The series continues by looking at the first chapter: Creation. We are made in the image of God. Our bodies are part of our resemblance of God and they are good. Our sexuality reflects God in nature and is intended for God’s glory being seen upon earth, both in our being made for ‘the other’ (relational) and relating to others (intimacy). This leads us into an engagement with the very nature of God as relational and intimate within the Trinity. Some topics addressed may include: the definition of love, body image, sexuality and difference, sexual wholeness as individuals (not needing marriage for wholeness), God’s intent within marriage, and the social-physiological aspects of intimacy and the sexual life.
Texts: Genesis 1-2; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Ephesians 5:31-32
SERMON OUTLINE
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Genesis 1:27-28)
Humanity and the Image of God (imago Dei)
The Theme of Goodness in Genesis 1
The Created Goodness of the Body
The Created Goodness of Sexuality
The Created Goodness of Singleness and Marriage
The Created Goodness of Love
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- As we continue the series, “Love – Sex – Body,” this week we focus on the created good- ness of love, sexuality, and our bodies. Before you begin this study, pray that God would speak to you and minister His grace and truth to you.
- We begin in Genesis by reading the story of human creation in Genesis 1:26-31. What does this passage tell us about humanity’s original creation in the image of God and our calling in relation to one another and creation?
- Now read Genesis 2:4-25. This parallel account of human creation relates important aspects of humanity relevant for our discussion. First of all, what do you notice about the bodily relationship between Adam and Eve. What do you think this tell us about the human body, even about sexuality?
- One of the greatest threats to early Christianity was a heresy known as Gnosticism, which emphasized the priority of the spiritual over the physical, and usually denigrated the body. In gnosticism, Christ was viewed as the giver of special knowledge (gnosis) that liberates humanity from the fleshly realm and into the spiritual realm with God. How do you think the creation account in Genesis 2 counteracts this false view?
- How do you think this view impacts someone’s understanding of love, sexuality, and the body?
- Returning to Genesis 2:4-25, how would you say this passage speaks about human relationships and love? (You may even want to read echoes of this in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:4-6.)
- Sometimes, the church exalts marriage, leaving singles feeling like second-class citizens, and almost describing marriage as the pinnacle of human existence. Have you ever seen or experienced this? How could we honor singleness as an equal path in life?
- How do Genesis 1 & 2 inform our understanding of the unique wholeness we have with God as individuals, whether single or married? How does this passage shape our under- standing of marriage?
- In his message, Pastor Matt described four different aspects of sexuality: · gender sexuality – being a person who is either male or female
- social sexuality – the way I live out my unique identity as male or female in relation to the world and others
- erotic sexuality – the passionate desire and longing for completion in another person · genital sexuality – the physical actions related to sexual activity
- Why should a developed theology of embodied sexuality take account of all of these aspects of sexuality?