Say What? Lingering Desire

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life:

1. How did you deal with anger this past week? Did you Stay, Pray or Go Away - not necessarily in that order?

2. What was it that first attracted you to your significant other (if applicable) or to your ‘first love’ in grade school?

3. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) Jesus raised the bar and widened the circle. He raised it by redefining adultery and widened the circle to include everyone. What do you think about that? Why do you think he did that?

4. What are some examples of hyperbole that we use today? (My feet are killing me. I’ve told you 20,000 times. etc.)

If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30)

Jesus is using hyperbole - an exaggerated statement or claim NOT to be taken literally but used to emphasize an important point. What point was Jesus trying to emphasize in these verses?

5. The temptation to lust (have a very strong sexual desire for someone we shouldn’t) is all around us. (TV shows, movies, advertising, books, magazines, web sites, etc.) We heard that one way to keep from lusting is to bounce our eyes - to look but then to look away quickly. What are some other ways or other things we can do to help us from lusting and ultimately committing adultery in our hearts?

6. What else stood out to you in this message?

Take some time this week to ask yourself what you might need to “cut away” to help you avoid the temptation of lust.