BIG IDEA

Culture is powerful and we need to be radical to fight it.The closer we move to God, the easier it will become to say no to the flesh.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT: 

Do you know that today we live in a hyper sexualized culture? The distortion and perversion of God’s very good gift is all around us. And we all know it. So how do we follow Jesus in our sexuality while living in a culture that is taking us the complete opposite direction? When everyone has a different opinion? If we are stuck in sexual sin how can we get free? 

SO WHAT:

There are changes you can make in your life to help you fight against what culture wants you to believe about sex. And often those changes might need to be radical, drastic, countercultural.

Jesus knows (Because He’s God) that when we step outside of God’s good design for sex it creates a hell on earth. Nothing good comes from it, and we do damage to ourselves, others, and our relationship with God.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16-17

NOW WHAT:

Jesus has called us to radical obedience, and it may take radical steps to put some distance between us and the stories our culture tells us about sex. We’ve also learned that it can’t stop there, that we need the Holy Spirit to work in and through us so we daily move towards God by spending time with Him. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

*Optional ice breaker questions to lead with:

On a scale of 1-10, how awkward is it to talk about sex in church?

How much does it get talked about by the people around you?

Why do you think we should or should not talk about sex at church?

Q1: Name a time when a situation turned out totally different once you heard the full story.

Q2: ** High School question: From this list, which are the 2-3 situations where you would say high-schoolers feel the most pressure when talking

about sex? Why do you think they feel the most pressure in those areas?

a. There’s pressure to send more pictures.

b. There’s pressure to experiment.

c. There’s pressure to do what your partner wants.

d. There’s pressure to keep up and participate in conversations about sex.

e. There’s pressure to have more sex.

f. There’s pressure to not go too far.

g. There’s pressure to honor your brothers and sisters in Christ.

h. There’s pressure to not have sex until marriage.

Q3: Read John 10:10. Who are the “thieves” that Jesus is referring to? What is the difference between the “thieves” and Jesus? What does it mean when someone wants something from you versus when someone wants something for you?

Q4: How does your view of sex change now that you know God’s only agenda is you having a bigger and fuller life than you ever planned?

Q5: How can this small group help each other not feel pressure when it comes to sex?