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…)