What leads up to sin? 

• Uncontrolled Anger
• Self-satisfaction
• Dis-satisfaction (the desire for more than you have been given)

What does it feel like when you realize your condition after sin? 

• Hopelessness
• Despair
• Lack of direction
• Inability to prosper
• Nothing to offer others

How does God respond to your sin? 

• Withdraws the hand of guidance, blessing, and peace, and protection
• In Saul's case (and maybe ours), actual attacks by an enemy may be allowed

What escape is there from the sinful state (the trap of sin)? 

• Repentance (a very weak initial step)
• Talk with God about your inability to overcome by yourself – need Him
• Do NOT take any glory for recovery when He leads you out of it
• Your capacity to sin hasn't disappeared, but His strength, because of your relationship with Him, gets you past it.

What can we do to escape from the penalty for our sin?

I recently when in to have an exam that was required before LASIK surgery. The exam cost $140 (not covered by my insurance) and was refundable after the surgery.  After the exam, the doctor came in to work with me personally. To my amazement, he suggested that I would be worse off with the surgery than I currently am, and that glasses were a better solution.I was surprised by the doctor's care for me. He was more interested in my welfare than making $1600-1900 dollars. As I went up to the counter to pay for the exam, he stood there for a moment looking at my paperwork, then he said "Your insurance doesn't cover the cost of this exam. I'll tell you what, you give me the prescription back, and I'll let you walk out the door as if you were never here."That is what Jesus does for us when we are forgiven – he takes away the cost of our sin, and it is, to Him, just as if it never happened.

What does it feel like to be forgiven?

If you have ever owed a large debt that you could never pay back, you can imagine the gratefulness, relief, peace, joy, and tearful appreciation you have to the One who has paid your debt. That is our God!