1. The power and mystery of sex
Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.
Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

2. The power and mystery of sex
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love. ( )
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

3. The power and mystery of sex
A gracious woman gains respect...
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion [character]
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. (16.11a, 22)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

4. The power and mystery of sex
There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

5. The power and mystery of sex
An adulterous woman consumes a man,
then wipes her mouth and says,
“What’s wrong with that?” ( )
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

6. To love yourself is to make wise decisions.
The power and mystery of sex
Why practice Proverbs?
You become wise.
To love yourself is to make wise decisions.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

7. The power and mystery of sex
Why practice Proverbs?
You become a go-to advisor.
The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense. (27.9)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

8. The power and mystery of sex
Why practice Proverbs?
You join the right gang.
My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them. They may say, “Come and join us. ( )
Show me your friends, I'll show you your future (JD Greear)
The gang you join
determines your view of sexuality.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

9. Culture: sex is physical and natural.
The power and mystery of sex
Two Views of Sex
Culture: sex is physical and natural.
If two people consent, there’s no other boundaries: just have sex, no strings attached.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

10. The power and mystery of sex
Two Views of Sex
I kissed a girl and I liked it, I liked it. No, I don`t even know your name It doesn`t matter, You're my experimental game Just human nature.
(Katy Perry)
The mantra: join the hook up culture, become friends with benefits.
One result: loss of intimate friendships.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

11. The power and mystery of sex
Two Views of Sex
God: sex is his sacred gift to humanity, a profound mystery with power to delight and give life or to damage and destroy if misused.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

12. The power and mystery of sex
Two Views of Sex
Sex is for those who covenant to each other in marriage. Period.
There is no getting away from it; the Christian rule is either marriage with complete faithfulness to your partner, or else total abstinence.
(CS Lewis)
This is considered to be
bigoted and intolerant.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

13. Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
Prov )
In ancient times marriage was for economics and having heirs, not romance.
To the contrary, the Bible is explicit: sex in marriage is for pleasure. The two become companions (2.17), soul-mates.
Song of Solomon celebrates this erotic friendship.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

14. Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov )
Proverbs uses vivid imagery: Woman as a well, man like a spring, both delighting in the pleasure of sex.
Be crazy and intoxicated in love with your partner... sex is to be highly celebrated BUT casual sex is out” (Tim Keller, referring to 5.16)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

15. Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture undervalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov )
Marriage is a covenant with vows,
because sex is so powerful, like fire (6.27);
this committed vow is foundational
to life and society.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

16. Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov 16.11a, 22)
Our culture values beauty over character. Girls internalize the message:
it’s all about looks.
That’s why eating disorders are 2x – 4x higher in developed countries,
highest on university campuses.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

17. Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov 16.11a, 22)
Why?
If I’m beautiful, I’m loved;
sex proves I’m loved.
But
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; (31.30a).
What lasts? Character.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

18. Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov 16.11a, 22)
Guys internalize the message with porn, turning women into commodities.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

19. Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov 16.11a, 22)
Porn warps sex by rewiring a man’s thinking.
A real body isn’t good enough.
b) Only one body isn’t good enough.
c) Your wife’s body isn’t good enough.
(Andy Stanley)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

20. Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
The power and mystery of sex
Our culture overvalues sex (Tim Keller)
(Prov 16.11a, 22)
Porn distorts, even ruins sex.
[For most men] real naked women
are just bad porn. (Naomi Wolf)
What’s wise?
Sex in a covenant marriage relationship.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

21. The power and mystery of sex
Stop to ponder
What gang do you identify with?
What message do you internalize?
Are you loving yourself
by making wise choices?
Are you helping others be wise?
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

22. The power and mystery of sex
Stop to ponder
What gang do you identify with?
What message do you internalize?
Are you loving yourself
by making wise choices?
Are you helping others be wise?
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

23. The mystery of sex (Prov 30.18-20)
The power and mystery of sex
The mystery of sex (Prov )
There are many wonders in life,
reasons to say Wow!
An eagle flying,
a snake slithering,
a boat sailing.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

24. The mystery of sex (Prov 30.18-20)
The power and mystery of sex
The mystery of sex (Prov )
It’s Wow because it produces another life,
a soul that will live forever.
The mere existence of that [human fertilized] cell should be one of the greatest astonishments of the earth. People ought to be walking around all day, all through their waking hours, calling to each other in endless wonderment, talking of nothing except that cell.
(Lewis Thomas, dean of Yale Medical School)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

25. The mystery of sex (Prov 30.18-20)
The power and mystery of sex
The mystery of sex (Prov )
The stark contrast: sex is like snacking.
An adulterous woman consumes a man,
then wipes her mouth and says,
“What’s wrong with that?” (v 20).
It’s an appetite, nothing sacred.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

26. The power and mystery of sex
The greatest wonder and mystery:
It’s our romance with God, but we went far away like the wandering wife of Proverbs 2.
She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God. (2.17)
We lost our beauty and character.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

27. The power and mystery of sex
The greatest wonder and mystery:
Jesus is our Lover; he came as the charactered, unbeautiful one.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
(Isaiah 51.2b)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

28. The mystery of sex (Prov 30.18-20)
The power and mystery of sex
The mystery of sex (Prov )
He reclaimed us, covenanting with us by his death.
[Jesus holding the wine] this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. (Matt 26.28)
It’s eternal ecstasy ahead.
the pleasures of living with you forever. (Ps 16.11)
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

29. Willing to accept God’s way as wisdom?
The power and mystery of sex
And you?
Willing to accept God’s way as wisdom?
Need to “walk in the light” (1 Jn 1.7), confess sin, get forgiven and cleansed?
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom

30. The power and mystery of sex
And ROOTS?
Imagine ROOTS full of friends
who help one another counter the culture, who stay committed to Jesus,
awaiting the return of their Lover.
Proverbs: the Way of Wisdom