Speaking Of Sex. . . Series

NOTES

THE LANGUAGE OF MARRIAGE SERIES – Part 2

Dr. Tom Bartlett

May 22, 2022

Speaking of sex . . .

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 (NLT) God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—5not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you Before.God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Genesis 2:18 (NLT) Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Genesis 2:24 (NLT) . . . a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

4 Biblical Principles of Sex & Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1–5 (NLT)

PRINCIPLE #1

Marriage and singleness are gifts

1 Corinthians 7:1, 7 (NLT) Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations . . . 7But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

PRINCIPLE #2

Gifts contain responsibilities

1 Corinthians 7:2–3 (NLT) But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.

Hebrews 13:4 (NLT) Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

PRINCIPLE #3

Authority is given to each other

1 Corinthians 7:4 (NLT) 4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

PRINCIPLE #4

Growth requires deep commitments

1 Corinthians 7:5 (NLT) 5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Next Step: I will live in agreement with God’s design for marriage

MANUSCRIPT

THE LANGUAGE OF MARRIAGE SERIES – Part 2

Dr. Tom Bartlett

May 22, 2022

ME

Good morning and welcome to the Celebration! We started a series last week called the Language of Marriage and we will continue today as we look at the topic of sex. Ok, we’ll get to that in a minute. I just wanted to say that upfront, so all those surfing at home and trying to decide who or what they will watch today, will stick with us.

Now, I grew up in a very conservative home. My parents were very modest, and the word “sex” was never used, ever! It’s not a four-letter word, but in just three letters it was stronger.

My parents were married for well over 50 years and by the time the kids were all out of the house, my dad seemed to lighten up, in a good way on some things. Now, my mom was the most congenial and friendly person you’d ever meet. Anywhere she worked, people would come there just to chat with her. After owning several businesses my mom decided to work for the local Publix grocery store. They put her in the deli area where every day she’d put on her fancy green apron and hand out samples to those walking by.

Of course, living near a retirement center, many of the senior citizens would come by often and chat with mom and get a sample of whatever she was emphasizing that day.

My dad relates the story of an older man, (my dad was pretty old too), who saw my mom out at a restaurant. Mom recognized him, but he couldn’t seem to place her. Finally, he said, after realizing that she wasn’t in her green apron from work, “Oh, Marilynn, I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on”!

My dad told that one, at mom’s funeral.

WE

I think if we’re all honest there’s this inhibition about talking about sex to our children, with our parents, and even with a therapist when we’re struggling relationally.

It’s not easy, but it’s also not like the Bible doesn’t mention sex or sexuality, because it does, over 100 times in some form or fashion[1]. Sex today is sold as something that it’s not, free, easy, harmless, and safe, well that’s true but only in a biblical context.