Weekly Vision Casting: The Can We Talk? series may be one of the most important series’ that we have done as a church, given how polarized our culture is. It is important for us to be united and part of this means showing up on Sunday mornings to join as a church in corporate worship, in person if possible, but online if you have more restrictions. If you aren’t doing that regularly right now, now is a good time to start.

Opening Prayer

Small Group Guidelines (if necessary)

Warm Up Question

Head, Heart, and Hand Questions

Personal Prayer Requests

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

HEAD: These questions help us examine the Word.
1. Biblical Sexuality defined: Chastity in singleness and faithfulness and purity in covenantal marriage between one man and one woman. Do you agree with this definition? What passages of scripture support your belief? [HINT: For starters see Gen. 2:20-24, Mark 10:2-9, Heb. 13:4]
2. Read Gen. 1:26-27. What is the basis of human dignity? Why is this important and what does it have to do with Biblical sexuality?
3. John Stonestreet in A Practical Guide to Culture said, “We used to talk of sex in terms of behavior, but now, we’re told, it’s who we are. The overwhelming message to kids today is that Christian faith isn’t nearly as important as sexual inclinations and attractions. Religious belief is mere personal opinion, but sexuality is definitive, absolute, and unquestionable. In today’s culture, sexuality is identity.” Do you agree or disagree with this? Why?
4. Dr. Riggs made the statement: “Our ethics is derived from our metaphysics.” What did he mean by this? If you did not believe in God or the supernatural, what would be your basis of right or wrong?

(Ethics: Our determination of right and wrong. Metaphysics: How we view reality; what we think is real or true.)

HEART: These questions help us wrestle with what we believe.
1. Dr. Riggs made the point that in today’s culture the highest moral imperative is “radical personal autonomy” (i.e. I want to do, what I want to do, when I want to do it, and no one can tell me otherwise). How do you see this worked out in our culture? How do you see this worked out in the Church?
2. What sort of priority does the world put on fulfilling desires? Are there any limits? How are they determined?
3. Read Jeremiah 17:5 and James 1:15. What does the Bible say about our desires?

HAND: These questions help us bring truth and beliefs into our everyday life.
1. You’re in a conversation with a young man who confides in you that he is gay: “Why would God make me this way and then not allow me to be who I am? For years, I prayed for God to take this away and change me. Nothing happened, and nothing will. I’ve been denying this for far too long. I never chose this. I just have to be honest and authentic and accept the truth that I’m gay. This is who I am.” How would you respond to him?
2. A mother approaches you distraught over her son who has revealed that he is gay and has moved in with another man. She cries, “I just want him to be normal like my other son!” Upon further questioning, you discover that her other son is living with another woman to whom he is not married and they have a young child. How would you respond to her? What is the goal?
3. According to Ephesians 5:21-33 what is marriage for?
4. Which is more transient – marriage or singleness?
5. How does being single or married have anything to do with spiritual maturity?
6. From a Kingdom perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being single? Married?
7. How can the Church practically help and encourage singles? Marrieds?

Resource Recommendations from Dr. Steve Riggs:
1. Out of a Far Country. This is the story of Christopher Yuan and his journey from out of the homosexual world to becoming a Bible scholar at Moody. It is co-written with his mother giving a unique perspective. This would be an excellent resource for any family with a gay loved one.

2. Holy Sexuality. Dr. Christopher Yuan. This is an excellent book providing both solid theological foundations for sexuality and practical guidance.

3. https://christopheryuan.com/ This is Dr. Christopher Yuan’s web site. Some helpful video presentations can be found here. You can also search YouTube for many of his presentations which are all very good.

4. What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? Kevin DeYoung. Succinct yet thorough and balanced review on the scriptural precepts regarding homosexuality. Love Thy Body.

5. Nancy Pearcey. This is book documents the worldview changes that have occurred and provides answers addressing hard questions on sexuality.

6. A Practical Guide To Culture. John Stonestreet And Brett Kunkle. Though this addresses many issues in culture, much of the book is devoted to sexuality and the faulty worldview presuppositions that have brought us to where we are today.