D6 s-o w 3: Choosing God’s Design for Relationships

Intro

Have you ever been in a relationship? Maybe you’re in one now. What is your favorite part about that person?

Relationships are important, both friendly relationships, family relationships, and romantic relationship. And, given how important they are, you may not be surprised to know that God has something to say about our relationships. Actually, more than that, God designed relationships; so, we need to give Him glory in our relationships and choose the design God gave us for them.

What is the biggest way that people are skewing God’s design for relationships today? (homosexuality). Did you know that there are more people my age and your age that identify as LGBTQ than any other generation in America before? Why do you think that is?

Our culture today disregards God’s design for various areas of life, including gender and sexuality. we see in Genesis 2:18-24 that Gpd created two genders, male and female. His design for marriage and sexuality is one man and one woman for life. You know, Jesus affirmed these truths in Matthew 19:3-9 as well. This isn’t some outdated commandment that we should view as irrelevant; rather, this is a design of God that should guide how we live and love.

Disregarding God’s Design Leads to Consequences

What does disregard mean?

When we look around our culture, we are going to see plenty of ways in which people are disregarding God’s design. What are some ways you can think that people are disregarding God’s design for us?

One of the most prominent ways right now is with homosexuality. The Bible, in many places, calls homosexuality wrong, and as we will talk about later, unnatural to God’s design. Many people claim that they have been or you can be “born this way” when referring to being gay, the Bible would disagree.

However, just because we believe a certain way does not mean we should shun those who live in sin. Because, just like your sin, homosexuality is a temptation that can be overcome and it is a sin that can be forgiven. Everyone struggles with sin, some live a lifestyle of sin, but everyone needs the forgiveness of Jesus Christ!

Who knows the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? Long story short, God destroyed these cities for the sin that consumed them, most of all the sin of homosexuality. Genesis 19:23–24 “The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;”

God says Homosexual behavior is dishonorable and unnatural

Romans 1:19–28 (KJV 1900)

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Simply stated, God designed man and woman to be together, and anything different is unnatural to God’s design and anything unnatural to God’s design is sin

Why do you think younger people are more likley to choose homosexuality than older poeple? (social media, culture)

As much as the culture around us tells us to “live our truth” the Bible tells us to live out GOD’S truth. God’s truth tells us that homosexuality is a sin just as much as any other sin. But, because it is a sin, we must avoid it and repent if we fall into that sin. There is hope still!

All People must Choose to Follow God’s Design

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

This goes for everyone and everything, not just homosexuality. We must choose God’s design for our lives that that design is this: Avoid sin, glorify God, and follow Christ!

Remember what verse 10 says in what we just read, it’s not all about homosexuality, it’s all about sin and avoiding it!

How do we flee sin? What is the first step?

Does this work for homosexual sin as well? Why or why not?

Conclusion

All sin is bad but all sin is avoidable. If you are struggling with sin in your life, find someone who loves Jesus and who you trust to help you overcome that sin. Jesus is the way. Repentance is the way. It has always been the way.

Whether it is lying, stealing, or any number of sexual sin, recognize, repent, and avoid it.