April 23, 2023
Sermon Summary
This week, Pastor Chris continued with part two of his sermon on healthy sexuality. In the Corinthian church, we find Paul speaking to pockets of young Christians who elevated the world’s opinion above God’s. Each of us live out a particular lifestyle that reflects what we believe in our hearts. Does the fruit of your life display the reality that you are a new creation in Christ? Pastor Chris exhorted each of us to examine our hearts, and to submit our lives and bodies to Christ as living sacrifices for His purposes and His glory.
What is Your Lifestyle?
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
3 Parts of Salvation
- Our sins were washed away.
- We were set apart for special use.
- We have been made right with God.
Transformed Lives Produce Transformed Living
Permissible or Profitable?
1 Corinthians 6:12–15 (ESV)
12 “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. 13 “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. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 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!
Answers to their Excuses…
• Christ’s forgiveness does not give us freedom to go on doing what we know is wrong.
• Some actions are not sinful in themselves but will lead us away from God.
• Some actions may hurt others.
• Christians abusing their freedom will hurt themselves and/or others.
Sexual Sin
• Is harmful to everyone involved.
• Gains control over those who indulge in it.
• Distorts God’s purpose for the body.
• Spiritually ties two people together.
Who Owns Your Body?
1 Corinthians 6:16-20 (ESV)
16 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.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 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, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (ESV)
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
Marriage is for…
- Procreation
- Pleasure
- Partnership
- Purity.
Discussion Questions
- What was the fruit of your life before you lived surrendered to Christ? What new fruit has Christ sown in your heart now that you are a new creation? Be honest: is there any old fruit that you need to cut off?
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 exhorts each of us to test ourselves. How often do you test and examine your heart?
- Pastor Chris asked, “Am I dominated by anything other than Christ?” Share your answer with the group.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18 says to flee sexual immorality. Do you know anybody in your life who you need to exhort to flee sexual immorality? How would you approach them with the truth in love? Remind them this week that God has filled them with the ability to overcome sexual sin and commit to walking with them through repentance unto restoration.
Application Questions
- Be honest: are there any areas of belief you have that may be more aligned with the world’s opinion than the Lord’s? Where may you need fresh alignment with truth?
- Are you living out a lifestyle of sexual immorality? Be honest before the Lord this week, and ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart unto repentance. Share honestly with a mentor or discipler this week, and pray through the 4 R’s with them.