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Jesus On Objectification

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. MATTHEW 5:27-30 NLT

AS A DISCIPLE, I NO LONGER SEE PEOPLE AS SOMETHING TO USE, BUT RATHER AS SOMEONE TO LOVE

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ MATTHEW 22:37-39 NLT

AS A DISCIPLE, I MUST DRASTICALLY CUT OUT ANYTHING IN MY LIFE THAT OBJECTIFIES OTHERS

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. GALATIANS 5:16 NIV

What are the drastic measures I need to take in order to cut out lust from my life?

AS A DISCIPLE, TRANSFORMATION BEGINS AS I TRADE CONSUMPTION FOR COMMUNION

…Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? ROMANS 2:4 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Settle into a quiet place to connect with God. Come to Him with a teachable spirit, willing and open, as you invite Him to guide your time together. Consider any potential areas of lust in your life: power, possession, or specifically sexual gratification. Are there any ways in which you’ve treated people as objects to satisfy your desires or needs? What influences have shaped or exposed you to that mindset? How has this affected your life and relationships? Ask God to help you see where any sinful desires, thoughts or actions are coming from. Confess those to God, then invite Him, through His loving kindness and forgiveness, to begin the work of changing your heart toward yourself and others. What measures do you need to take to cut lust out of your life? Ask God to reveal how you could move from using or objectifying people to selflessly loving them as He does. Rather than consume, what would it look like for you to instead commune with God? Ask the Holy Spirit to first, help you practice self-control. Then, identify a practical step you can take to intentionally pursue God and generously love others. End your time thanking God for His loving kindness toward you, and praying for the strength and courage to commit to the changes you want to make.

Discussion Questions

Before you begin, briefly review these Ground Rules with your group:

https://sandalschurch.com/groundrules.

If you’re in a mixed group, we recommend that men and women meet separately this week.

For our Matthew series, we’re offering two options for discussing the sermon and Scripture. Choose option A or B to guide your group’s discussion time.

(A) The R.E.A.L. Bible Study Method:

1. Read the Passage. Start by reading Matthew 5:27-30 (NLT) out loud.

2. Explore the Theme. What is the main point or theme of the passage? What does this passage reveal about God and/or humanity?

3. Ask God. How do we apply this passage to our lives today? How might God be encouraging or challenging you?

4. Live It Out. What prayerful and specific action will you take based on this passage?

(B) Choose a couple of questions from each section below to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: How could your group help you get real and share something you’re ashamed of?
  2. START HERE: What do you believe has influenced our culture’s acceptance of the idea that we should satisfy any desire we have?
  3. START HERE: What would your life look like in 30+ years if you never practiced self-control?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 5:27-30 (NLT). What are the differences between lustful sin and a healthy sexual desire?
  5. KEEP GOING: Why do you think Jesus is concerned about our heart, not only our actions?
  6. KEEP GOING: On a scale of 1 (not a struggle) to 10 (a constant struggle), how much of a struggle is lust for you?
  7. CONFESSION: Take a moment of silence and open your hearts before God. Briefly share with the group an area of sin that you need to confess right now. (Leaders: Close this time by praying over the group.)
  8. LIVE IT OUT: What drastic measures do you need to take to cut out lust from your life?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: Instead of consuming, what would it look like for you to commune with God?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: How can you intentionally practice seeing people as individuals to love, rather than as objects to use for your own gain or desire?