“Christian Sexuality”

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
—1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, cont.

The foundation of a Christian sexual ethic is based on the authority of God.

“We will never resolve the sex issue until we resolve the authority issue.” —Paul David Tripp

As Christians we are not seeking to condemn or shame anyone in this area; we are seeking to understand God’s teaching, follow it, and share it.

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. —Romans 13:13

But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. —1 Corinthians 5:11

Remembering that we are human beings created in the image of God is a good place to start drilling down on what the Bible calls us to in this area of sexual purity.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:26-27

“What touches the body deeply touches the spirit as well.” —– Richard Foster

The Bible’s teaching on physically intimate relationships can be summarized this way: Sexual relationships are the privilege of a man and a woman who are married.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. —(Genesis 2:24)

“When two people have sexual intercourse, the brain releases a rush of chemicals called vasopressin. Those chemicals are the brain’s way of helping people “bond” so that they might solidify nurturing, cooperative relationships that sustain life. However, when someone has multiple sexual partners, the vasopressin receptors in the brain stop working the way they should. They burn out. Neuroscience shows us that the human brain is wired for bonding and that promiscuity inhibits one’s capacity for life-giving, long-term relationships.” —A.J. Swoboda

“Letting my heart lead” is not a good rule of thumb.

(E)ach of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.
—1 Thessalonians 4:4 –

“(W)hile my same-sex attraction is as unchosen as the color of my skin, if I left my husband for another woman and then said I had no choice but to do so, I’d be denying a basic fact of my humanity: that I’m a human who makes moral decisions, not an animal who simply responds to her drives. When you think about it, it’s dehumanizing not to distinguish between someone’s attractions and actions.” —Rebecca McLaughlin

Being willing to deny ourselves what our desires want, when they are out of line with what God wants, is a mark of a Christian.

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’” —Jesus, Mark 10:6

“Grace/Truth” – a 10-week study beginning Sunday, 9/25 at 5:30pm.

• As Christians we are called to know the truth, and tell the truth, of God’s word, and live that out with love.
• As Christians we are called to cooperate with God’s plan for our lives, even when that’s challenging.
• As Christians we are called to seek forgiveness from those we’ve harmed.
• As Christians we are called to the forgiveness offered by Christ.

“In my sin, weakness, and struggle I do not have to be paralyzed by fear or hide in shame. I can stand before a holy God, broken as I am, and cry out for his forgiveness, help, protection, and rescue. And I do not have to fear his rejection, because my standing before him is based on the righteousness of the Savior, not on my own righteousness.” —Paul David Tripp

Takeaway ¬– God is not seeking to deprive us; He’s seeking to protect and perfect us.

Questions
1. How did your education regarding sexuality take place? Was it something that was talked about in your home?

2.How do you feel about talking about this subject with others? Does it come up in your conversations, or not really?

3.Which topics related to sexuality do you find most challenging to understand, accept or talk about?

4.How does being a Christian affect the decisions you make in this area?

Table Discussion Question: Talk about male/female stereotypes. Are there things you were brought to believe were “boy-only” things or “girl-only” things? What do you think about that now?