Selfish Pleasure
Wicked: Don't Waste your Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Pleasure: “enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking”
I. Is it Sinful to Pursue Pleasure? (Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 21:17)
II. Potiphar’s Wife’s Choices Came at a Price. (Genesis 39)
a. She lost the benefits of God’s blessing. (Genesis 39:1-5)
b. She betrayed her husband. (Genesis 39:6-8)
c. She sinned against God. (Genesis 39:9-10)
d. She lied about Joseph. (Genesis 39:11-18)
e. She caused an innocent man to be punished. (Genesis 39:19-23)
III. Make Choices That are Pleasing to God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
a. Know His commandsand keep them. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
b. Abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
c. Don’t use others for your own gain. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8).
Selfish pleasure has a serious price.
GENERAL LESSON INSTRUCTIONS
Teacher’s Note: Prior to the lesson, you will need to fill a clear trash bag with a donut and other trash items. Make sure the donut is at the bottom of the garbage pile but visible through the bottom of the clear bag. Once it is full, place the entire bag inside of a trash can. Fill the trash bag with as many trash items as you can, preferably food or anything gross that will repel students from wanting to grab the donut. Possible ideas include a dirty diaper, banana peel, leftovers gone bad, dog food, beans, chili sauce, coffee grounds, etc. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with it!
During the lesson, you will be pulling out five pieces of paper from the garbage with the sub-points of the outline printed on them. These have been produced for you. To make things easy on yourself, print these five pages on different colored paper and then write the color next to the corresponding subpoint in the lesson. This will make it easy to pick out the correct paper at the correct time. For your convenience, a blank has been placed in a Teacher’s Note at each subpoint so you can write the color of the paper you need to grab for that point.
Once they are printed, crumple up the papers and place them with the rest of the garbage but at the top of the bag. Depending on how messy your garbage is, you may want to wear gloves as well and have a tarp underneath the trash bag for any potential messes.
During the Choice section, you will be removing the trash bag and flipping the trash can upside down to retrieve a paper taped to the bottom that says, “Please God.” So, you will need to write the words “Please God” on a piece of paper and tape it on the bottom of the trash can ahead of time.
For the Next Steps section, you will need to print and cut out the trash can handouts for every student.
Before you begin teaching, recruit five students to read the following passages during the Lesson Content portion of the lesson: Genesis 39:1-5; Genesis 39:6-8; Genesis 39:9-10; Genesis 39:11-18; Genesis 39:19-23.
For your convenience, business cards have been created with these references printed on them. They have been formatted to fit the perforated Avery 5371 Business Card template so they can be printed and then simply torn apart. Links have been provided for you in the Resources and References section to make it easy for you to obtain the templates. Be sure to print them before teaching the lesson. Ask the students to have them ready to read when you call on them. If you choose not to purchase the Avery Business Card templates, print the cards on cardstock, cut them apart, and give them to the volunteer readers.
HOOK
How many of you like donuts? [Allow students to raise their hands.] Okay, good to know because I have one with me here today that I’m not going to eat. So, maybe one of you would like to have it instead. Anyone want my donut? [Allow students to respond.] Now, before you get too excited, there is something you need to know about this donut.
The donut is not in a box. It is not on a napkin or on a plate. It is in here. [Bring the trash can forward.] And there is something else you should probably know. The donut is not the only item in the trash can. You see…there is a “little bit” of other garbage in here as well. I hope you don’t mind.
Teacher’s Note: At this point, pull the trash bag out of the trash can and begin to name some of the items in the trash bag. Make sure the students can see the donut in the midst of all the other garbage. The more disgusting the items are, the better the effect will be.
Look at all that nasty stuff you would have to dig through in order to get that donut! Sorry about that. Are there still any takers for that donut? Raise your hand if you think the pleasure you’ll receive from eating that donut is worth the priceof sorting through all that nasty garbage. [Allow students to raise their hand.] Thank you, you may put your hands down.
Teacher’s Note: Some students may raise their hands and insist they want to eat the donut, but doing so will distract from the lesson. So, perhaps you can tell them that you don’t want to get in trouble with their parents for letting them eat the donut. Acknowledge their desire to eat it but continue with the lesson.
