This is a guide to accompany our sermon series on Sexual Wholeness. Over the next several weeks we will release a guide like this each Sunday along with the sermon. In it you will find reflection & discussion questions, passages of scripture and additional resources to help you have conversations with your small group, friends and family as we process together what the Holy Spirit is saying to us about this important topic. If you haven’t already watched the sermon you can do so below, or you can find it under the Media tab on our website.
A quick disclaimer…
While the church should be the safest place to have these kinds of conversations, we know that this topic can raise some anxiety and be fraught with seeming land mines. Here are a few things to remember and consider as we start these discussions together as a church family.
You don’t have to have an answer for every question
These sermons are not going to address everything that everyone will want addressed.
Group members may disagree
We might be at different places on this topic but we all can hold Jesus at the center and remain in community.
We will all need great humility
Model this humbleness and invite the Holy Spirit to guide each and every discussion.
Sensitivity is important
This topic could be very painful for people in ways we may not know. This might be a good series for men and women to consider meeting separately.
Sexual Wholeness Pt 1 – Sex before Sin
We can feel harassed and helpless in the area of sexuality. We are pulled in all different directions on this issue.
- What are some of the reasons the conversation about sex has become so toxic and difficult to engage with?
- Why hasn’t the church been the safest place to talk about this topic?
- Where do you feel harassed on this issue? Helpless?
Sex predates sin – it’s relevant to know what that was like
Read and discuss the following passages:
- What do these passages show us about God? About Adam and Eve?
- What can we see about the creation of people?
- What do we observe about God’s ideal for sexuality?
Sex before sin:
Was an expression of covenantal love.
Was about walking in oneness.
There was mutuality.
Adam and Eve were not defined by their sexuality, nor detached from it.
- Are any of these observations new to you?
- What stands out to you about His ideal?
- How are you seeing that sex is not just about sex?
The standard of sexual righteousness is impossibly high. Sex is about covenantal love for one person characterized by total oneness, intimacy, unity, and vulnerability.
- Where might we be missing understanding about true sexual righteousness?
- Where does it leave us if we are more sinful sexually than we can imagine?
“You can’t live without intimacy, but you can live without sex”
Ultimately the quest for sexual wholeness is not a quest for the right version of sexuality. Sexual wholeness is about rediscovering a secure relationship with Jesus and walking with him back toward the beautiful life we were created for. Experiencing the unconditional love of Jesus Christ is the single greatest practice we can engage in.
- What areas of pride about this topic might you need to surrender?
- What areas of shame about this topic might you need to surrender?
- What is the Holy Spirit showing you about sexual wholeness and the way He defines it?
For further resources about sexual wholeness check out our Resource Center in the Gathering Place. Many of these have been curated for this series especially. We also recommend the following:
Surfing for God by John M. Cusick
The Freedom Fight by Ted Shimer
Unwanted by Jay Stringer
Understanding Sexual Identity by Mark Yarhouse
Understanding Gender Dysphoria by Mark Yarhouse
It’s Great to Be a Guy by Dannah Gresh and Jarrod Sechler
It’s Great to Be a Girl by Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel
God’s Design for Sex book series by Stan and Brenna Jones and Carolyn Nystrom
Good Pictures Bad Pictures and Good Pictures Bad Pictures Junior by Kristen Jenson
Redeeming Sex by Deb Hirsch
Love is an Orientation by Andrew Marin
The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
Axis.org weekly Culture Translator email
