Engage Community Church

In the Fishbowl
Week 2: About Sex
March 14, 2010
Pastor Jon Hand
1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Listen to Sermon: About Sex

1 Corinthians 6:12-20
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people commit are outside their bodies, but those who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1. Who is Paul addressing?
2. What is the prevailing attitude about sex in Corinth?
3. How does Paul answer, “Why does sexuality matter to God?”

Digging Deeper

There has been several books that have been highly influential our appreciation of God’s perspective on sex.

1. Sex God- by Rob Bell. This is the best book I’ve read on a popular level that answers the big WHY question. Why is sex such a big deal to God? How are we to understand sexuality as humans from a Christian perspective?  This book is excellent if you are single or married.  Please read this book.

2. A Holy Longing- Ronald Rolheiser. The book is great but his chapter on Sex and Spirituality is worth buying the book.

American Idols: Sex

Getting Started

1. What messages about sex do we hear in our culture? According to our culture, what is the goal of sex? What are the destructive consequences that result from buying into some of the messages that we hear?
2. There are many studies that report that happily married couples experience the most satisfying sex lives. How is this different from what we see and hear on TV and in the movies?
3. What is the difference between lust and love? How can we tell which is the primary motivator behind our sexuality?

From the Book

1. Read Genesis 2:15-25. What is God’s attitude towards sex? As the Creator of sex and our loving Father, what do you think is God’s desire for our sex lives? How is this different from thinking about sex and God in terms of rules and morality?
2. Read Proverbs 5:15-23. What metaphor for sex is used in this passage? What are the benefits of attending to our own “fountains” and not allowing them to “overflow in the streets?” According to verses 22-23, what are the consequences when our sex lives deviate from God’s intended purposes?
3. Read 1 Cor. 7:1-7. What role does sex play in the union between a husband and wife? How important is sex in marriage? Is God’s view of sex more about giving or taking? How is this different than the message we hear in our culture?

So What?

1. If you feel like your current perception of sexuality has been more shaped by our culture than by God, take some time this week to read Proverbs 5-9. Meditate on the benefits of wisdom and the dangers of folly, particularly in the area of sexuality.
2. If in the past your perception has been that God doesn’t approve of sex or that Christianity’s take on sex is stodgy and stiff, spend some time reading Song of Songs in the Bible. Meditate on the joy and delight for sex that God intends for us in our marriages.
3. Many of us carry deep wounds in the area of sexuality. Some of us these wounds have been from the acts of others, some from our own actions. God’s heart is to heal us and restore us to a healthy sexuality. He wants us to know the joy and freedom of His purposes for sex. If you would like help in your journey with God back to a healthy sexuality, please talk with your community group leader or with Jon. We want to help you find the resources you need for healing and recovery.