SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In our apologetics series, the next question is a relevant but delicate one for most families and individuals. Is love love? In other words, is whatever we do with bodies loving and right from God’s point of view? (As you discuss this subject, please bear in mind that this is probably the most private area of our lives and one that is frequently an area of the most trauma. As you deal with each, be tender and remember the grace of God to you in this area of your life and the wonderful fact of His forgiveness for all kinds of sexual sin.)
Opening question: we know that God originally designed us to go forth and multiply: what do you think He meant by that for us? Did He have in mind merely procreation or did He mean us to find joy in our sexual experience?
Please read 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 (one of several passages we will be looking at this Sunday].
- Read verses 9-10.What do these various sins mean? What verse in this passage teaches that simply having struggled with such sins does not cut us off from grace? So, how would you characterize the person represented in verses 9–10?
- If we can be clear that Paul is warning people who continue to refuse to turn from their sin, what encouragement would you give to a friend who confides in you their shame at struggling with sexual sin?
- How do you think people who had been enslaved to any of these sins were attracted to the Christian church in Corinth? How would the fact that the church was ready to boast publicly that among its converts were people who had struggled with these sins in the past help draw others?
- In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul seems to be quoting a well-known slogan on permissibility: “all things are lawful for me.” Paul then counters with his own statement that “not all things are helpful.” If Paul had been an engineer he might have said that it would not be wise to use our bodies in ways that are contrary to the Maker’s instructions. How would you explain his point to someone who feel strongly that if it feels good, they are free to do with their body whatever they wish?
- Finally, in 6:18 Paul tells us why it is neither safe nor wise to continue in sexual sin. He says that while other sins like theft or slander or drunkenness are “outside” the body, sexual sin is different. What do you think he means by it being a sin “against” one’s own body? Paul teaches that the different parts of our experience and being are not as disconnected as the Corinthians were inclined to believe: they believed that their bodies were disposable and whatever one did to one’s body did not affect their soul. Why does Paul say that is not the case?
- There is no one you know who has not sinned in sexual ways in what they have thought or done. How does that fact give us hope as we deal with our past and future? How does that give us grace as we deal tenderly but clearly with other people about what it means to follow Jesus? Do you believe that Christ can forgive and heal your past and all of your sin and shame? Then He can do that for others also!
- Praise God that He sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice who would redeem us from all the ways we have wandered without Him, including our sexual ways.