Sexuality Crisis

1 Corinthians 6:7-20
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

The Corinthian Church was a church crisis.  A reading of First Corinthians details the many issues this young church faced and the crisis that threatened their congregation.

For the Corinthians their sexuality was an important aspect of their lives. Their motto: “I am free to do anything” applied also to their understanding of sexuality.

In chapters 5 and 6, Paul says, “hold on, our bodies are temples of God and should be treated

as such.”

In the modern church, , we also have a sexuality crisis. Namely, is homo

sexuality a sin. So Christians say yes while others say no. We need to understand however that sexuality is not as simple as yes or no. Our sexuality is a gift from God, which makes it a matter of faith. Simplifying it into a right or wrong or conservative or liberal issue diminishes the gift of sexuality.

How do you understand human sexuality? Is it a gift from God?

Read: 1 Corinthians 1 – 6; 2 Corinthians 1 – 6, Genesis 1 and 2.

Resources:
United Methodist Stance on Sexuality: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/human-sexuality-backgrounder and http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/human-sexuality-homosexuality

The Spirit of our Anger

The Spirit of our Anger

Matthew 5:21-26

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

The spirit of our anger
1. Deal with it (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)
2. Have some sense
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11 ESV)
3. Be Gentle
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

Scripture on Anger: http://www.openbible.info/topics/anger_management

New Testament word for anger: http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/orge.html