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Men's Bible Study · aligned to Presbyterian / Reformed

Wine, Wisdom, and Christian Liberty: What Does Scripture Actually Teach About Alcohol?

Scripture unmistakably condemns drunkenness as sin and warns of alcohol's dangers, yet it treats the moderate use of alcohol as a matter of Christian liberty and conscience rather than declaring all drinking sin — so godly men pursue self-control, love for the weaker brother, and the glory of God in whatever they choose.

Ephesians 5:18; Romans 14:13-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31 · 45 min planned

Review & safety checks

This is a well-structured, theologically sound lesson for a Reformed context. The distinction between drunkenness (condemned) and moderate use (conscience matter) aligns with Westminster standards and is supported by careful Scripture reading. The leader prep is thorough and thoughtful about pastoral sensitivity. Main cautions: (1) the Proverbs 30:6 citation is worth double-checking as the strongest argument for 'not adding to God's Word,' and (2) make sure your warm, non-judgmental tone in closing truly invites confidential conversation — some men will need it. The lesson is ready to use with those two minor confirmations.

  • Caution · TheologyTeaching section, movement (2): 'To call sin what God has not called sin is itself a danger — adding to His Word (Proverbs 30:6).'Proverbs 30:6 warns against adding to God's words in a specific covenantal context (the words of Agur). Applying it here to the alcohol question is a common move but worth confirming it's the strongest foundation for this argument. Consider whether Romans 14:23 ('whatever does not proceed from faith is sin') or the broader principle of Christian liberty might be clearer anchors.
  • Note · TheologyTeaching section, movement (3): reference to Westminster Confession ch. 20 on liberty of conscienceAccurate reference. Good grounding in Reformed doctrine. Confirm your congregation affirms WCF ch. 20 so you can cite it confidently.
  • Review · Sensitive materialEntire lesson, especially opening and closing notesAlcohol and addiction are high-stakes pastoral topics. Men in the room may have active addictions, recovery stories, or family trauma. Leader notes correctly flag this, but emphasize in your prep: avoid humor about drinking, watch for anyone who becomes defensive or withdrawn, have your pastor's contact info ready, and offer private follow-up. Do not attempt addiction counseling in the group.
  • Note · Sensitive materialApplication Exercise segment and discussion questionsThe exercise asks men to identify patterns and accountability partners — good practice. Ensure the closing invitation to 'talk privately' is warm and genuinely safe, so a man struggling doesn't feel shame asking for help.

Lesson plan

Welcome, Prayer, and Framing the Question5 min

Gather the men and open in prayer, asking God for humility and a teachable spirit. Frame tonight honestly: 'The claim we're testing is that drinking any alcohol is always sin. Rather than starting with our opinions or our family backgrounds, we want to ask what the Bible actually says — and to be charitable where faithful Christians have landed differently.' Set the tone that this is a Berean exercise (Acts 17:11), not a debate to win. Make clear that whatever we conclude, the goal is holiness, love, and the glory of God — not winning an argument or excusing sin.

Teaching: Drunkenness, Liberty, and the Glory of God25 min

Walk through three movements. (1) WHAT SCRIPTURE CLEARLY CONDEMNS: Drunkenness is repeatedly named as sin (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:19-21; Proverbs 20:1; Proverbs 23:29-35). Mockery of self-control, loss of dignity, harm to family, and bondage are real dangers. Take this seriously — many men in any room have been wounded by alcohol's misuse. (2) WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT CONDEMN: The Bible does not treat all consumption as sin. God gives 'wine that gladdens the heart of man' (Psalm 104:14-15); Jesus made wine at Cana (John 2:1-11) and was accused of drinking (Luke 7:33-34); Paul tells Timothy to 'use a little wine' for his health (1 Timothy 5:23). To call sin what God has not called sin is itself a danger — adding to His Word (Proverbs 30:6). The Westminster Confession (ch. 20) guards 'liberty of conscience': we must not bind consciences where God has left them free. (3) HOW WISDOM AND LOVE GOVERN OUR LIBERTY: Liberty is never license. 'Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial' (1 Corinthians 10:23). Love limits liberty for the sake of a weaker brother (Romans 14:13-21), and everything is to be done to God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). For many men — those battling addiction, those with a family history of it, those leading the vulnerable — total abstinence is a wise, godly, love-driven choice, even though it is not a command binding on every believer. Land the plane: the Bible's call is not a universal prohibition but a universal pursuit of sobriety, self-control, love, and God-honoring wisdom.

