What Does The Bible Say About Sexual Identity?

What Does the Bible Say About… Sexual Identity • When we let our desires _______________ us, our identities and relationships get _____________. (Genesis 3:15-19) • We are our most authentic selves when we are able to ________ what is right regardless of our ___________. (Matthew 26:36-42) • Through Jesus Christ our identities and relationships can be _________________. (Colossians 3:1-11) August 15, 2021 The Question Behind the Question: • Modern culture defines human identity by our (sexual) ___________. • The Bible categorizes certain sexual ________________ as sinful, which seems to condemn whole sexual identities. • Does God really condemn whole _________________ as sinful? What the Bible Says About Identity: • In Scripture our identities come from God—he made us to be his __________________________ on Earth. (Genesis 1:26-28) • Our desires don’t come directly from _________, or our ____________—they come from our ________. (Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:16) Conclusions: • God does not define people by their ____________, nor does he _____________ people for them. • Every ________________ human being has desires that must be ___________________ in order to bear God’s image well. • We have the ability to choose whether to _______________ our desires or be ______________ by them. (Genesis 2:15-17; 4:6-7) • In Christ alone we can ___________________ our true identities as God’s loved and chosen people. Discussion Questions • Which works of the flesh is the church better at calling out? Which ones do we tend to ignore? • In v. 22-26 we see the “fruit of the spirit,” the evidence that the Spirit is winning the battle. How are they different from the works of the flesh? 1. Getting Started: • What did you find most interesting about the sermon this week? The most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? • How do you identify yourself? What are the most important parts of your identity? • How does it change our perspective (on ourselves and others) when we define people by purpose rather than their desires? 3. Going Deeper • What does it look like in your life to live out your identity as God’s representative? 2. Into the Bible (Read Galatians 5:16-26) • V. 16-18 describe a battle in each person between the Spirit and the Flesh. How do you experience this battle in your own heart? • What obstacles are you facing to living out that identity? Which desires are tempting you away? • In v. 19-21, Paul lists the “works of the flesh”—the evidence that the flesh is winning the battle. Which of these works do you struggle with? Which works are not a struggle for you? • How can you overcome those obstacles to live our your purpose?