01 Jul Hot Topics | Part 2: “Human Sexuality”
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV
The Book of Corinthians is about the City of Corinth which had great wealth and great poverty much like our modern culture today. Paul brings the truth of God concerning our bodies to the Corinthians. The Corinthians worshipped beauty and sex and America does this as well. Because of the human condition, beauty and sex go together.
Q. Over the years we have witnessed our culture elevate beauty and sex, how may this have affected you in a personal way? What are some things you have seen regarding this?
Metaphysics Moment:
PLATONIC DUALISM – separates body from soul. Plato said the body is immaterial, but the soul is what mattered. We should worry about what we do with our minds not our bodies. This thinking fits in with sexual immorality. It has us thinking we can do what we want because our bodies will decay so who cares what we do with it. This is our culture today. How we treat our bodies will determine a lot of our reality.
CHRISTIANITY: – Unites the body and the soul to work together for God’s glory.
Christians believe that our minds matter so we need to get wisdom, get understanding(Proverbs 9:10). Fear God and he speaks into our minds and he elevates our understanding of who we are. We as Christians should not be ignorant but should be pursuing higher degrees of learning and being smart and wise as God leads us. We should also feed our Spirit by coming together to worship with people of like mind. Explore the power of God through the Holy Spirit. We are to watch what we put into our minds because it will affect our spirit. Christianity also says our bodies matter to God. Christianity says we believe the God of the universe came and took on flesh (John 1: 1-5). It obliterates Platonic Dualism in that spirit, mind and body all matter. What we put in our minds will affect our souls and Christ also says our bodies matter to God. This is what the resurrection brings to the world because Jesus did not just spiritually hover around us, He was real flesh.
Q. How has what you have fed your mind affected your spirit? (Give some negative and positive examples).
IF YOU SEGREGATE YOUR BODY FROM YOUR SOUL – ONE, AND MOST LIKELY BOTH, WILL BE IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED.
1. MY BODY IS DELICATE REGARDING SEXUALITY
Because the Corinthians were free in Christ they stated that all things were lawful, but Paul states not all things are healthy to our well-being. Paul’s says we need to get our sexual lives in order and that nothing would hurt us more than being sexually confused. Pastor Tim demonstrated this with a circular saw. There can and will be much damage done if we do not use and take care of our tools (our bodies). Our bodies can build a house or destroy one. God left us with instructions on how to care for our bodies.
All things may be lawful because of Christ, but not all things are healthy. There will be some hurt. When we practice sexual immorality, we are sinning against our own bodies. Our bodies are made to operate a certain way. Sexual immortality will cause many problems.
Q. What are some negative outcomes when we mistreat our bodies? What advice would you give to someone who is practicing sexual immorality?
2. MY BODY IS DESIGNED FOR GOD’S PURPOSES.
We as Christians believe our bodies are important. Our bodies are coming back to life one day. God loves our bodies, therefore we should not despise them. Our bodies will one day be glorious, raised to life. Our bodies are God’s tools in God’s hand to do God’s work and we should not disrespect our bodies or anyone else’s.
Q. Even though we know our bodies are designed for God’s purposes, what are some of the struggles we face in the world today regarding sexual immorality and why?
3. MY BODY FLOURISHES THROUGH SEXUAL FIDELITY.
If we save ourselves for marriage, we will flourish. A prostitute is someone having casual, non-committing sex. For us to flourish as Christians, we cannot unite with the unfaithful. As Christians, we have been united with the Faithful one. Sexual immorality leads to fruitlessness instead of fruitfulness. Look at some of the men in the Bible: Sampson, Solomon and David.
Q. What are ways we can guard ourselves against being sexually immoral as far as saving yourself for marriage (if you are married, can you share with others)? What can we learn from the lives of Sampson (Judges 16), Solomon (1 Kings 11) and David (2 Samuel 11)?
4. MY BODY IS PURCHASED BY GOD AS HIS DWELLING PLACE.
Our bodies are not ours. As Christians our bodies no longer are our property. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Greater is He that is in us (1 John 4:4).
PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, THE LOST, THE CHURCH, WOONSOCKET, NEW CHURCH PLANTS, NEW ENGLAND CHURCHES AND PASTORS, LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT.
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