2. Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

3. Matthew 5:21-22 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the fires of hell. 1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer...

4. Matthew 5:27-28 27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:38-39 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

5. Matthew 5:43-44 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... Matthew 5:48 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 5

6. 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. 6 Romans 3:10-11 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous, not even one...no one is seeking God. Romans 3:10-11 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous, not even one...no one is seeking God. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. 1 Peter 1:15...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct... 1 Peter 1:15...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...

7. Sin hamartánō - miss the mark hamartánō - miss the mark

8. Sin

9. How to keep from sinning Bootstraps method Bootstraps method Pick myself up, try harder, Pick myself up, try harder, by golly by my own sheer will-power I can do this!! by golly by my own sheer will-power I can do this!! 9

10. How to keep from sinning Deal Maker Deal Maker Oh Lord, if you get me out this mess... Oh Lord, if you get me out this mess...... I will go to church more... I will go to church more... I will pray more... I will pray more... I will never do ______________ again... I will never do ______________ again... I will give more, etc.... I will give more, etc.

11. How to keep from sinning Look Outside Ourselves Look Outside Ourselves Change churches Change churches Change friends Change friends Set up accountability to help you maintain boundaries Set up accountability to help you maintain boundaries Begin sharing with others... Begin sharing with others... 11

12. How to keep from sinning 1 John 2:3-4 1 John 2:3-4 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

13. How to keep from sinning 1 John 2:3-4 1 John 2:3-4 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 13

14. How to keep from sinning 1 John 2:3-4 1 John 2:3-4 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 14 Maxim by Josh McDowell Rules without a relationship leads to rebellion. Rules without a relationship leads to rebellion. Maxim by Josh McDowell Rules without a relationship leads to rebellion. Rules without a relationship leads to rebellion.

15. How to keep from sinning Philippians 3:8-12 Philippians 3:8-12 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.

16. How to keep from sinning Philippians 3:8-12 Philippians 3:8-12 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

17. How to keep from sinning Philippians 3:8-12 Philippians 3:8-12 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 17

18. How to keep from sinning Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

19. How to keep from sinning Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

20. How to keep from sinning Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

21. How to keep from sinning Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 Litmus Test - 1 John 2:5-11 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. 21

22. How to keep from sinning Foundational to Know - 1 John 2:1-2 Foundational to Know - 1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 22 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

23. How to keep from sinning How to know God more? How to know God more? God is a person, think about how you know anybody that you love.... God is a person, think about how you know anybody that you love.... spend time communicating with them (expressing your care, communicating your admiration & disappointments, etc) spend time communicating with them (expressing your care, communicating your admiration & disappointments, etc) spend time doing things with and for them spend time doing things with and for them 23

24. How to keep from sinning 1 John 2:15-17 1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 24 James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

25. How to keep from sinning 1 John 2:15-17 1 John 2:15-17 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 25

26. God’s desire is that we not sin as his children God’s desire is that we not sin as his children God’s solution is to know Jesus more and more God’s solution is to know Jesus more and more Test: How are we doing at loving people? Test: How are we doing at loving people? Accepting God’s forgiveness is paramount to know Accepting God’s forgiveness is paramount to know The battle rages on for our attention The battle rages on for our attention Conclusion

27. Questions/Comments

28. Corporate Prayer