Reflectionships: Part 3 - “Dealing With What I Want”
February 16 & 19, 2023

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Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24 (ESV)

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Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat
down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Matthew 5:1-2 (ESV)

I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? ‬
Job 31:1 (ESV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
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Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV)

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.‬
Hebrews 12:4 (ESV)

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God
will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.‬
Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, or you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.‬
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (ESV)

Questions & Application

These questions can be used for personal study and/or in a Small Group format. We’d love to hear how you are putting them to use, so let us know at smallgroups@manna.church!

1. Why does Jesus have the right to define sexuality?
   

2. How is Jesus’ treatment of sexuality different from the World’s? How does He expect His followers to walk?
   

3. Read Matthew 5:27-30. How serious is sexual sin in God’s eyes? What destructive consequences might come from sexual sin?
   

4. Reflect on this statement: “Everything in your life is about God. It is not a pursuit of what you want.” How does this idea shape your perspective on sexuality?
   

5. Are you prepared to live differently than the world? What can you do to prepare yourself to flee temptation when it comes?