Maybe a donut is not a pleasure of yours, but in your mind, imagine that the donut is something that gives you pleasure. Just to be clear, [Show the PowerPoint slide with the definition of the word “pleasure.”] “pleasure” is defined as “enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking.”
Maybe it’s that game on your phone, or that sport you play, or that favorite song of yours that you could play over and over again. Hypothetically, if all of those could somehow be at the bottom of the trash can, would you even second-guess going in for it? What if they were at the bottom of this landfill? [Show the PowerPoint slide of the picture of a landfill.]
As you consider those questions, here’s something for you to remember: all pleasure has some type of price connected to it.
● The pleasure of eating a donut costs you money to purchase it or it might cost you weight gain. (In our example earlier, it would cost you the gross experience of digging through garbage and probably the experience of getting violently ill afterwards.)
● The pleasure of scrolling through social media costs you time.
● The pleasure of vaping costs you health problems.
But selfish pleasure comes at the price of a wasted life and can even be defined as wicked or evil. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] Selfish pleasure has a serious price. This is what we’ll see in our lesson today.
As you may or may not know, we are in the third lesson of the series [Show the PowerPoint slide with the module title.] Wicked: Don’t Waste Your Life. We are learning about four different women in the Bible who lived selfish, wicked lives. In this series we are learning that a life given over to wickedness is a wasted life, and that we all have the capability of giving into wicked ways. The goal of this series is to learn from the mistakes of others, so we don’t repeat those mistakes.
● In the first lesson of this series, we learned to avoid selfish ambition through the life of a wicked woman by the name of Jezebel.
● In the second lesson, we learned to avoid selfish gain through the life of a wicked woman by the name of Delilah.
● In this lesson, we will learn to avoid selfish pleasure through the life of another wicked woman known only as Potiphar’s wife. [Show the PowerPoint with the lesson title.]
The Bible never tells us what her name was; she is only referred to as Potiphar’s wife. Other non-biblical ancient texts refer to a woman by the name of Zuleika whose actions sound much like that of Potiphar’s wife. Regardless of her name, Potiphar’s wife found firsthand that selfish pleasure has a serious price.
LESSON CONTENT
If you have never heard of Potiphar’s wife, then let’s begin with what we know. The following is not a trick question. Who was Potiphar’s wife’s husband? [Allow students to respond.] That’s right! Potiphar! Great, but who was Potiphar?
Potiphar was an official of Pharaoh, King of Egypt; he was the captain of the guard (Genesis 37:36). Joseph, the 11th son of Israel, was sold to Potiphar and lived in his home as a servant. Over the course of his time there, Potiphar’s wife sought to find pleasure in Joseph. She desired to sleep with someone other than her husband. But, as we’ll see, selfish pleasure has a serious price, and her decisions set off a sin-filled chain of events.
But, before we examine the price that was paid for Potiphar’s wife’s selfish pleasure, let’s find out the truth about pleasure in general. Is all pleasure bad, wrong, or evil? Did God create pleasure? Is it sinful to pursue it? Let’s look at what God’s Word has to say.
We will begin with Psalm 16:11. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the first point of the outline and read it to the students.]
I. Is it Sinful to Pursue Pleasure? (Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 21:17)
[Read Psalm 16:11
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
You can answer the following question out loud: What did David, the psalmist, say was at God’s right hand? [Allow students to yell out “pleasures.”] That’s right! To be near God, trusting in Him with every step in life, we can know the pleasures that only He provides. Some of those can be experienced today, but knowing Jesus as our Savior and spending eternity with Him is the greatest pleasure we can experience.
Jesus is the One Who gave His life on the cross for us so that we could be made right with God (Romans 3:24-25). He paid a serious price for our eternal pleasure in knowing God! He took upon Himself the smelliest, dirtiest, most disgusting garbage you could imagine—our sin. It is those who trust in the work and person of Jesus Christ who experience the pleasure of eternal life with Him!
So, is it sinful to pursue pleasure? No, not exclusively. Pursuing pleasure that is part of God’s will is good. It only becomes wicked or evil when it is done with selfish motives and leads to sin or breaking God’s law.
