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Deep Idols

Jarrod is a new believer who is consistently confessing to your group that he parties every weekend. It often keeps him from joining your group on Sundays at the Gathering and he routinely regrets poor decisions he made while drinking - ranging from arguments with friends to sexual sin.

What is the surface level idol or sin? How would you begin to discover the deep idol? Explain how each of the four deep idols could cause Jarrod to pursue these sins.

Identity in Christ

Alexa has just lost her job and is anxious about how she’s going to survive. She is hanging out with your group, but most of the night, she is quiet and withdrawn. She quickly shifts to borderline panic when she talks about her situation. “I just don’t know how I’ll make it. I won’t be able to find a job. I won’t be able to pay back my loans. They’re going to repo my car, and I’ll definitely get evicted!”

Work through Alexa’s situation using this model.

Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration

Situation 1: You are getting to know your coworker Cam over lunch in the break room. He says, “We just grew up so poor, you know? I’ve never wanted my kids to be poor like we were. That’s why I’m working here. I hate this place, but the pay is good. I figure about 20 years here and I’ll be able to retire and my kids can have all the stuff I never had.”

Plot Cam’s story using the Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration framework. How does the gospel intersect with Cam’s story?

How might you begin to help him see this?

Situation 2: You are trying to get to know your neighbors and you’ve invited Claire over for dinner. She says, “We were only married for 4 years before it all melted down. We were young, we were in love, but we just couldn’t keep it together. Some of it was my fault. Some of it was his. One day he was just gone. I’m on eHarmony now. I’ve had a few matches, nothing has worked out yet. I know it will one day soon, I guess. I’m just kind of waiting for the right guy to come along so life can get started again.”

Plot Claire’s story using the Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration framework. How does the gospel intersect with Claire’s story?

How might you begin to help her see this?