Sermon Tone Analysis

It is about fornication – sexual relations between two people not married to each other.

We have all seen entertainment where characters strip their clothes off with obvious implications.

Although it is certainly possible to sin without removing clothing, it is nearly impossible not to sin when the clothes are removed.

I) Bigger problem than we like to admit

I grew up in Owensboro, with typical Bible Belt values – In the mid-70’s, the local church of 200+ had a nearly constant parade of unwed mothers – In the mid-80’s it had the second highest rate of unwed teenage mothers in USA

Large numbers of adulterous preachers over the past 30 years (they are not more righteous, but you would think they know the scriptures)

In my family, and perhaps yours, relatives have been conceived out of wedlock

These are just the ones who got caught!

How many more did not result in pregnancy or were aborted before becoming obvious

II) Why is it a problem?

Influence of entertainment:

1- film industry – Prudence and the Pill from mid-60’s, every female character gets pregnant, most are unmarried; In 1995 movie Nine Months, Hugh Grant, who was arrested in real life for buying a prostitute, gets his girlfriend pregnant and then learns how to be a “good” dad

2- television – Virginity is always unusual (and usually negative) – Remember the ridicule heaped on Dan Quayle for speaking out against the Murphy Brown character for intending to become pregnant outside of marriage; Friends – all leading characters regularly climb into bed with someone; NYPD Blue was the first TV show to promote nudity

3- Music – glorifies the act; all types, including country (Love at the Five and Dime), pop (Only the Good Die Young), metal, hip-hop

Influence of the world – – spend time “hanging out” with the world and become like them

Rebellious spirit – “don’t preach at me” –

No convictions – you don’t decide to go on a diet after walking into Baskin-Robbins, you don’t decide when to say “NO” while you are in each other’s arms

III) What the Bible says

Sexual relations are a part of marriage – – exclusive to marriage –

Penalty is death – ;

It is evil – – we must abstain – , ; ; – it will keep us from kingdom – ;

Concl: Read these scriptures over again, let them rule your thoughts – – instead of the world’s influence.