Untitled Sermon

Intro:

I am going to ask you guys to do something that most people today won’t do, I’m asking you to politely consider what I’m saying and not lash out if you disagree.

It runs anti-culture; everyone tells you that if someone puts forth an opinion that runs different to your own, you should hate them, call them a bigot, and never speak to them, but I’m asking you to live differently.

Also, I just want you to know that I love you guys. I’m not doing this from spite or bigotry, I’m doing this out of love for God, and for you.

Homosexuality is a sin.

Romans 1:18-27.

There are 6-7 Scriptures that deal directly with homosexuality. Each one of them says it’s a sin.

Genesis 1-2.

Genesis 19.

Leviticus 18:22.

Leviticus 20:13.

Romans 1:18-27.

1 Corinthians 6:9.

1 Timothy 1:10.

Some questions you might have.

Does this mean gay people are going to hell?

Not necessarily. Christ died to save sinners, but if you have an unrepentant sin in your life, that would be indicative of an unrepentant heart.

However, homosexuals are not any more broken than heterosexuals, but that doesn’t mean that their sin is ignored.

Isn’t that unfair?

The argument here is that we shouldn’t be able to tell someone not to like someone that they naturally like.

However, Christians believe that everyone’s sexual ethic is broken, and the cross is the only solution. That would be like telling someone it isn’t fair ffor a wife to tell her husband not to sleep around, or vice versa.

The cross requires you to give everything to God, and that includes your sexual ethic.

Does God hate gay people?

No! Gay people are still people, and John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

So what are we asking of you?

What is God telling gay people to do?

Romans 12:1-2.

First and foremost, we’re asking you to come to Jesus!

We don’t hate you, we don’t think that we can “fix” you, we belive that Christ loves you and died for you and so the only option is for you to give yourself to Him!

Repent and put off the old self.

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Eph. 4:22-24 “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Essentially, there are two options.

Enter into a heterosexual lifestyle.

This might seem weird, but it has happened many times that someone comes to faith and finds that God slowly works in their heart to change them.

Jackie Hill Perry, Gay Girl, Good God.

Live a celibate lifestyle

For some people, having same-sex attraction as a Christian means that they will live a lifestyle of celibacy.

Sam Allberry

Who you are is not dependent on who you are attracted to.

"Nothing in the Bible encourages us to give sex the exalted status it has in our culture, as if finding our purpose, our identity, and our fulfillment all rest on what we can or cannot do with our private parts. (119) DeYoung

This will not be easy, but you don’t have to do it alone, and God has much bigger things in store for you than a relationship.

How to be a Christian in our culture.

There are two different groups of people I’m talking to here.

Christians who will never struggle with same-sex attraction.

For you, you should be lovingly walking alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ and seek to be a friend.

Know it’s not your job to “fix” anyone.

Reform your sexual ethic like we would ask Christians who struggle with same sex attraction.

We’re all broken, so lean on God!

Christians who will struggle with same-sex attraction.

Lean on God

It can feel like you need to run away from God, but He is going to be the biggest source of joy and comfort from you.

Talk to someone

No one wants to be alone. Talk to someone who loves you [friend, parent, leader, me]

Take heart

You are not any more sinful than everyone else. God has a bigger plan for you than your sexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NASB95

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Such were us, but we were washed and sanctified, and I pray that for each of us.