series artseries art

A Better Exchange

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. ROMANS 1:22-27 NLT

We exchange the God who is for the God we want  

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” EXODUS 3:13 NLT

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. JOHN 8:58-59 NLT 

Jesus said- “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” MATTHEW 11:16-17 ESV

We exchange the truth of God’s word for the word of someone else

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.  ROMANS 1:26-27 ESV  

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 2 PETER 3:15-17 ESV 

The Bible directs how we as Christians are to engage in sex. Some of these commands will be easy, some will be difficult. Some may force you to die to a very deep part of who you understand yourself to be. 

We exchange our God-given identity for someone, or something, else 

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:27 TNIV

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. ROMANS 1:22-23 ESV

We all identify ourselves in relation to others:

Jesus offers a better exchange

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” MATTHEW 11:28-30 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place to talk with God. Take a few moments to allow yourself to become calm. When you are ready, begin a conversation with him. Reflect on the sermon about  our tendency to rely on God to be what we want him to be, rather than on who he is. Ask God, “Is there a truth about you I am struggling to accept? What does your word say about this truth?” Recall an experience in which God demonstrated this truth about himself to you. Ask yourself, “What was I tempted to want God to be in this situation? What can I do to better accept who he is in this area?” Ask him to show you one action he wants you to take this week to grow in your acceptance of this truth about him. If you think it would help, reach out to someone you trust to talk through this struggle. Close your time by asking him to guide and empower you to take this action. Thank him for his support in helping you to accept who he is in this area, and for his help in resisting trying to exchange him for what you want him to be. 

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. Read Romans 1:22-27. God’s word hasn’t changed in thousands of years, yet it seems like more and more churches are either being silent about or fully affirming of the sexual practices outlined in this passage. Why do you think this shift is taking place? In what ways do you see it affecting the people in your life?
  3. Read Exodus 3:13. God is who he is. When has there been a time where you exchanged the God who is for one you wanted? What happened as a result?
  4. Read 2 Peter 3:15-17. Our beliefs about God tend to be influenced by others. Where have you been more influenced by someone else than by what God says in the Bible?
  5. Read Genesis 1:27. What are some of the things that you currently find your identity in that have diminished who you are in Jesus as a result? What do you need to do about it?
  6. Read Matthew 11:28-30. What specific burdens do you need to exchange with Jesus for his peace? What can we do to help?