Digging into the Text Together5 min

Open the floor using the 'dig' questions below. Keep men in the text. If someone presses for a hard rule in either direction, gently point back to the distinction Scripture itself makes between drunkenness (always sin) and use (a matter of conscience and wisdom). Affirm men who choose abstinence as wise without condemning those who don't, and vice versa.

Application Exercise: Drawing Your Line Before the Lord7 min

Hand out index cards. Break into pairs or threes. Each man writes two things privately: (1) one specific way he can guard against the sin of drunkenness or any unhealthy pattern with alcohol, and (2) one specific way he can love a 'weaker brother' — someone who struggles, a son watching him, a friend in recovery. Then each man shares one of the two with his partner and they pray for one another. Leader circulates. Goal: move from abstract debate to concrete, Spirit-led conviction and accountability.

Closing Charge and Prayer3 min

Summarize the big idea in one sentence. Charge the men: 'Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walk in love, and do all to the glory of God.' Pray, asking God to grant self-control, charity toward brothers who differ, and grace for any man fighting a real battle with alcohol — and quietly mention you're available to talk privately.

Discussion questions

  • warmupWhen you hear the word 'alcohol' in a church setting, what reaction or memory comes to mind, and where do you think that reaction comes from?
  • warmupHow would you describe the difference between the way Scripture talks about drunkenness and the way it talks about wine itself?
  • digEphesians 5:18 contrasts being drunk with being 'filled with the Spirit.' What does that contrast tell us about the real heart issue God is addressing?
  • digHow do we hold together passages that warn strongly about wine (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35) with passages that speak of it as a gift (Psalm 104:15; John 2; 1 Timothy 5:23) without ignoring either?
  • digIn Romans 14, Paul refuses to bind consciences on disputed matters yet calls us to limit our freedom in love. What does that pattern teach us about how to treat brothers who land differently than we do on alcohol?
  • applyWhere in your own life is the bigger danger right now — failing to take alcohol's dangers seriously, or being tempted to judge a brother over a matter of conscience?
  • applyIs there a 'weaker brother' in your life — a son, a friend in recovery, a struggling believer — whose good should shape your choices? What would love look like there this week?
  • applyWhat is one concrete step you can take to pursue Spirit-filled self-control and to honor God 'whether you eat or drink' (1 Cor 10:31)?

Scripture

Ephesians 5:18 — Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Proverbs 20:1 — Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Galatians 5:19-21 — Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Psalm 104:14-15 — He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.

1 Timothy 5:23 — Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Romans 14:21 — It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 10:23 — "Everything is permissible," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible," but not everything is edifying.

1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Luke 7:33-34 — For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'

Leader notes

Prep checklist

  • Pray for the men by name and for a humble, charitable atmosphere in the room.
  • Read all the listed passages in context beforehand (especially Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8-10) so you can keep the group in the text.
  • Review Westminster Confession ch. 20 ('Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience') so you can speak accurately about not binding consciences where Scripture is silent.
  • Be aware that some men in the room may be in recovery or wounded by a parent's or spouse's drinking — prepare to handle the topic gently and avoid jokes.
  • Decide in advance how you'll respond if the group pushes hard for a rule in either direction; plan to point back to the Scripture's own distinction between drunkenness (sin) and use (conscience).
  • Be ready to offer a private, non-clinical conversation and to point toward your pastor or appropriate help for anyone signaling a real struggle with addiction — do not attempt to counsel addiction in the group setting.
  • Time-check yourself: hold teaching to 25 minutes so discussion and application aren't squeezed out.

Materials

  • Bibles (preferably the same translation for ease of reading along)
  • Index cards and pens for the application exercise
  • A printed list of the focus passages for any men without a Bible
  • Optional: a one-page handout summarizing the three teaching movements
  • A quiet, distraction-free room arranged so pairs can talk and pray

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