And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” 2 SAMUEL 12:1-7 ESV

Trust that God knows more about sex than I do

You shall not commit adultery. EXODUS 20:14 ESV
If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. LEVITICUS 20:10 ESV

Trust that God’s plan for sex is better than mine

He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. PROVERBS 6:32 ESV

Sex is both pleasurable and powerful

The best sex happens through:
● Physical attraction
● Emotional connection
● Spiritual union

It’s called marriage

Marriage is:

● Public not private
● Permanent not temporary

Sex in marriage should be:

● Intentional and regular
The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:3 NLT
Do 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. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:5 NLT

Sex outside of marriage is:

Sin

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:18 NLT

Seductive

For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. * PROVERBS 5:3 NLT*

Destructive

But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. PROVERBS 5:4-5 NLT

Ask God to bless my sex life

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Ephesians 5:3 NLT
1. Repent of my sin to God
2. Confess my sin to a trusted Christian
3, Seek wise counsel to make changes so it won’t happen again

Ready to Get Married?

Take our premarriage class and Pastor Matt will marry you at Sandals Church Hunter Park on Friday, May 17
Get all the info and sign up at move.sc/gethitched

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. What does our culture say about sex outside of marriage and adultery? What messages do we get from celebrities, movies and music?
2. How are you tempted to view sex? When is it easier to align with our culture and where do you prefer to stick with God?
3. Review 1 Corinthians 6:18. How have you seen the effects of sexual sin as being different from the effects of other sins?
4. How has your view about sex and adultery changed as you have gone through life?
5. What’s been an area that you’ve struggled with as you try to practice sex God’s way?
6. Do you need to repent? Do you need to forgive someone? If so, what is your plan to have God and this group help you through this?

Personal Reflection Guide

Take yourself to a quiet spot with no distractions, where you feel at ease and can reflect.
Open your heart up to a conversation with God, where he can lead you, and invite him to do so. Ask yourself if there were any passages from the sermon that really stood out to you, either because they were strongly worded or because you felt a strong response. Ask God why those passages in particular stood out to you. How did they make you question your own beliefs about sex or God? We know God is good and gives good gifts, so were you surprised at all about the language used in some of these passages? Were you surprised at all about the strength of your own response? Spend some time sharing with God the feelings that have been brought up in you. Afterwards, note down questions you still have or support you need. Then, find time this week to bring what you have written to people you trust who can help you not just obey God’s commands about sex, but live a life where you can enjoy the gift of sex and the freedom of a clean conscience.