On Sunday evenings in March, we begin a short series called ‘Living in Babylon’.

March 13th. Sex & Relationships .

Matthew 19:1-12 Ephesians 5:22-33. 1 Corinthians 6 & 7.

Summary

As Christians, we have a very high view of sex. We believe this good gift from God is both precious and powerful. We believe that sexual intercourse is ‘covenantal’ in expressing the unity of husband and wife and acting out an even greater covenant between Christ and his Church. We believe the boundaries scripture gives are ‘good news’, for protection and blessing. We also recognize this is as profoundly counter-cultural now as it was in the time of Christ. We are not seeking to judge anyone but to point to a way of life that offers still offers blessing and protection where there is so much pain around human sexuality.

Part 2. Further Questions on sexuality

1. Contemporary society has lots of questions about sex and gender. How much of human sexuality is to do with ‘biological hard wiring’ and how much ‘societal constructs? Is there an ‘original design’ that we have fallen away from, or an evolving understanding of human possibility in a post-industrial age?

2. How do we honor one another in our sexual differences? How do we balance ‘freedom’ and ‘not causing someone else to stumble? What do we understand by treating one another as brothers and sisters in Church?

3. What does sexual purity look like in C21 society? What answer would we give to the psalmist who says ‘how can a young person keep their way pure’?

4. Sex was a big part of pagan worship in the society around the people of God in Bible times. What is the relationship between sex and worship? Is there a sex god today, (not Tom Jones) – a fallen spiritual power around sexuality?