Sermons

How to control our lust: Matthew 5:27-30 Week 12 (3/3/24)

This week’s bulletin                                        YouVersion Bible App                                      Listen to the podcast of this week’s message on Spotify

Small Group Guide:

Open with prayer.

Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?

If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.

Lust

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

 

Today, we’re continuing on in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is in the midst of teaching what it looks like for people to be a part of the Kingdom of God. Today, we’re looking at what He has to say about adultery and lust. Scripture teaches us that:

 

We need to realize that lust is a sin and we can control our thoughts

Matt. 5:27-28, 2 Cor. 10:3-6, 1 Pet. 1:14-15, Rom. 7:21-25

 

Common misconceptions about lust:

  1. All sexuality is dirty

      Gen. 2:18-25, Song of Solomon, 1 Cor. 7:1-5, Ez. 16, Hosea, 2 Cor. 11:2, Rev. 19:6-10

  1. Temptations are the same as sins

      Heb. 2:18. 4:15, Matt. 4:1

  1. Over valuing sexuality

1 Cor. 6:12-13, 20, Ecc. 3:1-8

 

How to deal with lust:

  1. Get radical with it 

Matt. 5:29-30, 1 Cor. 6:18, 1 Pet. 2:11, James 4:7, Gen 39

  1. Cut out anything that causes you to lust

Matt. 5:29-30, 2 Sam. 11, Gal. 5:16, Col. 3:5, 2 Tim. 2:22, James 1:14-15

  1. Seek out accountability

James 5:16, Ecc. 4:9-12, 2 Cor. 5:10, Gal. 6:2

  1. Focus on your relationship with Lord

Matt. 26:41, Rom. 1:21-27, 7:15-20, 8:6, 13:14, 1 Thess. 4:3-5, Eph. 5:3, 1 Cor. 10:13, 2 Cor. 5:17

 

Reflecting on God’s Word

Getting Started

 

Take some time to read over Matthew 5:27-30 and pray. 

  1. Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it? 
  2. What are some common misconceptions about sexuality in our culture?3. What are some common misconceptions about sexuality among Christians? 
  3. Be honest with yourself: have you ever struggled with lust? How so?
  4. Do you struggle with lust during this season of your life? How so? 

 

Diving In

In order to understand lust, we first must understand what the Bible teaches about our sexuality. Scripture is clear when it comes to our sexuality. God created sex, and it is good, but it has its parameters. Those parameters are that sex is only to be between one man, and one woman, who are married. If you would like to hear an entire message on why we believe that, please go to our website and listen to the message from last year when we talked about that: hmcworship.com/sermons/bethechurchweek6. 

 

  1. Many people think that only their outward actions count, and that they can’t control what they are thinking, but Jesus’ teachings about lust elevates the standard that God has for our sexuality, from our outward actions, to what is going on within our hearts. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. How can you better learn to control your thoughts? 
  2. What common thoughts do you have that are not honoring to God? 
  3. How do you think your life would change if you learned how to better control your thought life? 

 

Many times in the church, we can have misconceptions about our sexuality. We can easily fall into the trap of thinking all sexual thoughts are sinful. As we discussed in the message, there are obviously sinful thoughts we can have about sexuality, however, by erroring on the other side, we can actually cause ourselves issues. What effect do you think it would have on you, to look at Scripture, and realize that sex is good (so long as it is in its proper context).

 

  1. What misconceptions have you had about sex before? 
  2. Read Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15. How does realizing that Jesus was tempted sexually help you in your temptations? 

3.How can you help fellow believers to have a better understanding about what Scripture says about sexuality?

 

Read Matthew 5:29-30 again. Jesus doesn’t go softly on lust. He is clear that we need to cut out anything in our lives that causes us to lust. What in your life causes you to lust? 

  1. Where are you most commonly tempted to lust? 
  2. Where, emotionally, are you, when you are tempted to lust? 
  3. What do you need to cut out of your life, and how can you practically accomplish that?
  4. How do you think focusing on your relationship with the Lord would help you to stop lusting? 

 

Applying the Scripture

What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word? 

1.What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture? 

  1. How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord? 
  2. Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?


Prayer Time:

Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.

Staying Missional:

Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:

Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

What’s next?

Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?