What Now? Where do we Go from Here?
Notes
Transcript
So…Where do we go from here?
This is the last in our sermon series on Holy Sexuality.
and next week, we have a special Sunday—hopefully all Sundays here are special.
We are highlighting Jeff and Stefanie Summersett and their story during both worship services—so that’s next Sunday June 13th.
Let’s read God’s Word first.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
So…where do we go from here?
This is the last sermon in our “Holy Sex” series.
and I want to wrap things up by asking—what do we do next individually and/or corporately as a church?
4 Next Steps:
Continue the conversation (Deut. 6:4-9)
What do I mean?
Don’t stop learning about this—from God’s Word. From Christian resources.
Don’t stop discussing this with trusted family, friends, your SS class, small group, or a counselor.
why? b/c culture-all around us is CONSTANTLY talking about sex, gender, and identity. It never stops. Culture is constantly shaping our perceptions, beliefs, and feelings about sexuality and gender through movies we watch, Netflix series, social media, ads, so we as a church community have to talk about it. As families, we have to talk about it. And as individuals we have to talk and think about it.
Deut. 6 — mentions this—talk about these things when you sit at home, when you are on the road, when you lie down.
In our book nook we have several resources-testimonies from people who lived and were converted out of a sexually sinful lifestyle;
in our social media postings, we have given you lots—even interviews you can watch or listen to. Let me give you one more—and this is especially for parents.
a resource—each other...
There is a 4 part book series called “God’s Design for Sex.” God’s Design for Sex. (there’s the name on screen)
and it is given to parents to help equip them to talk with their children about sexuality. The first book is actually designed to be read with your kids when they are between 3 and 5. (read several times actually)
the 2nd book is ages 5-8.
the 3rd book is ages 8 - 11.
the 4th book is ages 11-14.
ages 3 - 14. I love these books.
because each one is age appropriate.
for instance, if you read the first book—ages 3-5 it talks about how God made the human body, and loves the human body—it is very good God said. And we must see our bodies, including our sexual organs as gifts from God. It says in the intro that “In this book, we discuss the growth of a child inside a mother’s body and the birth process. Children begin to develop a trust for God’s Law and to see God as a Lawgiver who has the best interests of His people at heart. God is the giver of good gifts.”
the 2nd book gets more into the details of sexual reproduction. (and re-emphasizes this)
3rd and 4th books get more into some of the challenging topics we have mentioned but in a very appropriate way.
these books are not based on fear—but from an understanding that God made us, our bodies, our sexuality-it is good—when used by God for his glory. I love that.
this book series is also sensitive to if you are fostering or adopting, or maybe you are a single parent, or a grandparent raising a child. it takes that into account as well.
so parents and families—do you have a culture where you can talk about this? It’s not just one talk—it’s a series of talks.
the bottom line in all of this is we must continue the conversation in our worship services, in our SS classes, small groups, at home--
so as you are listening, you may even say—I want to continue the conversation and impact others. Maybe God is tapping you on the shoulder to start a men’s group that tackles this issue or a women’s group, or maybe your SS class or small group should go through this. Or maybe you want to meet with a counselor or mentor.
and lastly parents how can you foster a culture and climate of intentionality in talking about this? If we don’t, the playground and locker-room and internet will create this for our children instead.
Seek God and others for inner healing. (James 5:13-16)
there are a couple of areas that I have not mentioned.
I have not talked about sexual addiction—like pornography. Both men and women struggle with this, and listen to these stats on porn use:
the average age of first exposure to Internet pornography is 11. (for some it is earlier)
another stat says over 90% of boys and over 60% of girls are exposed to internet pornography before the age of 18.
another trusted resource says that 50% of evangelical Christian men and 20% of evangelical Christian women are addicted to pornography. (that’s more than half of us sitting in the room or watching online)
and Barna group study found that 57% of US pastors admitted to having a struggle with pornography
porn access is readily available. when I was younger, you had to go looking for porn—maybe a playboy magazine, but now, it is everywhere.
what are the effects of porn?
it objectifies people—objects for sex rather than people made in the image of God
instead of sex being using in building community and intimacy in marriage—sex is selfish and all about me
it increases acceptance of many sexual perversions—like any addiction—you need more just to have the same thrill.
it makes you believe that marriage is sexually confining and bad (marriage is stifling and limits my freedom)
it can produce all sorts of mental health issues like depression and anxiety
it rewires your brain—the neuro -pathways—like any other addiction
not to mention it opens up doors spiritually to be influenced by the world and the kingdom of darkness.
so if you are here struggling with pornography—let me just say this:
you are not alone. you are not the only one. there is a lot of stigma and shame with this—but you are not alone. many struggle with this
don’t deny it. get help. sin thrives in denial and isolation and darkness. get help. cry out to God—He loves you, and sees you, and wants to admit this to him. confess it to God—agree with God that it is wrong and you need help. He already knows this about you.
and also talk to someone about it. You would be amazed if you begin today by:
talking to God about it—calling it was it is — sin.
and talking to someone about it—how that can begin the incredible process of spiritual healing
James 5:16—confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
I have tremendous respect for people when they admit their need for help. needing help is not a sign of weakness—we all need help. I need help all the time. God made us to need Him and to need Christian community.
