Sex & Sexuality

One problem with our culture today is not that we have to high a view of sex, but too low. The lies of the culture lead us to settle for a view of sex and sexuality that is based on selfishness and fleeting physical pleasure. Today, we will look at how the Image of God and the design of God inform our sexuality and restore us back to God’s Good Design for sex and sexuality.

Tyler’s Main Points

1. God’s good design for sex and sexuality is connected to the purpose of reproduction.

2. God’s good design for sex and sexuality unites the purpose of reproduction with pleasure.

3. The boundaries of God’s good design for sex and sexuality are for our benefit.

Key Takeaways

  • In a culture where sexuality has mistakenly become synonymous with identity, God’s Word and His good design inform us and define us.

  • Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. God’s good design offers healing and freedom from the fallout of living contrary to His blueprint and His loving boundaries for sex.

  • Our desires don’t define us, God’s good design shapes our desires.

  • Eve was created by God as the suitable helper for Adam to image God through reproduction and their complimentary rule over creation.

  • Although reproduction is part of God’s good design, the highest call for all of humanity is to glorify God with your life and spiritually multiply through discipleship.

  • We need not shy away from the good pleasures of sex. Nonetheless, sex is a good gift given by God to be exclusively enjoyed within the boundaries of a one-flesh, covenantal union between one husband and one wife.

  • When it comes to sex, God is not trying to rip you off, but spare you from the pain of sex outside of His good design.

  • An exclusive, committed marriage relationship is the best place to raise children and marriage is the best environment for the benefits of sex to flourish.

  • We do not have too high a view of sex, but too low. We have reduced sex to merely a physical act– a few moments of fleeting pleasure, and nothing more.

  • Tyler exposed four cultural lies prevalent today:

    1) Sex in isolation is harmless.
    2) Sexual promiscuity provides the pleasure of sex with no strings attached.
    3) Homosexuality is just as normal and healthy as heterosexuality.
    4) You can be whatever sex you want to be.

  • Our subjective thoughts and desires must line up with objective reality.

  • We must understand our own story of sexual brokenness and with compassion invite, listen, protect, and invest in others who are lost.

  • Application:

    1) Know the Truth of God’s good design for sex
    2) Confront your own sexual brokenness
    3) Ask God to grow your compassion for those struggling with sexual brokenness
    4) Build relationships with people who are struggling with sexual brokenness
    5) Compassionately speak the Truth in the public square
    6) Talk to your kids about sex and sexuality

  • God has given us not only His good design, but a Good Deliverer– Jesus Christ.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal reflection:

  • What lies have you believed or are you currently prone to believing when it comes to God’s good design for sex and sexuality?

  • Do you extend Christ-like compassion to others struggling with sexual brokenness? How can you grow in seeing others as fellow image bearers?

Discuss with your community group:

  • In your current stage of life, how can you more faithfully live out God’s good design for   sex and sexuality? What sources of cultural lies do you need to cut out from your life?

  • When it comes to sexual brokenness, who in your life that can you pray for this week?    As a group, spend intentional time in prayer for the individuals mentioned.

Passages Referenced
Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 100:3; Psalm 139:14; Song of Solomon 4:10-5:1; Proverbs 5; Matthew 9:36.