Torn Apart: Week 2 (I John 1:5-10)

Parents

We moved on this week to I John 1:5-10.  I am so pleased about how the kids are connecting with the truth of God's Word.  I'm also excited about how wonderful attendance has been in Wednesday Night Live for past several Wednesdays.  Alright, so let's dive in.

In our scripture passage for the week, John points out the primary beliefs of his opponents and shows why those beliefs don't hold up in the light of the Gospel (go back a couple of posts if you want to know what all these opponents believed).  Again, we start with this truth: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). 

Now, take a look at the sermon and sermon outline here:
http://www.branchyouthministry.com/media.php?pageID=27

These are a few truths that we were trying to get across to your kids:

• Christ’s death and resurrection wipes our sins away and initiates regeneration. Claiming to not have sin (or that you haven’t sinned) is basically saying you don’t need Jesus, not to mention it's calling God a liar.
• People have always tried to avoid the reality of their sinfulness or sins, generally by either redefining sin, using their salvation as moral license, or outright denying it.  Almost every time, it’s so that they can continue in sin.
• Acknowledging sinfulness (as well as specific sins) can be really uncomfortable – maybe even painful. However, God calls us to do so because it’s the first step in being forgiven and changed.

Ok, now for a few discussion questions:

• Why is it dangerous to deny sinfulness?
• What makes talking about sin so unpopular?
• In what different have you ever tried to avoid the fact that you're sinful or have sinned?
• Is confession for you or for God?
• How do you feel after you've confessed something?
• Why do you think focus a lot on forgiveness but not on regeneration (change)?
• Confession to others is also important for accountability (James 5:16); who do you confess sin to in your life?
• How are you committing to the process of regeneration that God is trying to bring about in you?

Good luck, parents.  Remember, you need to be just as transparent as you expect them to be.  You need to know that it's okay for your kid to know that you've made mistakes, too.  It's a great example in their learning how to open and confess their shortcomings.  God bless.

sray