּשׁוּקָה tshuwqa. This word means longing and desire. So, what kind of desire? It depends on the context.

E2 It is used 3 times in the Old Testament:

F1 Genesis 3:16 (our passage)

F2 Genesis 4:7 NKJV “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

F3 Song of Solomon 7:10 NKJV I am my beloved’s, And his desire is toward me.

E3 Genesis 4:7 Understanding it in context: Sins longs for, desires, lusts, for you to sin. This is mainly a spiritual longing, sin wants him to sin: James 1:14-15 NKJV But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. The Greek word for desire is ἐπιθυμία epithumia, which means a longing for.

E4 Song of Solomon 7:10 Understanding it in context: The wife notes her husband’s desire for her. This is mainly a physical longing.

E5 So in Genesis 3:16, I believe is best understood as (to paraphrase) “I can see you are very angry. He has blamed you and me for his rebellion, and you would like to wring his neck. What is better is for you to still desire him (physically), and even though he made an evil decision, he still is your husband.” The he shall rule means that he is to have the last word in a decision. It does NOT mean his way or no way, for that is hate instead of love and will never have another answer to prayer: 1 Peter 3:7 GNB  In the same way you husbands must live with your wives with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God's gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

D5 Egalitarian or complementarian? This is my personal view

E1 Egalitarian

F1 In nursing for over 40 years, my immediate manager was always a woman. I had a few male supervisors in charge after the manager went home and a few CEO’s as well.

F2 President can be a woman.

F3 Seminary class teacher can be a woman.

F4 Deaconesses are necessary.

F5 CEO of large corporations can be a woman.

F6 So in all areas of living, a woman is often the best.

E2 Complementarian

F1 In marriage, the range is from patriarchy to matriarchy.

G1 The strong patriarchy is the wife has little or no input.

G2 The strong matriarchy is where the husband has little or no input.

G3 The strong versions usually are dominated by either a narcissist or psychopath.

F2 Both are not good.

F3 I hold to a 51-49% husband/wife.

F4 We are partners, teammates, going through life together. A problem arises, we discuss it, and arrive at a solution. This solution is not just the husband’s or the wife’s. It is together in agreement. Sometimes the solution is not easy and will differ greatly. Then the wife should yield to her husband. If that solution works out—fine. If it does not, the husband must yield to the wife’s solution.

B4 Ephesians 5:22-23,

C1 Reviewing Ephesians 5:21 WEL  Place yourselves under one another in the fear of God.

Other versions use submit, etc. The Greek word ὑποτάσσω hupotasso means to place under. Blue Letter Bible has this comment under the heading Outline of Biblical Usage: This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden." There is no idea of resistance as submit, subject, submission has in English.

C2 Ephesians 5:22-23 WEL 22 Wives place yourselves under your own husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and Himself is savior of the body.

C3 What does your own husband imply?

C4 How is Jesus the Messiah head of the church (Congregation)?

C5 What is the body in Ephesians 5:23?

B5 Other questions:

C1 Oneness

D1 What is oneness with God?

D2 What is oneness with our spouse?

D3 How is oneness with God broken?

D4 How is oneness with our spouse broken?

D5 How can oneness be restored with God?

D6 How can oneness be restored with our spouse?

D7 Can an atheist have oneness with his/her spouse?

D8 How did Adam’s sin change oneness with God?

D9 How did Adam’s sin change oneness with Eve?

C2 What style of leadership does God use—shepherd or hunter?

D1 Shepherd

E1 Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

E2 John 10:27 NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. No whip is required—Elon J. Gane.

D2 Hunter

E1 Genesis 10:8-9 ISV Cush fathered Nimrod, who became the first fearless leader throughout the land. He became a fearless hunter in defiance of the Lord. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a fearless hunter in defiance of the Lord.

E2 Matthew 20:25 GNB92 So Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority.

C3 If husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, how are we to show this?

C4 How are wives to show respect for their husbands?

C5 Can our marriage be a witness to nonbelievers?

B6 Next week:

C1 When families are not perfect

C2 Theme: Biblical families

C3 Scriptures

D1 Genesis 17:9

D2 Genesis 17:15-19

D3 Esther 2:5-7

D4 Acts 16:1

D5 2 Timothy 1:5

D6 Titus 1:4

Stay on Guard

Stay on Guard

Theme: Repentance and Restoration

Scriptures: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: David got caught up in sin. He confessed and was forgiven, but he and his family suffered the consequences for years to come.

Think: The high cost of sin motivates me to avoid it at all costs.

Do: Avoid, confess, and forsake all sinful practices.

Notes and questions:

B1 Ammon and Israel

C1 Even though Ammon were near relatives of Israel through Lot, they were very evil in the life, their worship, and their treatment of Israel.

C2 Because of this, David sent the army under Joab to subdue them.

C3 David remained in Jerusalem.

B2 David

C1 David and King Nahash of Ammon were friends.

C2 King Nahash died. His son Hanun reigned after him.

C3 King David sent emissaries to show grief because Hanun’s father had died.

C4 Hanun received evil counsel and had the beards of the Israelites half shaved and their clothes half cut off exposing their rear ends.

C5 This made the Israelites angry, so the Ammonites hired 33,000 soldiers from the Syrians and other kings for the fight against Israel.

C6 At first, the Ammonites and their allies were winning the battle, but God helped Joab and the Israelites to soundly defeat the mercenaries.

C7 2 Samuel 10:14 NKJV When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.

C8 Thus all waited until the rainy season ended, then was the time for kings to return to battle.

