At our morning services in October our series is looking at Money, Sex & Power.

24 October 2021 - 11am Service

Money, Sex & Power Series

This month, we’re taking time to look at how Money, Sex & Power can affect our lives.

You might be wondering, why these three? In the Bible, these ingredients are dealt with completely counter culturally by Jesus, yet His Church has a really bad track record with all three. However, money, sex and power can be great gifts for the blessing of others when surrendered to God.

You can go deeper with this topic on your own or in your small group using the discussion notes below.

DISCUSSION NOTES

Read Genesis 1: 27-28 and Mathew 19: 1-12. Supporting passages include 2 Samuel 13, John 8:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:40.

Traditional teaching on sexuality is an area of great tension in the Church today, but is in the context of enormous liberal change in wider society. There are at least two currents of thought in the Church. One current is aimed at removing unhealthy shame, and making Church much more inclusive in the realm of sexuality. Another current is around protection and healing from sexual brokenness and with it an emphasis on good and appropriate boundaries.

Biblical ‘first things’ are important. What is the first thing God says to humans in scripture (Genesis 1: 28)?
Why is sex such a difficult subject to discuss?
Why do boundaries exist around sex in scripture? How much of sexual rules and practice in Scripture are contextual to a society that is closely bound up with clan and family and knows nothing of ‘family planning’; and which rules are God’s plan for all time?
What about sex and identity? How do you understand Jesus’ teaching in Mathew 19 verses 11 & 12 ?
What should Church be celebrating around human sexuality? How do we avoid judgemental stereotyping? Why have there been so many sex scandals in Churches and how can these be guarded against?
How do single people acknowledge their sexuality?
How does a ‘secret history’ in the area of sexuality affect the whole of life for good or evil?

Richard Foster wrote a book called Money, Sex and Power which might be helpful as a follow up read.