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2 Corinthians 2 12 -14When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn't find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn't relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God! 14 -16In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 16 -17This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No— but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
What do you smell? • Need volunteers for a smell test!
Different things smell very different! • What types of smell do you like? • What types of smell do you hate or dislike? • Do you notice how people smell- either good or bad?
Smell and faith • Can you think of anyone you know who just “smells like Jesus”? What can you tell us about that person? • Which is easier for you…to think about your faith as being like a smell or to think about your faith as an idea? • Why would Paul use one of our bodily senses to describe our faith? • When you are cooking something, do you ever have to “add the smell”? If not, where does it come from? • As a Christian, do you think you need to try to have the aroma of Christ? If not, where does it come from? • If someone in this group wanted to carry the aroma of Christ, what kind of advice would you give him or her?
Genesis 19- Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed • 1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.” • “Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.” • 3 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. 4 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!” • 6 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. 7 “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.” • 9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door. • 10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside. • 12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The stench of this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”
Have you ever been in a place that just smelled bad? • What was it like? • What did you want to do? • What did you have to do to eliminate the odor? • Why do the angels say the cities will be destroyed?
Candles produce orders • Why do people like scented candles? • Do you like to have a single scent or mix of all kinds of different scents? • How, if at all, are you impacted by scented candles?
More on candles: • What do you think they could represent spiritually? • What type of candle do you want to represent you?
So how do you smell? • Other than close friends, do you tell people about how they smell? • What would smelling like Christ be like? • What would be the opposite? • Do you think people will tell you if you smell bad spiritually?
How you live your life, has a ‘smell’. • For example, if you live the party life, you may pick up a ‘smell’, both literally and figuratively. • Or in other words, your reputation can at least partially described by smells. • Lastly, God smells too. How do you smell to God?
2 Corinthians 2 12 -14When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn't find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn't relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God! 14 -16In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 16 -17This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No— but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
