The Consequences of Ideas: The Church and LGBT

May 2/3, 2015

READ Ephesians 4:1-2

PRAY as a group to that God's love and truth will co-exist in us and in the church. Together, may we speak truth in love with gentleness and with all humility.

Take Time to Discuss:

Many say the discussion about LGBT is a simple issue is this true? What are some of the aspects of this topic that makes it so difficult?

Embracing an attitude of humility will help in dealing with people with same sex attraction and gender confusion, especially if these are issues with which we have never personally struggled. What questions in regard to these issues do you have?

Do you know people who are LGBT?  How has this impacted your relationship with them?

Do you think it is possible to be in a relationship with a person who is LGBT even if you believe that LGBT behaviors are outside God’s will?

Would you be willing to walk with people who are struggling with same sex attraction or gender confusion?

READ Romans 1:24-2:1

How does Paul use this passage of Scripture to show that we all are in danger of God’s judgment and need his mercy and forgiveness? Notice how he uses the words “They” and “You.”

What would you say to the claims “Christians are judgmental” or “Christians put homosexual sin in a special sin category?” 

How has your use of humor about LGBT behaviors or even outright bullying added to the perceptions that "Christians hate gays?" What needs to change in you for God to use you to be a friend to someone struggling with gender confusion or same sex attraction?

READ James 1:19; Jude 1:3-4

Many Christians are reacting to the LGBT debate by becoming afraid or getting angry. Others are giving in to the pressure of popular culture and endorsing LGBT lifestyles and gay weddings. What is your natural tendency to react regarding the LGBT issue? 

How should Christians respond to the aggressive LGBT lobby?

READ 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

What would it look like for our church to respond to those struggling with same sex attraction and gender confusion with love?

How does the Jacob’s Well Vision guide us as a church as we seek to minister to people with complicated life situations like same sex attraction and gender confusion?

Wherever we are on our journey, 

we will take steps together 

to know and become like Jesus.

SPEND some time with your group discussing things you've learned over the past few weeks. What has God revealed to you about your own life? How has your heart changed about marriage and sexuality and the LGBT community? What's your next step?

Bonus: Watch the short Film called The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church.  http://brandonvogt.com/third-way-homosexuality-catholic-church/  We should be clear that we are not endorsing the Catholic church and its doctrine but this short video does a good job showing the struggle many face with same sex attraction and the healing that is possible. The people in this video found healing in Jesus through the Catholic Church. What would it take for people to experience this type of healing at Jacob’s Well?

Further reading:

Gay Children Straight Parents: A Plan for Family Healing by Richard Cohen

Coming Out Straight by Richard Cohen

Out of a Far Country by Christopher Yuan & Angela Yuan

Same Sex Marriage: A thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage  

     by Sean McDowell & John Stonestreet

Organizations:

The International Healing Foundation @gaytostraight.tripod.com

The Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity @www.sexualidentityinstitute.org

next steps

   worship

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auditorium         Saturday 5pm - Sunday 9am - Sunday 10:45am

north venue       Saturday 5pm - Sunday 9am - Sunday 10:45am

      belong

Calling all seasoned veterans, athletic newbies, and everyone in between! Want to play some softball on one of the Jacob’s Well coed softball teams this summer? NEW CO-ED TEAMS are forming now! Sign-up at www.jacobswellec.org or contact Matt Bartelt at 715.833.2050 or mbartelt@jacobswellec.org.

     grow

DivorceCare is a DVD-based divorce recovery support group to find healing for the hurt of separation and divorce. Hear from leading experts on divorce and recovery. Learn how to overcome the challenges divorce brings and how to   rebuild your life. Don’t isolate yourself; come be part of a caring group who will take steps together toward wholeness. No need to sign up, just show up. Workbook cost is $16. THURSDAYS @6:30pm in the  Fireside Room. Contact Lauri Gulotta for more information at 715.833.2050 or lauri.gulotta@jacobswellec.org.

     serve

Did you know that we have parking available on the north side of the building? One of the simplest ways you can serve at Jacob’s Well is by parking in that area. This opens up spots in the front for those who are new here, have young children or special needs. Includes handicapped parking.

