Saying It

This past weekend message was one of the more challenging talks to deliver.  But it was also very important in a number of ways.  The GOD QUESTION was 'what does the Bible say about homosexuality?'

And the Biblical text that I choose to speak from dealt with not only homosexuality but with God's view of our bodies and of our sexuality.  It provide me with the opportunity to do several things:

• Remind us all of the incredibly high opinion that God has of us.
• Specifically describe God's purpose for sex (partnership, pleasure, procreation) and how God has defined boundaries for the use of this gift (a lifetime covenant relationship between husband and wife).
• Talk about the definition of sexual immorality and why having sex before or outside of marriage is potentially damaging to your person.
• Recognize together that all of us need God's grace and that no sin, even homosexuality, is put in a different category.
• Declare that we are so much more than the sum of our urges or the record of our past.  The most powerful part of the 1 Cor 6 passage is the phrase that says...That's What Some Of You WERE!  But through the work of the cross, we are about to be forgiven and transformed.

This message was not the easiest to deliver but it was so critical for our spiritual health as a church and as individuals.   My hope is that many were making some healthy choices to surrender their lives to the leadership of Jesus and turn from the kinds of compromise that have been draining their spiritual life.

Later this week, I will list some links to organizations that provide support groups and other resources for struggle with sexual sin of all types.