Respectable Sins

1.Bridges draws a distinction between being spiritually sensitive to sin as God defines it versus being culturally conditioned to disapprove of certain behaviors. How do you tell the difference between genuine conviction of sin and mere social discomfort?

1.Bridges outlines two key resources for dealing with sin: the objective provision of the gospel (Christ's work for us) and the subjective work of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit's work in us). In your own experience, which of these do you tend to rely on more, and which do you tend to neglect?

1.Bridges defines ungodliness not as gross immorality but as living without reference to God — going through the motions of daily life with God on the periphery rather than at the center. Does this definition surprise you? Where do you see this pattern in your own daily routine?

1.Bridges is careful to distinguish between the emotion of anxiety (which may be involuntary and even physiological) and the practice of anxiety (which involves choosing to dwell on worry rather than bringing it to God). How does this distinction help you approach this chapter with both honesty and compassion?

1.Bridges distinguishes between legitimate desire for improvement and sinful discontentment. What is the line between the two? How do you know when a desire has crossed from healthy ambition into grumbling against God's provision?

1.Romans 1:21 lists 'they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him' as one of the first steps in humanity's downward spiral away from God. Why does Paul place thanklessness so early and so seriously in that sequence?

1.Bridges identifies several varieties of pride: pride of performance, of appearance, of status, of abilities, of education, and even of being right. Which of these forms resonates most with your own tendencies, and why?

1.Bridges describes selfishness as the default posture of the sinful nature — the habitual placing of our own interests, comfort, and preferences above others'. How much of your daily life is shaped by what you want rather than what others need?

1.Bridges covers lack of self-control in several domains: eating, sleeping, time management, screen use, spending, and the tongue. In which of these areas do you most readily recognize a pattern of indulgence or inconsistency?

1.Bridges describes impatience as essentially a demand that things go according to our timetable rather than God's — and irritability as its emotional expression when they don't. Do you agree with this diagnosis? How does it fit your own experience of these emotions?

1.Bridges acknowledges that not all anger is sinful — there is such a thing as righteous anger. But he argues this is far rarer than we think. What distinguishes righteous anger from sinful anger, and how do you tell which kind you are feeling in the moment?

1.Bridges describes resentment, bitterness, grudges, and the desire for revenge as 'weeds of anger' — what grows when anger is not repented of and resolved. Which of these four tends to be your default when you are hurt or wronged?

1.Bridges defines judgmentalism not as making moral distinctions (which is necessary and right) but as a critical, condemning spirit that pronounces verdicts on others based on our own standards rather than God's. How do you tell the difference between appropriate discernment and sinful judgmentalism?

1.Bridges distinguishes envy (wanting what someone else has and resenting them for having it) from jealousy (fearing the loss of something that is rightfully yours). Which of these do you more often experience, and in what contexts?

1.Bridges covers several specific sins of the tongue: sarcasm, harsh criticism, cutting humor, bragging, exaggeration, and gossip. Which of these do you recognize most readily in yourself — and which do you tend to justify most readily?

1.Bridges is careful not to reduce worldliness to a list of forbidden behaviors (rock music, certain movies, particular fashions). How does he define worldliness more broadly — as a disposition or orientation of the heart? How does that broader definition land for you?

1.Bridges draws on the language of 'idols of the heart' — the idea that we can make functional gods out of good things (comfort, approval, success, family) by loving or depending on them more than on God. Does this framework help you understand your own sin patterns? Which idols are most operative in your life?

1.Bridges argues that we have become too tolerant of sin in ourselves — that we confess it in a general way but rarely wage specific, intentional war against particular patterns. Which specific sins from this book have you been most tolerant of in your own life? What has kept you from dealing with them?

1.Bridges summarizes his practical counsel for addressing the sins named in this book. What are the key elements of his approach — what does he say we should do, depend on, and expect? How does his counsel differ from self-help advice?

1.Which chapter or specific sin was most uncomfortable or most convicting for you to read and discuss? Why do you think that particular one hit hardest — was it because it was most true of you, or because it was something you had never thought of as sin before?