C9 Joab and the Israelites went to fight Ammon, but David stayed in Jerusalem.

C10 It is not known why David stayed.

B3 Bathsheba

C1 Genealogy

D1 Ahithophel, David's counselor

D2 Eliam (Ammiah), the son of Ahithophel

D3 Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam

C2 Husband of Uriah

D1 2 Samuel 11:3 NKJV So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

D2 One of King David’s 30 mighty men: 2 Samuel 23:39 NKJV and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

C3 Had five children. All were by David.

D1 The one that died, unless he is one of the named.

D2 1 Chronicles 3:5 NKJV And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon–four by Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel.

B4 2 Samuel 11:2 NKJV  Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

C1 Why is David still in Jerusalem?

C2 Why was he watching Bathsheba bathing?

C3 James 1:13-15 NKJV  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  14  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  15  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

C4 The steps in David’s downfall were

D1 Got up from his bed in the evening

D2 Walked upon the roof of his house

D3 Saw a woman bathing herself

D4 Lusted

D5 Sent a messenger to find out who she was

D6 Sent men to take her

D7 Had sex with her

D8 Later had her husband killed, so murder. He wanted to cover up his sin.

C5 He wanted to know who she was perhaps hoping that she was not married. If so, he would want to marry only for his animal, evil desires.

C6 Later, perhaps, he just wanted to talk with her to look at her lustingly, but his hormones and evil desire is full throttle, and he acts.

C7 How does the epistle of James confirm these steps in his downfall?

C6 Did King David make a mistake, a sin, or a crime? What is the difference between these?

C7 Is anyone too good to NOT sin?

C8 Does God decree that we will sin as some Calvinists believe? Or, does God make it the highest desire and decree the circumstances that someone will sin?

Or, do we sin, because our free will chooses to sin?

C9 Do some evil pastors cover up sin? Do all people cover up sin? Consider, John 3:20-21 GW  People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed.  21  But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen.

C10 What is the end result of sin?

C11 How to avoid sinning after temptation (being tempted is not a sin)

D1 We all have desires.

D2 Recognize that temptation exists.

D3 Be aware of desires. We may allow them to get out of control. The desire entices us; the devil helps it along by making it look good and needful. Genesis 3:6 NRSV  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

D4 Recognize that I can sin.

D5 Avoid situations as best as possible.

D6 Have your mind clear and not under the influence of anything. The devil loves someone in a passive state of consciousness. 1 Peter 5:8 GW  Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.

D7 Don’t let desire conceive. This would be thinking about the sin a person wants to do, thus enjoying it in their heart.

D8 Pray daily.

D9 If it is a problem, find a supportive friend or family member. This is especially important with addictions. Remember, sin itself is addictive.

D10 God’s grace is sufficient. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

D11 The armor that God has for us. Ephesians 6:14-18 NKJV  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  18  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

D12 What else can you think of?

C12 Was it Bathsheba’s fault that David sinned? Some people believe that she was bathing naked on the rooftop and not being modest even suggesting that she lusted after David.

D1 It was not uncommon to be bathing on the rooftop.

D2 It was evening.

D3 She probably was shielded, but if the King’s roof was higher than hers, he could have been looking down.

D4 Women did not have social status to refuse a king.

D5 Fear that the king would do something to her husband.

D6 He very well may have raped her. The word lay means rape depending on the context. There is not enough information to know. Esther 7:8 GW  When the king returned from the palace garden to the palace dining room, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king thought, "Is he even going to rape the queen while I'm in the palace?" Then the king passed sentence on him, and servants covered Haman's face.

D7 David was singled out for his sin by God through Nathan, the prophet: 2 Samuel 12:9-10 NKJV  Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.  10  Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

D8 Uriah and Bathsheba are seen in Scriptures as victims.

D9 David may have been negligent in his duties: 2 Samuel 11:1 NKJV  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

D10 David could have stopped when he found out about her: 2 Samuel 11:3 NKJV  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

D11 Bob Deffinbaugh points out: This same sequence can be seen in a number of other texts, none of which is commendable. Shechem “saw, took, and lay with” Dinah, the daughter of Jacob in Genesis 34:2. Judah “saw, took, and went in to” the Canaanite woman he made his wife in Genesis 38:2-3. Achan “saw, coveted, and took” the forbidden spoils of war in Joshua 7:21. Samson did virtually the same in Judges 14. Let us not forget that a similar sequence occurred at the first sin when Eve “saw, desired, and took” the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3.

B5 What was David up to when he ordered Uriah home? Does trying to cover up sin make the situation better or worse?

B6 2 Samuel 12:1-14,

C1 Would we have the boldness of Nathan in confronting the King?

C2 Shouldn’t we be loving and overlook a little mistake like this? Isn’t the church for healing those who are hurt? Many churches take this approach. God wants repentance. False churches are like this: Jeremiah 6:11-14 NKJV  Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD. I am weary of holding it in. "I will pour it out on the children outside, And on the assembly of young men together; For even the husband shall be taken with the wife, The aged with him who is full of days.  12  And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD.  13  "Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.  14  They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace.

C3 Even if we are truly repentant, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness, are there consequences for our sin?

C4 How does a person truly repent? (Think of King Manasseh and the Prodigal Son. The changes in their lives show the change in their heart).

C5 What happens if a person will not repent? Specifically, if David would not have repented?

B7 Next week:

C1 Marriage: The Foundation for Family and Discipleship

C2 Theme: God created marriage

C3 Scriptures: Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 3:1-18, and Ephesians 5:22-23