Sermon Tone Analysis

*THE MARRIAGE JUNGLE*

*“*Clearing the Path to Great SEX*”*

Pastor Greg Henneman

June 8, 2003

 

Text:           Genesis 1:27-28, 31

 

Key Idea:    Sex is a beautiful gift from God.

 

Goal:           To encourage couples to intentionally improve their sex lives.

*INTRODU**CTION*

Today we come to the end of our theme “The Marriage Jungle.”

It’s been fun to see some of you getting into it, wearing jaguar pants and leopard ties to church.

Hopefully you’ve learned some things over the past couple of months that is helping your marriage become more like a garden than a jungle.

You know that dangerous animals and quicksand and wrong paths will always be there to threaten us and tempt us, but with the presence of Christ at our side, we can find the right path and stay on it.

And today as we end this series I want to talk to you about sex.

“Clearing the Path to Great Sex.”

We live in a culture (a jungle) where it’s all about sex.

Sex is used to sell toothpaste and cars and eyeglasses.

You’ve seen these books on how men and women are different, haven’t you?

How men need to understand women and women need to understand men?

This is true especially in the area of sexuality.

I came across a cute little piece about the differences between men and women.

Here are 10 things that men think women ought to know about men.

Here are 10 thoughts from the man’s point of view…

 

!! Men Think Women Should Know

 

1.

Learn to work the toilet seat.

You’re a big girl.

If it’s up put it down.

We need it up.

You need it down.

You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down do you?

2.     Shopping is not a sport.

And no we will never think it’s a sport.

3.     Just ask for you want.

Be clear on this: hints do not work.

Just say it!

4.     Most guys own three pairs of shoes, tops.

What makes you think that we would be any good at choosing which pair out of the 30 pair that you own would look good with your dress?

We don’t know!

5.

You come to us with a problem only if you want help solving the problem.

That’s what we do; we solve problems.

Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

6.

A headache that lasts 17 months is a problem; go see a doctor.

7.     If you think you’re fat you probably are, don’t ask us.

We refuse to answer that question.

8.     If something we said could be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

9.     Whenever possible please, say what you have to say during commercials.

10.

If we ask “what is wrong” and you say nothing, we will act like nothing’s wrong.

We know you’re lying but it’s just not worth the hassle.

Men and women are different.

And this is especially true in the area of our sexuality.

And what we need to do as Christians is redeem our sexuality.

Jesus wants to save not only our souls so we go to heaven when we die, but he also wants to save and purify our sexual energy, so that we glorify him in the bedroom as well as in the sanctuary.

Some of us today have gotten off the path in the marriage jungle when it comes to our sexuality.

And we need to clear the path.

We need to recalibrate and find the right direction so that our sex lives will be what God intended them to be.

So I want to give you four major insights from God’s Word that will help you /married couples/ clear the path to a great sex life.

Did you hear that?

I said “married couples.”

I’ll talk to you singles and teens in a moment.

! 1. Sex is a gift from God.

!

It’s a tragedy that the church has oftentimes given the impression that sex is dirty or shameful.

The fact is, sex is a gift from God! Look at…

 

! /Genesis 1:27-28, 31 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”/

!

God could have created us in a zillion different ways; but he created us “male and female.”

So the whole idea of man and woman and love and sex are God’s idea!

He made us this way!

Notice God said, “Be fruitful and increase in number!”

Now how are we going to obey that command!

By having sex! Right?

That’s the only command of God that mankind has obeyed perfectly!

Some of you, for whatever reasons, have thought that sex is “dirty” or “not appropriate” for really holy Christians.

You may think that the more “holy” you become the less sexual you become.

Think again!

God created us “male and female.”

The male body parts and the female body parts correspond perfectly to each other.

The male psyche and the female psyche mesh beautifully together.

Could it be that the more “spiritual” we become, the more our spirituality will impact and purify and energize our sexuality?

I think a good case could be made that the more spiritual a married couple becomes, the more vibrant their sex life will be!

Assuming of course that they don’t have some physical illness or problem.

My point is: Don’t think that to be “spiritual” means that you deny your sexuality!

God created us to be spiritual and sexual!

Now…

 

*2.

Sex is dangerous outside of God’s design.*

Sex is like fire.

It’s a wonderful thing when used rightly, but it will destroy you if you’re not careful.

! /1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.

The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life."/

Notice, Christ-followers are to “avoid sexual immorality.”

What is sexual immorality?

Sexual immorality is having sex with someone other than your married partner.

Having sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend is sexual immorality.

You say, “But Greg, we love each other, and our God-given desires are white-hot and we’re probably going to get married anyway!”

Look what God says, “each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.”

If you’re a Christ-follower then the Spirit of Christ lives inside you!

And the Spirit says that expressing your sexuality outside of the marriage covenant is NOT God’s will for you!

 

Single people and teenagers, your sexuality was given to you by God.

God knows your sexual needs.

God is not a mean, grouchy God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.

When God tells you to control your sexual desires and not to express your sexual desires until your married, God is telling you that for your own benefit!