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//About Sex

March 14, 2010 – 4:26 pm

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

Podcast 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.

Community Group Discussion Guide

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.
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//Daily Development

January 31, 2010 – 2:55 pm

Cover Bands Don’t Change the World - Daily Development
January 31, 2010
Pastor Jon Hand
1 Timothy 4:9-16

Podcast Listen to Sermon: Cover Bands Don’t Change the World - Daily Development

Books:
The Holy Longing - Ronald Rolheiser - This book cuts to the core of what drives and feeds our souls as humans. If you want to know why to pray and how to develop an Jesus-shaped imagination of how life could be–read this book.

The Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. - Godin’s books seem to be about business, but really they apply to life. Living as a follower of Jesus turns you into a Purple Cow. Read the book and you’ll get what I’m saying.

The Story we Find Ourselves In - Brian McLaren - This is a book designed to invite you into the story of the Bible. The book is a fictional story of real people with real questions about God and how God’s Story works in our lives…or is it we work in God’s story?

Community Group Discussion Guide

Getting Started

1. Have you ever had the experience of meeting an old friend, perhaps someone you went to high school with, and you were surprised by how they had changed (or not changed)? What surprised you?

2. Have you seen a spouse, friend, or family member change significantly over a period of time? What were the most significant contributing factors to their change?

From the Book

1. Read 1 Timothy 4:6-16 First Timothy is a letter from Paul, a major leader in the early church, to Timothy, a young man who Paul was mentoring in the faith. What advice does Paul give Timothy in this passage? In verse 7, what do you think he means by, “Train yourself to be godly.”? What might this look like in our lives.

2. Read John 16:5-15 This passage records some of the things that Jesus said a few days before he died. Who is the “Counselor” that Jesus is talking about here? What is Jesus promising? In verse 13, what do you think it means that, “He will guide you into all truth?” What does this mean for us as we seek to be more like Jesus? How have you experienced the Holy Spirit leading you into truth and helping you become more like Jesus? RULE OF THUMB: You can be fairly confident that the Spirit is working in you when you find yourself choosing the Jesus route in a way that doesn’t come natural to you. How you respond to a disappointment. How you respond to a temptation. Feeling prompted or compelled to sacrifice for someone. Experiencing humility. Experiencing love for someone you would not normally be open to. etc.

So What?

Choose one activity from the following list to practice daily for the next 2 weeks. Tell your group which one you choose, and talk about your experiences the next time you meet together.

- Take 5-10 minutes each day to talk to God about any problems you might be experiencing. Ask God to show you how to act, and write down any thoughts or impressions you may have.
- Talk with someone else about what’s going on in your spiritual life. Tell them about your struggles and/or the good things.
- Pray for 10 minutes each day. Ask God to change you, and listen for anything he might be saying to you.
- Read one chapter from John each day. Ask God to talk to you, and do whatever you feel like He’s telling you.
- Before you go to bed at night, take a few minutes to thank God for all of the good things that happened that day. Make a practice of admitting to God those things that were selfish, prideful, judgmental, done in anger, motivated by fear of what other’s think of you. Admitting these to God is not about appeasing his wrath, it’s about humbling ourselves and seeking relational honesty with God. Invite God to replace your sin with love for him, love for yourself, love for others. Express willingness for God to use your Daily Development to transform you to become more like Jesus from the inside out.

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