Conviction and Shame

Intro: Share a time when you got in trouble in school?

Study

  1. John 14:26, John 16:7-8 God through the Holy Spirit is a convictor, comforter, and empowerer, the Holy Spirit will speak to us trying to guide us away from sin.
    1. John 16:13 The Holy Spirit will show us what we should and shouldn’t do, what relationships we should avoid, and where we should and shouldn’t go.
      1. Psalms 1:6 If we choose to listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit when he speaks to us, we will avoid major pain, problems, and distractions.
      2. Romans 1:28-29 For those who refuse to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, they become blind to right and wrong, and bound to sin.
    2. 1 John 1:9 When we come to Christ and repent of disobedience, God will forgive us of all sin, and take away our guilt and shame.
  2. 1 John 4:1,Rom 8:35 The devil will use shame to try to keep us down, make us feel disqualified and separate us from a close relationship with God.
    1. Ps 103:12 There are many Christians, even years after they have been saved, still held down by shame from memories from the past.
      1. Rev 12:10 There is a difference between conviction and shame, conviction is the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us away from sin, or leading us to repent, satan uses shame to accuse people after they repent
      2. 2 Cor 5:17 Shame can keep Christians from feeling qualified to become the leaders God is calling them to be, and winning others to Christ.
    2. Mark 16:15-18 God is calling us to follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and get up after we repent, become leaders, and reach the lost with the gospel.

Discussion

  1. Who can give an example of a time when you listened to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and avoided some major problems and distractions?
  2. Who here has ever struggled with shame even after you repented and came to Christ? Who now has victory over shame that you once dealt with?
  3. What are some of the negative effects in our lives of listening to the voice of shame even after you have repented?
  4. Is there any area in your life right now where the Holy Spirit is convicting you?

End: Pray for any who have not listened to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, any who need to repent tonight, pray for any who deal with shame,then take requests.