Today Todd continued his message from last week on 2 Peter 2:4-10 and focused on Lot (Gen 13-14, 19), a righteous man who made poor decisions and suffered for it.
- Lot fits the type of person described in 1 Tim 6:9-10, someone whose actions are driven primarily by the motivation to gain material goods or prosperity. Discuss among the group the heart level motivations that drive your actions. Based on how you spend your resources (time, talents, treasure), what would the people closest to you say motivates you?
- Instead of confessing and forsaking his association with wicked men, Lot continued to live in Sodom and Gomorrah, something he ultimately suffered deeply for. Are there areas of unfaithfulness in your life you need to confess and forsake (Prov 28:13)? What practical steps need to be taken to forsake sin? Discuss these among the group then have your community hold you accountable for implementing these steps.
- 1 Cor 3:11-15 says the quality of our lives will ultimately be exposed before the Lord. Lives lived on the foundation of Christ and faithfulness to him will be rewarded, but lives lived on the foundation of selfish gain will have been wasted. What are some areas of your life you are able to celebrate what God has done in and through you? What are some areas of your life marked by selfishness? Celebrate what God has done and challenge one another to exchange things of no value for those of eternal value.
- If God has given you success in this world it was only to increase your capacity to serve him. Are you deploying the resources God has entrusted to you in the ways he would have you? If not, what steps should you take to use the gifts he’s given you?
- Spend an extended time praying as the Spirit leads you.