Sunday 6 June
When Idols Crumble
Mark Wells
Mark used the text of 1 Samuel 20:28-34 when Jonathan realised that Saul did want to kill David to explore the concept of what happens when people we look up to fall in their faith. Human failure doesn't undermine the gospel. People who have been significant to our faith will fall short and let us down, but God is still good and with us. We need to make sure that God is the foundation of our faith.
Life Group questions
When Idols Crumble
“When Idols Crumble”
Stories
Have you ever known a Christian leader who committed some sort of major sinful act?
How do you react to stories like this?
Have you ever known anyone who has questioned their faith in the fallout of the major sin of a Christian leader?
Scripture
Read John 3:22-30
What do you notice about John’s vision of ministry here?
What is John saying when he is using this metaphor of the bride, the groom, and the groom’s friend?
Do you think Christian leaders who become particularly powerful or popular are at greater risk of falling into sin? Why / why not? What is about John’s attitude in this passage that you think is particularly healthy or helpful?
Strategy
How can we help the leaders in our church so that they do not become too isolated or burdened?
How can we develop ourselves and our own faith networks so that if a church leader we trust is caught up in a bad situation, we do not feel crushed?
If we ever are in a leadership role at church, what sort of things can we do so that we keep ourselves and others safe?