Read 1
Corinthians 5:1-2

After reading this verse, many have wondered if the bible
isn’t a bit primitive. A dude having sex with his mom? That’s ridiculous. Is
it? How about a parent sexually abusing their child, or a kid sexually abusing
their younger siblings? With some studies placing sexual abuse as existing
within nearly 20-30% percent of the population, we might need to seriously
appreciate the relevance of this rebuke. This is a huge problem. If you are
this person, or you have allowed or enabled this person, repent, and face it.
You cannot escape your sin, it will always (ALWAYS) come to the surface. 10
years in prison is better than a life of regret, anger, perversion and hatred,
and it is infinitely better than eternal separation from the love of God.

Many see sexual abuse and incest as far away from
their small sexual sins. “I just occasionally lust after a women at work” or
“its not porn, its just a hollywood flick”. The serial killer Ted Bundy, in the
interview he did with Focus on the Family
the day before he was executed in 1989, said that he was a completely normal
kid. Until he was exposed to soft core porn. That led to more intense stuff,
that led even further. Eventually he was addicted to violent pornography. Sin
isn’t actually satisfying, it has nothing actual to offer. All it can do is
continuing demanding more and more of you, until there is nothing left.
Eventually watching things happen was no longer enough for Ted’s addiction, he
had to actualize it in the real world. All sin is sin. If one bite from fruit
in the garden of Eden led to this entire world of evil, how seriously should we
take our sin? Many would say that Ted Bundy is an extreme case. I personally
have two friends who had the exact same thing happen to them, and were only
inches away from killing people. By the grace of God, they have repented, and
over time, changed. What sexual sin is in your life?

If you are struggling sexually, know that you are not alone.
This is in no way meant to condone your sin, but to show you that there are
many people who want to help who know where you have been. Find Godly counsel,
confess your sins to God as well as to elders or mature Christians in your
church, and get help. With God all things are possible.

Journaling

Read 1
Corinthians 5:2-5

Hand this man over to Satan is usually interpreted as
meaning that you should stop church fellowship with them. It is important that we keep in mind three
things, (1) this does not mean we don’t let immoral people come to church. At
the very end of the chapter Paul says he was not referring to unbelievers, but
Christians. Only people who claim to be Christians, but who constantly refuse
to repent shall be separated from church. (2) this does not mean that anyone
who sins is kicked out. Rather, this is referring to someone who not only
continues sinning, but is stubbornly unwilling to admit that they are sinning.
We are all sinners, the question is: will you repent of your sin, and allow
Jesus into that area of your life. In this situation, Jesus’ grace is not the
problem, the problem is that they are unwilling to except his grace into their
lives. (3) Casting someone out of church is not meant merely for punishment. It
is for that persons own good. Allowing someone to continue politely hanging
around church without ever dealing with their sin, turns church into a country
club. Loving someone and being nice are not always the same thing. It is
important that we lovingly confront people about their sin, not to make
ourselves superior, but so that together we can grow closer to Christ, and
begin to look more like him. In many instances, those who have left the church
see what the world is like without their Christian community. Though it can be
a difficult experience (perhaps taking many years), often such a jolt can bring
into focus for them what is truly important. When the world has finally broken
them, and they see their sinfulness, only then are they willing to let Christ
build them back up. This is a difficult word. Let us not try to conform
biblical teaching to what we are comfortable with, but instead, let God’s words
wash over you and your life. Love is not always nice.

Journaling

Read 1
Corinthians 5:6-8

In James, the author
talks about how a little spark can light a mighty flame. Anyone who has been to
New Mexico
knows that one spark can take down a whole forest. Indeed, one sin in the
garden of Eden led to our entire perverted world today. What ‘little’ sins have
you been letting slide?

Christ, our Passover
lamb, has been slaughtered. They would eat the bread in remembrance of Christ.
If our bread is full of sin (yeast) what does that say about Christ, who we
celebrate with the bread? What does our sin say about what we think of God?

Journaling

Read 1
Corinthians 5:9-11

How can we be in the world, but not of it? How do we present the gospel to
non-Christians in a way that is relevant, but not compromised?

If we are not to even eat with a brother who is betraying Christ, how
seriously should we take our own doctrine, and our own sin? Don’t make this
about someone else’s sinning, bring this message home. Ask some hard questions.
Would you want your kids fellowshipping with someone like you?

Journaling

Read 1
Corinthians 3:18-23

What is the line between loving judgment, and condemnation? We are indeed told to judge those inside the
church. What does that look like?

We have come to the end of a difficult week. From your collective study,
what do you think it looks like to expel a wicked person from among you? In
which situations should it be done? In what manner should it be done?

This week has been very harsh. How do we rectify it with the grace of God?
Justice and mercy were both done at the cross. As such, at the heart of
Christianity is a deep and wondrous paradox. Start chewing on this now, as you
will likely be wrestling with it the rest of your life.

Journaling

This chapter is full
of rebuke and harsh commands. At times it feels too harsh to our ‘modern’
American ears. Sin, especially the sexual sin that this chapter will talk
about, is something that is dear to many of our hearts. This week many of us
will witness our sinful nature lash out to protect itself, putting the focus on
other things, other people, on God, or even blaming “the writers of this stupid
devotional” for being so judgmental. We are commanded in this chapter to expel
people from church who are continuously,
and (this is very important) unrepentantly,
sinning sexually. Fun.