Pursuing pleasure that is outside of God’s will leads to destruction. Listen to this wise saying from the Book of Proverbs. [Read Proverbs 21:17
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
Pleasure is not the problem, but loving pleasure (making it the focus of your life) has negative consequences.
Selfish pleasure has a serious price; pursuing pleasure for selfish reasons will lead to problems. As the proverb says, it leads to poverty; sometimes with your money (financial poverty), sometimes with your health (poor health), sometimes with your time (poor use of time). Not too many of us know the cost of pursuing selfish pleasure until it’s too late.
Potiphar’s wife was no exception; she found out that her own selfish pleasures came at a price. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the second point of the outline and read it to the students.]
II. Potiphar’s Wife’s Choices Came at a Price. (Genesis 39)
Turn to Genesis 39 as we discover the price for the choices that she made, which just so happen to be in this trash bag.
Teacher’s Note: At this time, begin to search through the trash bag from earlier until you find the ____________ colored paper with the words “She lost the benefits of God’s blessing” on it. Once you retrieve the paper, show it to the students and read it out loud. Then, show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.
a. She lost the benefits of God’s blessing. (Genesis 39:1-5)
Who has the Scripture reference card with Genesis 39:1-5 written on it? [Allow for a response and acknowledge the student.] Please read those verses for us. [Allow time for Genesis 39:1-5
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.
God was with Joseph and not only blessed Joseph but alsoPotiphar’s home and property for Joseph’s sake [Re-read Genesis 39:5
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.
Being in the same home, Potiphar’s wife would have enjoyed these blessings as well. Where Joseph was, so was God’s blessing, and when Joseph was no longer there, God’s blessing went with him.
So even though, at this point in our narrative, Potiphar’s wife had not committed sin, what you just saw was the context of the price she paid for her decisions. As we begin to see her selfish desires unfold, the price for her choices not only includes missed blessings, but it also includes missing out on a healthy relationship with her husband. Here is why.
Teacher’s Note: At this time, begin to search through the trash bag from earlier until you find the ____________ colored paper with the words “She betrayed her husband” on it. Once you retrieve the paper, show it to the students and read it out loud. Then, show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.
b. She betrayedher husband. (Genesis 39:6-8)
Who has the card with Genesis 39:6-8 written on it? [Allow for a response and acknowledge the student.] Please read those verses for us. [Allow time for Genesis 39:6-8
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.
Joseph was no ugly duckling. In fact, verse six tells us that he was handsome in appearance. But that was no excuse for the wickedness of Potiphar’s wife. Notice where it all began: with her eyes. She lusted after Joseph, and then she had the audacity to demand that he sleep with her. Even though Joseph said, “No,” she had already betrayed her husband. She committed adultery with Joseph in her heart (Matthew 5:27-28), and for her, there was no turning back.
Even though her husband didn’t find out in the moment that it was his wife who had sinned, God knew everything that took place. She betrayed her husband, but her desire for selfish pleasure had another cost.
Teacher’s Note: At this time, begin to search through the trash bag from earlier until you find the ____________ colored paper with the words “She sinned against God” on it. Once you retrieve the paper, show it to the students and read it out loud. Then, show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.
c. She sinned against God. (Genesis 39:9-10)
Who has the card with Genesis 39:9-10 written on it? [Allow for a response and acknowledge the student.] Please read those verses for us. [Allow time for Genesis 39:9-10
9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
Out of all the prices to pay for her selfish pleasure, this one is the worst. Once again, even though she did not actually sleep with Joseph, she still sinned in her heart. She tempted Joseph to sin, but he said he could not do that wickedness and sin against God. Every sin is ultimately a sin against God. It grieves Him to see those made in His image give into such wickedness (Genesis 6:5-6).
Even today, when we sin, we sin against God. It may seem like our sin only affects us or others around us, but it grieves the Holy Spirit when we sin (Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
It is a price we pay when we seek selfish pleasures that go against God’s will. So, not only did Potiphar’s wife sin against God and her husband but she also sinned against God’s servant, Joseph.