Remember that pornography is not just about pornography—it is the fruit of something deeper in your life. It is like the tip of the iceberg, but below the surface is 80% of the iceberg. perhaps you are searching for something deeper—maybe you are looking for your needs to be met for intimacy, maybe for escape from stress or pain, disappointment; maybe you think you can’t really change, maybe you are seeking inner healing, maybe you are just really angry and need control; maybe you just want pleasure and think this will truly satisfy —only God can truly provide those.
and remember God forgives sin b/c of Jesus and gives us supernatural help. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
before I go on to the next point—I want to talk about sexual abuse. This is another topic I did not mention—but chances are there are some here who have been abused sexually in some way, maybe raped. Stats say here in America 1 out of every 6 American women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape. another resource said that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their life.
and if that’s you—we are so glad you are here.
and remember it is not your fault if you have been abused. That’s your abuser’s fault. they are responsible.
I would encourage you if you have been abused to talk to God about it—and if you are currently being abused—get help immediately! Tell someone asap.
you need to be safe, and You need someone to process this with and begin the journey of inner healing, of the journey of forgiveness. Don’t let your abuse or your abuser hold you back, and it may take time to truly heal, but there is hope.
Response time—I want to invite the worship team to lead us in a song.
I also want to ask that you do the following—I want you to focus on your life before God in terms of your sexuality. Jesus is pretty clear that all of us are sinners—including sexual sinners—if you look at a woman lustfully you have already committed adultery in your heart.
take some time to confess sin, addiction.
take time to receive God’s grace--
take time to talk to God and listen
and even if sex and gender are not the issue—all of us place our identity in something. Let’s come to him as we are.
would you kneel with me (if you are able) come forward
—song — I surrender all
1 John 1:9 — if we confess our sins , he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Trust the supernatural power of God to intervene in other people’s lives. (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
perhaps the most common question I received during my sermon series is this: “Pastor Rick, how do I walk alongside or minister to a friend or family member who is struggling with sexuality or gender identity?” because this issue affects many people we dearly love and know—family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
well my biggest answer would be to trust the supernatural power of God. to pray for them, regularly, faithfully. to intercede in prayer for them.
to cry out to God for them.
and to pray for open doors to share gracious truth.
I am reminded of the story of the Apostle Paul - in Acts 9.
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
In this moment, Paul the persecutor and terrorist became Paul the submitter to Jesus—became Paul the follower of Jesus.
it took the supernatural power of God to change Paul.
Prayer and response time for others…I want to really challenge you to pray.
I mentioned in a previous sermon the story of Christopher Yuan. He lived a homosexual lifestyle, eventually became a drug dealer and arrested for illegal drug possession — spent time in prison.
His mother prayed for him, even fasting weekly, even once fasting 39 days for his salvation. It took the supernatural intervention of God.
You can’t ultimately change them; you must be faithful to testify to God, but God must do it.
Let’s spend some time in prayer. while Mike prays (kneel again?)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still good news. (Romans 1:16)
the Gospel — the core of Christianity is not what we do.
it’s what God has done.
what He has done through His Son Jesus Christ to save us through Jesus’ perfect life, death on the cross for our sins, and victorious resurrection.
this is what we celebrate at church.
if i got up every week and told you a new thing you must do—in a year’s time—you now are responsible for doing 52 things—how does that sound. horrible.
while we are called to live out our faith—we must first celebrate and hold dear what God has done.
God initiated our rescue. It was his plan. His idea. He came to forgive us, to set us free from the bondage of satan, sin, and death.
and to give us new life in Him.
He accomplished it through his Son Jesus Christ.
This Gospel is good news for our sexually broken world and lives...
b/c it explains what is wrong with us—all of us have substituted ourselves for God—we think we know best—but we don’t. the gospel humbles us and gives us an accurate diagnosis. we all need help. The Gospel calls sin a sin. it calls a spade a spade. every part of us is warped by sin—including our desires. we don’t always want the right thing. and we want to rule ourselves.
and it explains how we can be set right; it explains the solution.
when we confess our sin to God—call it like it is
when we acknowledge we need God’s help
when we say God you know best (I don’t)
I am trusting in your Son to save me and to free me b/c of Jesus’ work on the cross. I am surrendering to him. that’s where there is victory and hope! Jesus is my identity!
when you do this…it changes your life.
it puts grace at the center so you can begin to change.
it gives you a new identity - you receive it; don’t achieve it.
it forgives you
frees you
removes shame (from what you have done and other to you)
it gives rid of bitterness
it grants real hope
it makes you a more gracious person towards those struggling b/c just like Paul—you realize that you and I we are all the chief of sinners. we help people with a posture of grace.
it also gives us courage to speak the truth with compassion b/c even if people reject us—God accepts us through Christ.
the Gospel also frees us not to worry about culture. it’s easy to get afraid to look down on the world. to fill like all is lost—but if we hold dear what God has done—we have hope—real hope that God can use us.
what would God have you do?
invite…worship team (play it by ear)
last song
close with Esther story?
It’s the story of a courageous and young Jewish girl name Esther who in God’s providence becomes the queen of a pagan empire and to a pagan kind. Her people are in exile, captives under the mighty Persian Empire. so this young Jewish girl becomes queen in a pagan, godless empire.
One of the king’s high ranking officials—Haman—has it in for the Jews. He wants to exterminate their entire people group.
and Esther’s cousin — Mordecai learns about it—comes to Esther and pleads with her to help because she is the queen—maybe she can influence the Persian king to stop it: here’s what Mordecai says to Esther...
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
for such a time as this...
it’s easy to look at the times and be unsettled.
this last year has been not just crazy but c-razy… not only with Covid—but politics, conspiracy theories, not to mention extreme polarization and division in our country and world.
it just feels unsettling...
and I recognize that and feel it too
BUT...
BUT...
we have an incredible opportunity as the Church.
as we pour out our hearts to God
lean on Him
cry out to Him
as we love one another
we have an incredible opportunity as the church to be his witnesses of grace and truth
to be different in a good way
to have incredible hope and peace b/c of Jesus Christ.
for such a time as this..