Talk

The New Sexual Revolution

Ben Stuart
February 13, 2023

Do we trust God to have authority over our sex lives?

As we continue through 1 Thessalonians, Paul pivots away from the thankfulness and exhortations of the first three chapters and begins to get practical. This week, Ben Stuart walks us through Paul’s teachings about sex and the implications it has for our modern culture and encourages us to fully trust God’s design for sexuality.

Key Takeaway

The lie that the sexual revolution of the 60s has taught us is that we will experience freedom when we are sexually liberated. True freedom comes from intimacy within the confines of commitment.

  1. We were adopted into sonship because of His sacrifice on The Cross. We now conform to the family values because He cares for us.

  2. Embrace the message of the gospel and walk within it by pleasing God. It isn't oppressive, it's freedom.

  3. His desire is your sanctification—a movement away from things that isolate us from God and moving toward things that promote intimacy with God.

  4. Abstain from sexual immorality. We need to possess our sexuality in a way that communicates honor, value, and respect to those around us. Sexual liberation promotes unrestrained impulses and leaves you feeling unfulfilled.

“
"Let's show this culture that's obviously seeing the cracks in our broken sexual system there's a better way to treat one another with dignity, and with love, for God's glory and our good."
”
Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. Ben Stuart reminds us that we don't have to earn our place in God's family. Do you truly believe that you are a son/daughter of Christ? Why/why not?
  2. Have you looked at boundaries within the Christian life as freeing or oppressive in the past? Why do you think you felt that way?
  3. How do you define sanctification?
  4. How can one abstain from sexual immorality well?
  5. How can we show culture the better way: treating each other with dignity and love for God's glory and our good?

Scripture References

1As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
8Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.