“Sex and Marriage" Graphical sermon notes by, Rev. Ed Whitman Sunday, August 31, 2014 Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts © Copyright 2014 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

Sex and Marriage Psalm 32: 1-7 You shall not commit adultery Exodus 20:14

Psalm 32: 1- 2 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalm 32: 3- 4 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Psalm 32: 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32: Therefore let all the faithful pray to You while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

The Seventh Commandment “You should be ashamed of yourself for making people like me feel ashamed!” Harold White

Sex is for marriage and marriage is for life!

America’s “ethical” guideline since 1977 “It can’t be wrong, when it feels so right!”

Sex is for marriage and marriage is for life? Man’s “Wisdom” God’s Word “Having some healthy adultery could be just the thing to rejuvenate your marriage.” “You shall not commit adultery”

Sex is for marriage and marriage is for life? “Let’s be adults about adultery!”

The Seventh Commandment Sex is for marriage and marriage is for life!

Let’s Pray

“I don’t want you to get hurt…” Place of Greatest Pain A Love that lasts “In sickness and in health, For better or for worse, For richer or poorer…” As long as both married partners are still on earth

God is NOT Against Intimacy! Genesis 1  Male and female He created them (verse 27)  God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number (v 28)  God saw all that He had made, and it was very good (v 31)

God is NOT Against Intimacy! Genesis 1 Proverbs 5:  Male and female He created them (verse 27)  God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number (v 28)  God saw all that He had made, and it was very good (v 31)  May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. May her charms satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.  his/her…marital duty I Corinthians 7: 1-5

God is FOR Intimacy!!

Marriage: Intended for Many Blessings  Designed by God to express a relation- ship of love  Created by God to be monogamous: one man…one woman… for a life relationship  “The two will become one flesh” Matthew 19:5…Genesis 2:24… Ephesians 5: 31

Marriage: Intended for Many Blessings  Designed by God to express a relation-ship of love  Created by God to be monogamous: one man…one woman… for a life relationship  “The two will become one flesh” Matthew 19:5…Genesis 2:24… Ephesians 5: 31 Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying and self-destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a ruined reputation. For jealousy detonates rage in a cheated spouse, wild for revenge... Proverbs 6: (Message)

Marriage: Intended for Many Blessings Intimate happiness is the by-product of a good relationship RELATIONSHIP ESSENTIALS  Trust and commitments of the “forever” kind  Promise-keeping work with God’s help  Great intimacy comes from a good marriage

Marriage: Intended for Many Blessings Intimate happiness is the by-product of a good relationship RELATIONSHIP ESSENTIALS  Trust and commitments of the “forever” kind  Promise-keeping work with God’s help  Great intimacy comes from a good marriage Marriage is where great intimacy will have it’s best chance for success… for a life-time.

No Such Thing:  “ Healthy” adultery  “Healthy” fornication But “Healthy Guilt” exists! “You are the man!” confrontation to David by the prophet Nathan – II Samuel 12: 7

Mental Unfaithfulness

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5: 28

“Healthy Guilt” Hebrews 13: 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

“Healthy Guilt” Psalm 51: 1 -2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 32: 1- 2 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalm 32: 3- 4 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Psalm 32: 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32: Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

The Seventh Commandment You shall not commit adultery Sex is for marriage and marriage is for life!