With record attendance, you may have noticed that the services are very full. Another way to serve simply is to scoot together during the messages. Sound awkward? Find a friend to sit with or make some new friends in the process.   

     share

Invite a friend to church.

The Consequences of Ideas: The Christian and Sexuality

April 25/26, 2015

The Christian Covenant of Marriage

We believe the Christian covenant of marriage by which one man and one woman establish a lifetime partnership for the protection and well-being of the spouses and the procreation and bringing up of offspring is to be honored as holy. This covenant should only be entered into by two professing followers of Jesus Christ. This is a binding covenant between the man, the woman and God.

Jacob’s Well Church believes that the Bible mandates that sexual activity is to be enjoyed exclusively between a man and a woman that have been joined together in holy matrimony. All other sexual activity violates the Biblical standard for Christians. 

This covenant may only be broken in the extreme cases of marital infidelity, abuse or abandonment.

There's a lot to talk about in this declaration. It can be a very passionate topic for many of us as we try to balance our belief in God's word with loving people. What are your beliefs about marriage and sexuality, and where have those ideas come from? 

READ Matthew 5:27-30
Jesus uses hyperbole in these verses to make the point that sexuality is powerful. It often begins with a look or a touch, and our lustful imaginations are set into motion. Unless we guard our minds from these thoughts, the power of our sexuality and our imaginations can quickly take us down a road of pain and heartache. Our ideas begin to take action, and our actions can have devastating consequences. If you're open to sharing with your group, how have you seen this concept play out in your life or the lives of those around you (without naming names)? 

Paul spoke this past weekend on a few points. One by one, DISCUSS with your group what these mean.

• Our culture is broken in regards to sexuality.
• You and I are all born broken in regards to sexuality.
• Sexuality is powerful and needs the safety of marriage.
• We need to rediscover the purposes of sex.

          1. Establishing, renewing, and deepening of the covenant of marriage
          2. Reunion of the separate complementary genders
          3. Creation of children within the safety of family

READ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"And such were some of you." Yep, you and me. Many of us have practiced sexuality outside the covenant of marriage or outside the scope of God's intentions. But more than that, this passage includes other ways that we may have sinned in our past, or maybe even our present. Do you idolize something or someone? "Thieves, the greedy, and swindlers" can refer to the lust for money. "Drunkards" speaks for itself. "Revilers" or "slanderers" (depending on your version of Scripture) refer to those who speak abusively. "And such were some of you." 

And then there's this beautiful word, "but." 

"But" means it's not the end of your story. 

   "But you were washed."

   "But you were sanctified."

   "But you were justified."

All under the new covenant of the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

Have you accepted that gift of life yet? Have you faced your past with God's guidance? Have you been forgiven yet? What a glorious freedom there is in choosing to follow Jesus, to know Him, to become like Him, to be washed and sanctified and justified. God may be calling you to this take this step on your journey. If so, reach out to those in your small group and ask them to walk alongside you. Let them help you heal.

Christ's healing is for all believers to become chaste 

LOOK up the word chaste and TALK about it as a group. Many of us have preconceived notions of this word. What does it mean to you? What does it mean for God's children to live a chaste life in today's culture? How difficult does our culture make living a chaste life? How does Christ's healing help us live chaste, and how does His healing heal us?

GO DEEPER

If you have time and are interested, READ Hebrews 11. NOTE those people from the Old Testament who were sexually immoral. This may require looking up a few of their stories for reference.

And yet, after failing to live within God's plan for marriage, they made a choice to change direction and live a chaste life. "These all were commended for their faith." (v. 39a) You and I can choose every day, through thick and thin, to live within God's guidelines of sexuality. Then, when all is said and done, we can be "commended for our faith" too.