Growing Giants Pt. 7
SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NLT) – God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 (NLT) – Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor- not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and His ways.
God has a proper time for everything.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.
Song of Solomon 3:5 (NLT) – ……. not to awaken love until the time is right
The gift of sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift from God, but it is designed to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage.
We want to wait and open that gift in its proper time.
The culture in which we live has rejected the Biblical view of sexuality.
Our calling is to know the truth, stand for the truth, and communicate that truth in love to our culture.
1. KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT BIBLICAL SEXUALITY
Biblical position – Sexual intimacy is between one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage.
Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Sex before marriage, sex outside of marriage, and sex with the same sex are all outside of God’s will revealed in His Word and sin in His eyes.
1 Corinthians 6:9 (NLT) – Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
1 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT) – Or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people – none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
The Apostle Paul lists ten ungodly lifestyles: they are not all sexual, but are all self- centered and addictive.
Four ungodly sexual lifestyles: sex before marriage, sex outside of marriage, idolatry, homosexuality
2. KNOW THE LIES OF THE ENEMY
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Do not be deceived. (misguided, led astray)
Specific lies that have infiltrated our culture:
Pre-Marital Sex Lie – If we love each other, that makes it right.
Co- Habitation Lie – I need to try it before I buy it.
Transgender Lie – Some people are born in the wrong body. I can change my gender.
Homosexual Lie – I was born this way. I cannot change.
Pornography Lie – No one will know. I am not hurting anyone.
The Foundational Lie – I know what is best for my life.
3. KNOW THE DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT UNBIBLICAL LIFESTYLES
Couples that live together have a higher divorce rate than couples who do not live together.
More than 2/3 of all new HIV cases involve homosexual men.
Teens who identify as gay are five times more likely to attempt suicide.
Transgenders struggle with higher suicide rates.
The CDC estimates that there are approximately 20 million new STD each year – ½ between ages 15-24.
4. KNOW THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST
1 Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU!
You were washed – cleansed by the blood of Jesus through faith and repentance – 1 John 1:9
You were sanctified – set apart, set free, made holy by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 8:2
You were justified – made right with God, declared righteous – Romans 3:24
Restored to Purity – Through Christ we are chaste virgins before God – 2 Corinthians 11:2
1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT) – You were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is forgiveness and freedom through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The power of shame, guilt and regret can be washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
1. Why has our culture turned away from the Biblical position of sexual intimacy?
2. Why does God want us to wait until marriage to open the gift of sexual intimacy?
3. How do unbiblical lifestyles such as co-habitation and homosexuality distort God’s gift?
4. How can we be more effective in sharing the Good News with those in unbiblical lifestyles?
5. Do you struggle with shame from your past?
Memory verse
1 Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.