Understanding, Appreciating, and Learning to be Purposeful with Our Sexuality. Trinity Fellowship Church – Spring 2015

Students ask parents  What were some messages you remember from your family and your community about what it meant to be a man or woman?  What are some of your values for me as I grow up to be a man or woman? Parents answer first then ask student  What are some of the ways I have purposefully or accidentally shaped the way you think about men and women?  How do you want to be perceived as a man or woman and how do you want to interact with other men and women?

 1st – Introduction and Defining Sexuality  2nd – Theology of Sexuality  3rd – Maleness and Femaleness  4th – Celebrating Sexuality with Boundaries

 I only need guy friends or girl friends until I am ready to get married.  I only need guy friends or girl friends after I am married  I will not need to have good boundaries once I am married.  Good boundaries will magically appear after marriage.  Flirting is inappropriate.

Even the most casual of sinful sexual encounters violates something deep within us “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body”(1 Cor 6:18-19)

 Our sexuality is core to who we are and affects our body, our heart, and our relationships.  Sexual sins often don’t just affect the sinner but the effects are felt by those around and in relationship with the sinner

 Not resorting to lust. (Matt 5:27-28)  Not becoming enslaved to anything. (1 Cor 6:12)  Look to the interests of others. (Phil 2:4)  Sexual behaviors should promote intimacy. (Gen 2:24)  Do not go against your conscience. (Rom 14:23)  Do not cause brothers or sisters to stumble in his or her faith. (Rom 14:13)

 Addressing this from an inside-out model.  The bikini line  Setting up “STOP” signs  Keeping your present relationship, future marriage, and future spouse in mind.  Maintaining vibrant relationships within the body of Christ.

 Abide by conduct standards we have for our future spouse.  Will the behavior cause regret if the relationship does not result in marriage?  Is 3D intimacy the focus?  Is the behavior pushing your boundaries?  Is the level of physical expression compensating for a lack of spiritual, emotional, social, or mental intimacy?

 Questions on today’s material?  Questions on previous material?

 What stuck out to you from today's talk?  How can your parents, your classmates, and TFC help you set and maintain healthy boundaries?  How have the discussions with your parents affected your relationship with them? What would make it better?  What have you appreciated about this class and how could this class have been better?

 To increase healthy communication around sexuality  To help combat unhealthy messages regarding sexuality  To encourage a correct understanding and healthy expressions of sexuality

Sexuality  Our gender makeup  The need for relational connection  Our sexual desires Rosenau - Soul Virgins

Sexuality Romantic Behaviors Sex Sexuality: Everyone lives in the sexuality box because God created us sexual. Romantic Behaviors: Are complicated because some of them can be enjoyed while single and some are reserved for marriage. Sex: Is reserved for marriage as it involves genital contact.

God gave men and women 3 dimensions to their sexuality  Body (Physical) – combines hormones, blood vessels, nerves, and skin to create attraction and desire  Soul (Immaterial) – involves our mind, will, heart, and emotions  Spirit (Relational) – creates an ability to have intimate relationships with other people. (such as two people, two bodies, one flesh)

 A personal relationship with God and understanding his design is a first priority.  An intimate relationship with God will transform our heart.  When our heart is motivated by God’s heart it will impact our behaviors. GOD Heart Attitude Behaviors Actions

What are we supposed to do with this sexual ache as a Christian? - Redirect, take sexual energy and use it to motivate other activities - Reframe, allow other perspectives to inspire greater wholeness (changing expectations and renewing of the mind)