Study Questions for October 25, 2026

Sinners - Our Stained Reality by Reid Schultheis
Read 1 Peter 1:16; Luke 7:36-50; Romans 14:23; and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

1. Reid opens concluding the series on biblical anthropology—that humans are "embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer." noting that while sin is an objective truth, it is also one of the most fiercely denied because while it is easy to admit evil "out there," it is much harder to admit evil "in here." Why is admitting our own internal brokenness so difficult, and how does the Holy Spirit help humble our hearts to hear God's Word?
2. The sermon defines the biblical word for sin through its original context as an archery term meaning "to miss the mark." Read 1 Peter 1:16. What is the true "mark" we are called to aim for, and why does comparing ourselves to other people (like aiming at someone else's target on the range) give us a false sense of righteousness?
3. Reid introduces theologian John Frame's framework showing that sin occurs not just in our outward actions, but across three levels: standard, motive, and goal. He uses a lighthearted story about playing Settlers of Catan to show how a good behavior (filling his brother's coffee) had a selfish motive (preventing him from stealing a game card). Can you think of a time when your outward action looked right according to God's standard, but your underlying motive was not rooted in faith or love?
4. Read Romans 14:23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, and 1 Corinthians 10:31. The sermon highlights that for any work to truly please God, it must conform to God's standard, be motivated by faith and love, and aim for God's glory. Reid shares how an engaged couple realized that having pure motives didn't justify living together before marriage because "the ends don't justify the means." How can we guard against the trap of assuming that good intentions excuse going against God's clear standards?
5. Read Luke 7:36-40. In this passage, we see two radically different sinners: Simon the Pharisee, who is self-righteous and arrogant, and a sinful woman, who is deeply self-aware of her brokenness. How does Jesus demonstrate His posture toward both types of sinners—drawing near to the Pharisee on his own turf, and staying when the broken woman approaches Him?
6. Read Luke 7:41-47. In the parable of the two debtors, Jesus asks who will love the creditor more—the one forgiven 50 pieces of silver or 500. Reid notes that Jesus loves sinners by being honest about their sin rather than minimizing it. How does realizing the immense size of your own debt before God lead to lavishing Him with love, worship, and generosity?
7. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus suggests that self-righteous arrogance is actually more dangerous than obvious outward sins. Why is spiritual pride so deceptive, and how does it blind us to our own need for grace?
8. The sermon explores several reasons why we often fail to love others who are caught in sin: self-righteous pride ("how could they do that?"), holding onto our own secret sins, or loving people's acceptance more than loving them. Which of these barriers do you find most challenging when called to speak the truth in love to someone in your life?
9. Reid warns against overemphasizing our stained reality as sinners to the point that it becomes our primary identity, noting that this leads either to despair ("playing whack-a-mole with sin") or to self-righteous legalism. How does keeping your primary identity anchored as a saint in Christ prevent you from falling into despair or self-righteousness when facing personal failure?
10. Citing Martin Luther and a mentor's wisdom, Reid states that "the mark of spiritual maturity is not in how little you sin, but in how quickly you repent." What does a lifestyle of continual, quick repentance look like in practice within a marriage, family, or small group setting?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for sending Jesus, who never missed the mark, to trade His perfect record for our stained reality. Ask the Holy Spirit to grant you a humble, teachable heart, to free you from self-righteousness, and to empower you to receive God's multifaceted love and reciprocate it to others this week.

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Analogy for Understanding: Understanding our stained reality as sinners is like evaluating our marksmanship against a bullseye target rather than comparing our shot to a neighboring archer who missed the target completely. Comparing ourselves to others creates the illusion that we're hitting the mark. But when measured against God's holiness, we see that every shot falls short—in our outward action (standard), our heart's intent (motive), and our final aim (goal). Jesus doesn't condemn our failure; He steps in, trades His perfect score for our stained record, and sets us free to walk in grace.