Have you ever had something on your face all day and then finally looked in the mirror? You wonder, how long did I walk around looking like this? This book does the same thing to my heart. It shows me things I didn’t realize was there. It’s hard to see your sin face to face, to acknowledge things you’d rather not know, and to realize how much influence it has on you. These first two chapters of “Respectable Sins” begins that process of looking in the mirror. Below are the discussion questions I am discussing with my Bible study group this morning. Look through the questions, and as you are able, reflect and respond by journaling your answers.
Week 1 (Chapters 1 & 2)
1. How would you define the word, “saint”?
2. What does it mean to you to know that because of Christ, you are in fact, a saint?
Read: Romans 1:7, 16:15, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Colossians 1:2
3. How is sin treated in the church today? Outside the church?
4. What do you think of Bridge’s assessment that Christians are more concerned about the sins of society than we are the sins of saints? How has this changed the church?
5. Make a list of what you personally view as respectable Sins :
6. Make a list of what you personally view as especially egregious sins:
7. Do you think God views some sins as worse than others? Why or why not?
8. Respond to this quote from p. 22 “The paradox is that those whose lives most reflect the fruit of the Spirit are usually those who are most keenly aware of and groan inwardly over these so-called acceptable sins in their own lives.”
9. What does James 1:14-14 and 2:10-11 say about the root of our sinful acts?
10. What did Jesus say about breaking God’s law in Matthew 5:22, 27-28?
11. What is the consequence of sin—any sin? (Galatians 3:10)
12. Why should we take sin seriously?
13. Where is our hope? (Galatians 3:13)
Thoughts to consider for this next week:
Pray and ask God to help you recognize any “acceptable” sins and to draw them to your attention. What respectable sins are you tolerating in your own life? How do they affect your life and relationship with God? With others?
And for us to discuss in community: What stood out to you the most from these chapters? In what ways is the Spirit convicting you?
Yeah…I’m not reading this yet, but I can tell I want to! Acceptable sins is something He has been working on in me lately….
just had to share
“The paradox is that those whose lives most reflect the fruit of the Spirit are usually those who are most keenly aware of and groan inwardly over these so-called acceptable sins in their own lives.”
This quote stood out to me as I read these first two chapters last week. It immediately made me think of my marriage with Brent and how we have chosen to lead so called “different” lives then so many, including believers. People call us wierd, crazy, Jesus Freaks. They say we go over board with our boundaries. But this quote gave my heart so much peace. Our boundaries are there because the Spirit shows us daily the thin line that can be crossed between what is acceptable and what isn’t. We don’t want to cross that line. We follow what the Word says. What is not of God, is evil. Harsh, yes, but truth is what sets us free.
We fail time after time, my husband and I, and are ever so thankful for the grace given to us when we do. But His grace is never an excuse to continue in any sin, respectable or not. His grace is all the more reason, to set our boundaries as believers and not cross that ever so thin line.
I feel so often that people are so busy telling us what they think we are doing is wrong or to much that maybe our lifestyle keeps them from seeing God’s grace. The Spirit speaks to my heart through this quote and it reminds me of the enemy’s lie.
God’s grace is exactly what they are seeing… His continual work in and through this broken woman lived out daily.
I think I am going to like this study!!!
I too liked that quote. We talked a lot about that this morning with my ladies at church. The balance between wanting to honor God and our propensity to sin…not getting stuck in legalism. It’s the gospel of grace that propels us forward in our faith and holiness. I think we’ll see that more in the next two chapters. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds like a really great book! All of these are really awesome questions. I think I want to read this . . . Thank you so much for sharing!!!