REALLIFE
STUDY GROUP
“Dead to Sin, Alive To Righteousness!”
ICEBREAKER: Tell us which bird you think is most unique
and why? (Turkey, Chicken, Eagle, Hawk,
Buzzard, Peacock, Parrot, Dove, Sparrow, Cardinal, Blue-Jay, Duck, Geese,
Finch, Humming Bird, Pelican, Seagulls, Flamingos, Swan, Cranes, Ostrich,
Nightingale, etc…)
OUTLINE: CHARACTERISTICS OF
LEPROSY LIKE SIN:
1. Leprosy
begins as a small, insignificant spot or blemish.
2. The
individual does not realize his condition at first.
3. Leprosy
is progressive, sure to grow (the rate of growth
varies with each individual).
4. Leprosy
affects the whole man; the worst kind of leprosy is
leprosy in the forehead (2 Chron. 26). The head is where we have our face
representing our identity. It also is where we have 5 senses. When leprosy eats
away at someone’s face, they are not able to interact with the world around
them.
5. Leprosy
is contagious and can affect others (Matt. 12:30-33).
6. Leprosy
causes the hair to fall out (no submission; note the
Nazarite vow of separation and consecration in Num. 6)
symbolizing being without a covering.
7. Leprosy
causes insensibility (the hardened heart that cannot
feel, as in Eph. 4:19 with 1 Tim. 4:1-2).
8. The
leper was separated, shut out from the camp because the
camp was holy (Deut. 23:14 with Eph. 2:11-12).
9. Leprosy
was INCURABLE, with no natural answer or remedy
(man’s efforts are futile)—JESUS CHRIST ALONE can provide
supernatural
deliverance for the leper, the sinner!
TEXT:
Romans 6:1-11
STUDY
GROUP QUESTIONS:
1. LEPROSY (a
disease that devours the flesh) is a type and picture of SIN (study these later: Lev. 13-14; Num.
5:2; 2 Kg. 5; 2 Chr. 26:11-13; Mt. 8:2-4; 10:8;11:5; 26:6; Mk. 1:40; 14:3; and Lk. 4:27; 5:12-14; 7:22; 17:12-14) Give us an example
of a sin, like leprosy, that starts as a small insignificant spot.
2.
Why do you think God hates sin so much?
a.
It never really satisfies us
b.
It strips us of our dignity and integrity
c.
It steals our destiny
d.
It breaks God’s heart
e.
It takes us down a path that leads to death
f.
It separates us from fellowshipping with God
g.
____________________________________________
3.
Identify somebody in the Bible that sinned and tell
us their consequences. (Sampson, David, Adam & Eve, Moses, Achan, Ananias
and Saphira, Cain, Abraham, Judas…)
4.
Like leprosy, sin is contagious. What are some of the reasons that we
as humans want others to sin with us?
5.
To sin means to miss the mark. Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. What do you think is the worst sin and why?
(Besides eating a whole box of Twinkies in one sitting!!!!)
6.
Sin leaves us like Adam and Eve naked, vulnerable,
and ashamed. Describe some of the ways
people act when they are ashamed.
7.
When a person was healed or cleansed of leprosy that
person would have to present themselves to the priest who would pronounce them
cleansed. The priest would then get two birds. One he would kill and pour its
blood over the living bird and then set the living bird free. This is a picture
of how Jesus died for us and his blood has cleansed and set us free from sin.
How did you feel after you asked God to take away your sin? (a
weight was lifted, not ashamed anymore, ready to take on the world…)