Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What is God’s will for us?
2. What actions reflect this, and what actions reflect the opposite of this?
3. When we refuse to live this way, what are we rejecting?
Reflect
This week, we’ve looked at God’s care for us in the area of sex. Today, we see His ultimate care by calling us to holiness. These verses urge us to “stay away from all sexual sin,” to control our bodies, and not give into lustful passion. This applies not only to the context of real-life relationships, but also what we view.
A huge counterfeit to God’s design is pornography. It’s the most extreme example of depersonalized sex, where the viewer disconnects the body from the person, devouring an image as an object for personal pleasure. We’re immersed in sexual imagery, while making sexual intimacy increasingly difficult to achieve.
As we’ve seen all week, God’s design is for so much more. If you’ve struggled with sexual sin, whether through pornography or some other way… If you’ve been hounded by sex’s promises of fulfillment but hurt by its lies… If you’re broken or feeling hopeless, remember that God never scolds, shames, or casts you out. He invites you to come – to be forgiven, healed, and to give you the courage to follow His way.
Respond
• What has kept you from pursuing holiness in the past? Do you find yourself listening more to culture’s perspective on sex or God’s?
• Is there any sexual sin that has gotten a grip on you that needs to be brought into the light, whether pornography, sex outside the covenant of marriage, or some other struggle?
• What do you need to bring to God today so you can be forgiven, healed, and receive the courage to follow His way?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.
Want to go deeper? Visit the Traders Point app or this link to see our recommended resources for this week’s topic. If you want to catch Sunday’s message again, you can find it here.