Teacher’s Note: At this time, begin to search through the trash bag from earlier until you find the ____________ colored paper with the words “She lied about Joseph” on it. Once you retrieve the paper, show it to the students and read it out loud. Then, show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.
d. She liedabout Joseph. (Genesis 39:11-18)
Who has the card with Genesis 39:11-18 written on it? [Allow for a response and acknowledge the student.] This is a slightly longer passage, but please read those eight verses for us. [Allow time for Genesis 39:11-18
11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
It was no accident that Potiphar’s wife approached Joseph when she did. No one else was around to testify about what would take place. She basically forced herself on Joseph, but he ran away.
When she recounted the events to the men of the house, the only part of the story that was true was the part where she said that Joseph ran away. Everything else was a lie designed to frame Joseph. Potiphar’s wife was a liar; for as long as people read about her in the Bible, she will be known as a liar. Selfish pleasure has a serious price.
Instead of taking on the consequences for herself, she selfishly allowed Joseph to suffer the consequences. Joseph paid the price for her selfish pleasure. Her desire for selfish pleasure brought about the punishment of an innocent man.
Teacher’s Note: At this time, begin to search through the trash bag from earlier until you find the RED colored paper with the words “She caused an innocent man to be punished” on it. Once you retrieve the paper, show it to the students and read it out loud. Then, show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.
e. She caused an innocent man to be punished. (Genesis 39:19-23)
Who has the card with Genesis 39:19-23 written on it? [Allow for a response and acknowledge the student.] Please read those verses for us. [Allow time for Genesis 39:19-23
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
For obvious reasons, Potiphar was upset. Joseph had been accused of attempted rape. The result was a sentence in prison for Joseph that would end up lasting years. Selfish pleasure has a serious price, but sometimes the price is paid by someone other than the person with the selfishness problem.
Thankfully, God can use the wicked schemes of people and turn them for good. This is what He did in Joseph’s case, as He used the time in prison to eventually lead Joseph to a position of great influence. However, the wickedness and damage that Potiphar’s wife had committed could’ve been avoided.
She could’ve kept God’s blessing on her home, been faithful to her husband, lived honorably before God, remained pure in her relationship with Joseph, and kept an innocent man out of prison. She could’ve done those things, but it all spiraled out of control from giving into her selfish pleasures. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] Selfish pleasure has a serious price.
If we are not careful, our lives can spin out of control as well. We can find ourselves at the bottom of a “dumpster,” endlessly searching for tiny bits of pleasure to soothe our souls. But they never satisfy in comparison to the pleasures that God gives, such as peace, joy, and hope in Jesus Christ.
So, how do we avoid falling into the same dangerous trap that Potiphar’s wife did? How do we avoid wasting our lives by pursuing selfish pleasures? We make choices that are pleasing to God, not ourselves. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the third point of the outline.]
III. Make Choices That are Pleasing to God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. [Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
with emphasis on the words “please God” in verse 1.]
There are several things we read in this passage that go hand-in-hand with the life of Potiphar’s wife. She did not live out these choices that are pleasing to God, but you can. The first is… [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide and read it to the students.]
a. Know His commands and keep them. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
Knowing God’s commands and keeping them not only pleases God but also keeps you from wasting your life. This requires studying His Word and searching out the commands that not only applied to listeners thousands of years ago but also to you today. Yes, right here, right now, you can keep God’s commands, but only through the work of the Holy Spirit.
As we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, one of those commands is to abstain from sexual immorality. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
b. Abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
Some of you may be thinking, “But I can’t not give into the sexual desires I have for my boyfriend or girlfriend. Things just sort of happen, and it feels good. Why would God want those desires to be withheld, especially when we are in love?”
Or some of you may be struggling with lustful thoughts, pornography, homosexuality, or other habits of sexual sin. Some of you may be trying to escape addiction, but you can’t help but sift back through the trash can to find momentary pleasure once again.
Please know that you are not alone in the struggle. That doesn’t mean it is not sin, but what it does mean is that you are not an outcast because you struggle with sexual immorality. If you want to please God instead of yourself, start by being honest. Admit your weakness and ask God to reveal to you what it is costing you.
Selfish pleasure has a serious price, and make no mistake, sexual sin is costing you something. It definitely costs you fellowship with God, but what about feelings of guilt, shame, emotional attachment, grief, and broken relationships? What about how it is causing you to waste your life? We saw the price that Potiphar’s wife paid, and it is a price that none of us, if we are honest, would want to pay.
