Should Christians Smoke Marijuana or Drink Alcohol? | Keep Talking

In this message, Pastor Todd taught us how to discern what really brings freedom and the vices that offer only a false sense of it. Use this guide to keep talking about Sunday’s message. 

SERMON HIGHLIGHTS

• Good habits are hard to keep because the pain is now, and the payoff comes later. Conversely, bad habits are hard to break because the payoff is now, but the pain comes later. 
• When processing whether a habit is beneficial, run it through these three questions:
  • Will this habit help or hurt my walk with God?
  • Will this habit help or hurt my witness with others? 
  • Will this habit help or hurt the people in my life? 
• We run to things to give us relief. 
• What you turn to when life gets hard determines how your life turns out. 
• Until we face it and feel it, God can’t heal it.

KEY SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 2:9
• Proverbs 20:1
• 1 Peter 5:8
• 1 Corinthians 10: 23,31
• Romans 14:21

START TALKING 

• What’s one good habit you wish you had in your life (e.g., working out, eating healthy, punctuality, reading, sleeping eight hours each night, daily prayer, etc.)?

KEEP TALKING

• What was your view of drugs and alcohol growing up? 
• What’s the thing you run to for relief when life gets hard (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, shopping, scrolling on social media, binge watching TV, caffeine, gaming, gambling, food, etc.)? Remember, we don’t have to whisper about our struggles here. This is a safe place to process what you’re learning and what you’re leaning on. 
• What might you be numbing every time you reach for your vice (e.g., anger, loneliness, stress, anxiety, disappointment, boredom, trauma, etc.)? 
• How has your “drug of choice” lied to you? In other words, what has it promised you? What’s been the cost of your vice? 
• Read 1 Corinthians 10:23. With this verse in mind, and in light of your past and current circumstances and the future God has planned for you, what would be a wise step for you to take this week? How can this group support you as you take that step?

KEEP IT GOING

• If you’re dealing with hurts, habits, or hang-ups that are causing you to run to the wrong things for relief, consider jumping into our Celebrate Recovery program. As we learned in this message, we’re all in recovery! Sign up today so you can start walking in freedom! 

PRAYER

Father, thank you for always offering us truth and grace. Would you fill us with hope and courage this week? Show us the vices keeping us from our freedom and your best, and give us the strength and wisdom to turn to you when we’re under pressure. Amen.