MAD MEN: OVERCOMING Our Addictions Lesson One MAN UP BIBLE SERIES MAD MEN: OVERCOMING Our Addictions Lesson One

The Real World This series deals with the reality of addictions and there control of our lives as Men of God. WE all have the secret areas of our lives. This series is designed to help us come out of the closet and be real with each other and god and find the healing that we all desire. We all have issues. Maybe it is a really bad temper. A guy cuts you off on the freeway. You race up and flip him the bird and yell some cuss word. You explode inside with a anger that comes from some dark place within you. While on the computer a porno ad pops up on the screen and you hit on it an enjoy the content. Ouch. This is not us. WE have a real desire to live clean lives that honor the lord. To love our wives and children, serve in our corps and be an example to others. But there is the other side, Hidden thoughts, nagging memories, bad decisions, broken dreams and shattered goals. We are successful. We have good jobs and great families. We serve at the corps. We are good Christian guys. But the darkness is so great. We want to live these lives that we hear about. Full of love, power and grace.

The real Word John 10 New International Version (NIV) The Good Shepherd and His Sheep 10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Real talk Do you feel like a failure as a Christian? ___________ Do you think God wants it that way? Why do we give into sin? It there strength for us today? How can we help each other be stronger? __________ Can we be our brother’s Keeper?

Real Steps How to live life to the fullest from John 10:10 - Receive God’s Grace. Receive God’s Love. Trust God to work Good things in your life. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s power to be unleashed in your life. Read God’s Word Daily. Pray Daily. Overcome evil with Good actions and habits. Expect God to change you and answer your prayers. Choose Faith over fear. Never Give up on God.

Time TO Close I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of all the fake stuff in our lives. Living a lie will eventually separate us from the things that matter most. Living a lie destroys us, those around us and those we love the most. We have seen it happen in so many lives. Now is the time for you to decide to let Jesus Christ lead you in a good direction. This series is about closing the gap between who we say we are and who we really are. It’s ABOUT Taking 100 percent responsibility for the fractures in our lives. It is all about being real and healed. Lets go of the past gives us freedom for today. God cannot not do much with the fake façade we throw up. He needs us to come clean and be real. Time to MAN UP!