Passing on Healthy Sexuality in a Broken World

 Study Guide for Week of September 26, 2021 

This Week Reading: Genesis 1:27-31; 1 Corinthians 6:16-20; Mark 10:6-8; Romans 1:26-27

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use The More I Seek You  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): Why does sexual bring such brokenness in our world?

G. Read Background Information: 

 Genesis chapter one verse 27-32 tells us that we are made in God's image. We are made male or female. There are only 2 sexes- 2 genders and they are set at birth. 

1 Corinthians 6:16-20 reminds us that our bodies are not just physical but spiritual. Therefore we can not separate sex from our spirituality.

Mark 10:6-8; Romans 1:26-27 tells us God's plan for healthy sexuality.

Verse Outline: Some key Points to discuss 

I.     Understanding One: Sexuality is Spiritual – Genesis 1 verse 27 and 1 Corinthians 6:16-20

Key Concept: All sexual relations create deep spiritual bonds

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

Community Group Application: Community group members realize that sexual brokenness needs spiritual healing and seek that healing for themselves and others.

II. Understanding Two: Healthy Sexuality is Based on Biblical Oneness and Leads to Wholeness and Fruitfulness– Genesis 1:27 - 28; Mark 10:6-8

Key Concept: God’s deepest desire is for you and your children is that you and they be blessed and to be fruitful.  

Key Verse: Mark 10:6-8 But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So, they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Community Group Application: God’s true purpose for sexuality can only be experienced in a committed lifelong marriage between a man and a woman. 

III. Understanding Three: Biblical Spirituality is Very Good – Verse 31 and Romans 1:26-27

 Key Concept: There is hope and healing for the misuse of sex. (Marshall Shelley)

Key Verse: Romans 1:26-27 Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Community Group Application: In a world filled with those wounded sexually, followers of Jesus are to be God’s agents of healing and restoration. (Marshall Shelley)

Community Group Application: Community group members not only focus on personal healing and growth but on reaching out to others, so they don’t get stuck

     II.    H. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2 groups one of male and the other female.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.