Sexual Purity and Orientation? Thy Kingdom Come – p.4 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:9-20

ILLUSTRATION: “Hungry Heart” (PIC)ILLUSTRATION: “Hungry Heart” (PIC)

Everybody’s got a hungry heart... Everybody needs a place to rest Everybody wants to have a home Don't make no difference what nobody says Aint nobody like to be alone

One of the most frequent unhealthy ways we try to satisfy our hungry hearts is unhealthy sex.One of the most frequent unhealthy ways we try to satisfy our hungry hearts is unhealthy sex.

Four questions about sex: Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are?Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul?Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? Morality: is sex in the realm of taste or ethics?Morality: is sex in the realm of taste or ethics? Community: is sex a purely private matter?Community: is sex a purely private matter?

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? Apart from God I am unrighteous and disqualified for God’s kingdom. (vv.9- 10)Apart from God I am unrighteous and disqualified for God’s kingdom. (vv.9- 10) 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,

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? Apart from God I am unrighteous and disqualified for God’s kingdom. (vv.9- 10)Apart from God I am unrighteous and disqualified for God’s kingdom. (vv.9- 10) nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor.6:9-10 ESV)

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? The unrighteous = “wrong-doers” will not be able to inherit the kingdom of “right”.The unrighteous = “wrong-doers” will not be able to inherit the kingdom of “right”. What makes me significant and acceptable? (v.11)What makes me significant and acceptable? (v.11)

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? A dangerous turn: if I’m desired then I matter, I’m acceptableA dangerous turn: if I’m desired then I matter, I’m acceptable A sad implication: Fear—if I’m not desired, I don’t matter, not acceptable.A sad implication: Fear—if I’m not desired, I don’t matter, not acceptable.

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? “When the LORD God”…“When the LORD God”… God created me in His image to reflect or worship Him.God created me in His image to reflect or worship Him. Homosexuality is worshiping the image of self.Homosexuality is worshiping the image of self.

Identity: how does your sexuality relate to who you are? Change can happen!Change can happen! 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. (1 Cor. 6:11 ESV)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. (1 Cor. 6:11 ESV)

Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? "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.

Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 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!

Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? 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." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Cor. 6:13-17 ESV)

Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? Sexual intimacy re-joins two people together as people, not just as bodies.Sexual intimacy re-joins two people together as people, not just as bodies.

Spirituality: what is the relationship of body and soul? “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh.”

Morality: is sex in the realm of taste or ethics? Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

Morality: is sex in the realm of taste or ethics? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:18-20 ESV)

Morality: is sex in the realm of taste or ethics? Monica

Morality is rooted in the deeper questions of who we are and what is the purpose of our bodyMorality is rooted in the deeper questions of who we are and what is the purpose of our body Sexual sin always produces victims! Sexual sin always produces victims!

Community: is sex a purely private matter? I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

Community: is sex a purely private matter? But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Community: is sex a purely private matter? For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you.“ (1 Cor. 5:9- 13 ESV)

Community: is sex a purely private matter? Private actions have broader effects.Private actions have broader effects.

Community: is sex a purely private matter? 65% of American teens engage in sexual intercourse before graduation65% of American teens engage in sexual intercourse before graduation 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men are still virgins at their wedding1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men are still virgins at their wedding

Community: is sex a purely private matter? Being involved in extracurricular sport does more to lower the rate of sexual activity among teenagers than does attending churchBeing involved in extracurricular sport does more to lower the rate of sexual activity among teenagers than does attending church “True Love Waits delay the average time teenagers first engage in intercourse by about 18 months”“True Love Waits delay the average time teenagers first engage in intercourse by about 18 months”

Community: is sex a purely private matter? Revenues from the porn industry topped 13 billion dollars in 2006Revenues from the porn industry topped 13 billion dollars in 2006 Every second, 372 new people log onto porn sitesEvery second, 372 new people log onto porn sites 1 in 3 visitors to porn sites are women”1 in 3 visitors to porn sites are women”

Community: is sex a purely private matter? 1/2 of all Christian men and 20% of Christian women viewed porn1/2 of all Christian men and 20% of Christian women viewed porn 70 % of the male students on Christian college campuses viewed porn 70 % of the male students on Christian college campuses viewed porn 1/3 of all clergy visited porn websites within the last year1/3 of all clergy visited porn websites within the last year

Bottom Line: Sexual purity is not just a good idea it is God’s idea!

Bottom Line: Stay close.Stay close. Stay clean.Stay clean.

Bottom Line: Provide real help to your gay friends.Provide real help to your gay friends. Keep in mind your own besetting sin(s).Keep in mind your own besetting sin(s). Be a friend with a tender heart and a sweet spiritBe a friend with a tender heart and a sweet spirit

Bottom Line: Self-righteousness will send you to hell not homosexuality.Self-righteousness will send you to hell not homosexuality. Decide in advance what your boundaries will be regarding what behavior you cannot condone in your presence. Decide in advance what your boundaries will be regarding what behavior you cannot condone in your presence.