Follow Up with Clay - 07.03.24

We live in a world that wants to beat men up…. 

We want to build men up… to bless women and children.

1st Corinthians 16:13-14, Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Rule to live by: Remember that before she was your wife / fiancée’ / girlfriend….

She was / is His daughter…. Joint heir in the Kingdom of God.

Lot:  

I hate this story…. (Never a cartoon / children’s book)

Makes me sick / angry….

I want to go back in time and punch this man in the throat….

Not that there aren’t plenty of evil people throughout history….

But he should’ve known better…. (We should know better)

Lot left home with Uncle Abraham….

God blessed / both had very successful flocks….

Grew too big for land to support both….

Abraham gave Lot choice of direction…. (He chose greener grass / not better)

Lived outside city of Sodom….

War breaks out between rival cities…. (Taken POW)

Abraham took men to battle / rescued Lot….

After the rescue…. What might you do?

(Move to safer neighborhood / closer to Abraham / Sacrifice business for safety…. )

Abraham: Three visitors / appear as men…. (Jesus / two angels)

Hospitality (Ancient custom / Lone Survivor)…. Share meal / confirm pregnancy….

Abraham walks them out / see them off….

God tells him that the wickedness of Sodom has cried out before Him….

The outcry against Sodom / Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave….

It’s obvious that God’s judgement is coming….

Genesis 18:23-24, Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fiftyrighteous within the city. Will You then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

50-45-30-20-10….

God agrees to spare the city if 10 good people can be found….

Jesus sent the two angels (appearing as men) on to the city….

And they encounter Lot, he’s moved into the city….

And he’s sitting at the city gate…. Where leaders sit / do business….

Lot shows hospitality…. Brings them into his home….

Genesis 19:4-8, The men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”

Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.

Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.”

They threaten to do even worse to Lot than they would have done to his guests….

The angels pull Lot back into the house….

The evil men are struck with blindness…. Still grope after the door….

The angels warn Lot to get everybody here / ready to leave….

Genesis 19:19, For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”

There were two young men set to marry his daughters….

They didn’t take him seriously….

So back to Lot / family…. That’s all there is….

Next morning…. The angels call out it’s time to go….

What would you do?

(And Lot lingered…. )

Angels took them all by the hand / dragged them to safety outside the city….

Gave orders…. Do not look back / Escape to the hills….

Wife looked back…. Turned into a pillar of salt….

Lot complained about the hills…. Asked to go to a nearby small city….

Genesis 19:23-25, Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of Heaven. And He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

Lot was afraid to live in the city…. Took daughters to the hills / cave….

Daughters decided that they would never have families…. So….

Genesis 19:32, Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.”

And they did….

Much like Noah…. Lot got drunk / passed out…. Older daughter pregnant….

Next night…. Lot got drunk / passed out…. Younger daughter pregnant….

They both had sons…. Grew into the nations of Moabites / Ammonites….

Enemies of Israel…. The nation that would come from Abraham….

Move toward our lesson….

Story against the sin of homosexuality…. Definitely….

But no more / less than any perversion of God’s plan for sexuality….

How is God’s plan for sex perverted today?

(Before / outside marriage / careless / abortion / porn / trafficking / trans…. )

Where is Sodom today?

(Public school / Epstein Island / Vegas / NYC…. )

How near Sodom do we live?

(Pretty close…. )

How can we protect our families?

(Learn from Lot / family…. )

Lesson: Spend enough time in Sodom and Sodom will get into you.

Pigs don’t know pigs stink….

Spend enough time in the slop…. It might become normal / desirable….

1. Sodom was in Lot:  

He failed his family by remaining in that toxic environment / lingering….

2. Sodom was in Lot’s Wife:  

She turned back…. Possibly longing for the lifestyle she loved….

3. Sodom was in Lot’s Daughters:  

Didn’t trust dad / God…. Selfishly chose a worldly solution….

He made a lot of poor choices / suffered tough consequences….

Lost wife by passively not leading well….

Leads daughters to devastating sin….

The Bible isn’t like binoculars that we use to look at other people’s sin….

The Bible is like a mirror that we use to see our own sin….

Be honest: We, as a culture, are not morally superior…. Beware of the danger….

Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Beware the unintentional sacrifice of those under your care.

Your decisions / lack of effect your family.

Don’t stand by and let them make mistakes just because you did….

Don’t make excuses like… Sewing wild oats / boys will be boys / low expectations….

Don’t accept cultural norms…. Morality / priorities / authority….

Do care about what their watching / listening to / where going…. (Prom)

Questions:

What are some of the different environments we / our families experience?

(Home / work / school / team / church / extended family / neighborhood…. )

Is there something about your environment that needs to change?

How can we pray for you?

Who do you know that needs this group?