lesson loop 10.21.15

This is 2nd part of a mini-series on “Wholeness in a world of sexual brokenness”

• Last week - sexual sin
• Last night - helping friends with SSA

Big Idea: Helping friends with SSA requires good theology, authenticity, humility, accountability, and patience.

Worldview Assumptions -

• The Scriptures are inspired and meant to teach us how to live.
• The Scriptures begin (Gen. 1-2) with God’s good design - including marriage (Adam & Eve)
• Gen. 3 tells us how sin spilled into the world and created havoc - brokenness.
• Any deviation from God’s good design is a manifestation of our brokenness, including when it comes to our sexuality.
• Definition of sexual sin: any abuse of the physical pleasure that God designed for a husband and wife. (MS - again, if you don’t understand what I mean… parents)
• Conscious expressions of SSA are sinful. (chose words carefully)

If we are going to help those who struggle with SSA, it will require:

Good Theology

What makes a “sin” a sin?

Affirm their unique "image bearing"

Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15-25

male & female (both reflect God uniquely & complimentarily)
the point is not to make every man and woman the "cookie cutter" picture of masculinity and femininity.

Authenticity
Genesis 8:21
Psalm 51:5
Jeremiah 17:9
Romans 3:9-19
It’s not about “straight” or “gay” - None of us are straight...
Isaiah 53:6 (screen)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way…
Bible has a word - (iniquity)

Humility

Listen & learn - We need to hear people's stories and know who we are ministering to.
James 1:19 - on screen
1 Peter 3:15-17
(When people visiting the church ask what our view on homosexuality is, we should ask them why that question is so important to them before we throw a bunch of Scripture at them)
Important side note...
*Making gay jokes need to be completely unacceptable and forbidden in our youth group.

Accountability
More than “fellowship”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
James 5:16

Patience
Be committed for the long haul
Ephesians 4:1-2
humility (already talked about)
gentleness (also talked about)
patience - we are all a work in process; masterpiece
*It takes us all a while to change (some temptations may not change)

If you would like to download all of my notes from the last 2 weeks, you can do so here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2zJ0haVL2YNczZWLWliU3VQQ1k&usp=sharing