So, know and keep God’s commands, which includes abstaining from sexual immorality. And finally, don’t use others for your own gain. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
c. Don’t use others for your own gain. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8).
Humans are not steppingstones to be trampled on so that we get our fix of pleasure.
● Making fun of someone in a large group setting so that others will think you are funny is wicked.
● Telling someone that they can trust you with a sensitive topic but later gossiping about that person so that others listen to you is wicked.
● Thinking bad thoughts or wishing evil upon a person for your own satisfaction is also wicked.
Knowing God’s commands, abstaining from sexual sin, and not using others for your own gain all take work! There is pleasure to be found in pleasing God, and that pleasure also comes with a cost. It will cost you the temporary quick pleasures of this world as you deny yourself and daily follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24). It will cost you time and energy as well.
But the pleasures at God’s right hand are definitely worth more than anything you will find sifting through the garbage of wickedness. Knowing, loving, and obeying Jesus will satisfy the soul more than anything else, and He is available for everyone to enjoy (Psalm 37:4).
You can choose to please God, or you can chase selfish pleasure. Just remember, selfish pleasure has a serious price.
CONNECTION
So, will you keep sifting through the trash cans of this life and suffering the consequences of those decisions, or will you flip the trash can upside down and choose to please God instead?
Teacher’s Note: Walk over to the trash can, take the trash bag out, and flip the trash can over, revealing the sign “Please God” on the bottom of the trash can that you have previously placed.
Pleasing God is a choice that goes against the grain of our own selfish desires; it flips everything upside down. The world says to pursue what pleases us, but God commands us to please Him!
Will you make the choice to flip your desires upside down and instead please God? It is not something that you can accomplish on your own, but only through surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit.
You have a choice. Will you continue to make a habit of pleasing yourself, or will you earnestly seek to please God? Each choice has a price to pay, but the rewards are completely different. Pleasing God leads to finding pleasure in God, which ultimately gives God the glory.
CHOICE
So, let’s focus on that choice right now. If everyone could close their eyes and take a moment to talk to God. If selfish pleasures have become an issue for you, will you consider confessing those to God? If your desire right now is to please God, take a moment and talk to God about your desire to please Him. You may pray something like this:
“Dear God, I confess that I often give into what pleases me instead of thinking about what pleases You. I ask You to give me a desire to please You. Help me to make choices today that honor You.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.”
NEXT STEPS
[Recruit a volunteer to give each person a Trash Can Handout and a writing utensil.] Before you move to small groups, each of you is going to receive something to take home with you as a reminder to live out what you have been taught today. On your piece of paper, you see a picture of a trash can and some numbers with spaces for writing. We are going to take a couple of minutes to fill these out together so that you can discuss them further in your small groups.
● At the bottom of the trash can next to number one, write down a selfish pleasure you have been seeking. [Allow students twenty seconds to write an answer.]
● Above that, next to number two, write down what seeking that pleasure has cost you. [Allow students twenty seconds to write an answer.]
Now, flip the trash can over and finish with numbers three and four.
● Next to number three, write down one way you will seek to please God this week. [Allow students twenty seconds to write an answer.]
● Finally, next to number four, you will write down one pleasure that is from God for you to enjoy either now or later on as a result of flipping the script. [Allow students twenty seconds to write an answer.]
If you were unable to fill all of these out, take them to your small groups and finish them there. Then, take it home with you to serve as a reminder that selfish pleasure has a serious price. Let’s pray. [Close in prayer asking God to help everyone to stay away from selfish pleasures and a wasted life.]
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How long would you be willing to search through a landfill for your phone before giving up? (This question is designed to break the ice and get students talking about the price they would be willing to pay to retrieve their phones.)
What are some common pleasures you see people pursuing? (The goal is not to judge others but to evaluate the price behind their decisions. Follow up with this question, “What are the costs of pursuing those pleasures?” This does not necessarily mean a financial cost, but it could be time, health, or their relationship with God, etc.)
Who would like to share what you wrote down on the trash can handout? (Try to have every student share at least two answers, either one and two or three and four since they coincide with one another. As the small group leader, be sure to share what you wrote down. This will show that you too are accountable and help the students feel more comfortable sharing their answers.)
