WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:05.839 Hey, this is Andrew Demazio, lead pastor of Rose Church here in Portland, Oregon. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.879 Welcome to our podcast. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:10.080 Our mission here at Rose is building big people. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.679 Becoming like Jesus in community while growing in our faith. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:20.559 Whoever you are, wherever you are, I pray today's message challenges you and encourages you on your walk with Jesus. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.079 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:23.519 Enjoy today's podcast. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.000 Today we're gonna jump into the word, and we've been on a series. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:28.960 This is week number three, um, called The Art of the Table. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:30.000 The Art of the Table. 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:39.439 And today we're gonna use my my big iPad and we're gonna draw, and um it'll be on this screen and up there, so you can see both, and then all the overflows wherever you'll be on your screens as well, so you can follow along. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:49.679 Um but uh we're on this series called The Art of the Table, and it's it's just that because most of our relationships, I would venture to say, all of them, a lot of the times happen around a table. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:55.119 Our marriages, our friendships, our dating, our our friends hanging out in the weekends and nights. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:58.320 It's around tables that we're that we're hanging out with people, and so there's an art to that. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.520 There's an art to the table. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:02.719 But more than that, there's an important word cultivating. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.480 Our relationships don't just show up one day, they are cultivated. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.200 Marriages don't just show up in a good way, they are cultivated. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:11.680 Friendship is very hard, especially in adulthood. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:19.439 Like having real good friends is really hard in adulthood, and that takes cultivation to dig and to grow into good friendships. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:21.760 And so we're talking about all types of things, relationships. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:24.319 The first week we talked about marriages with Pastor Craig and Moni. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.079 They talked about marriages that pray together. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:37.280 And then last week I talked about singlehood, about what does it mean to be single and fruitful, and the call for every one of us that are all single, which apparently is like 80% of our church, um, is either dating or single, just not married. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:39.519 And so large, a large portion are in that world. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:42.400 And so last we talked about singleness and the fruitfulness they're in. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.359 And today we're gonna talk about sex, sexuality. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.719 And so I know for some of you that are all new today, uh this is not our thing. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:50.400 It's like I preach on sex all the time. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:55.280 And if your girlfriend brought you, she knew what was today, so she that's that's on her. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:00.480 And so um uh we're gonna talk about sex, and even more than that, we're gonna talk about the body today. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:08.960 But um uh we did work, we usually do worship after me, but we did a lot of worship up front today because I need I need a solid hour um to communicate what's in my mind. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.159 It's gonna take you some time. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.439 So stay with me. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:17.280 Um and let me just say a few things up front as I deeply dive into God's word today. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:21.919 Um, number one, please stay till the end, even if it gets uncomfortable. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.680 Let me land where we're gonna land. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:25.280 Because I might say some things in the beginning of this sermon. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:27.039 You're like, well, wait a minute, like what's going on? 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.639 Let me let me get through the word and so that you can uh stay till the end and hear me. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:37.520 Uh number two, um, I'm gonna share quite a bit, and so if your kid is in here, if you have like a young child that's in here, that's what we have kids' ministry for. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:45.520 Uh, I don't know if this is the um the sermon we want them hearing about the birds and the bees for the first time, or uh, I'm gonna be pretty forthright today. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:54.800 I do not mean to be gross, I do not mean to be um uh crude or anything, but I'm gonna share um from from scripture today about sex and sexuality and what it means to you and I. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:04.240 And um, and lastly, um when topics like this happen, a lot of emotions start coming up from past life, past relationships, current one. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:07.680 Um a lot, a lot can start arising. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:12.319 Um, and I'm gonna pray for that today that peace will reign in this room. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:15.039 Um shame has no place in this room. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.199 Um conviction has a place. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.719 Uh conviction has a place, um, but shame does not. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:26.000 And so as I share a lot, just it's gonna be a roller coaster of emotions happening. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:30.000 And so um let's read today out of 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.520 1 Corinthians chapter 6 from the word of the Lord today. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:40.000 Last week we're in 1 Corinthians 7 when Paul addresses marriage and singleness and all of that fruitfulness that we did last week. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.479 We're gonna go just a few verses back today. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.879 And um really significant about 10 verses here. 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:52.159 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:53.039 You guys ready? 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:55.120 Alright. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.240 Um, if you notice throughout the text, there will be these these quotations. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:09.199 Um as I've referenced, if you missed it, I just want to let you know that um we we've already talked about this, but there is um multiple letters are going back and forth. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:09.599 Right? 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:15.919 Paul's writing to them, they're writing back, and so in this ten verses we're gonna read right now, he quotes them four times. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.560 Well, you've said this, and here's what I say back. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:19.839 So that's what's happened here. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.120 He says, They've said, I have the right to do anything. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.000 That's not the most Portland motto sentence. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:32.079 I have the right to do anything, you say, but not everything is beneficial. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:37.680 I have the right to do anything, but I will not be mastered by anything. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:43.600 You say, food for the stomach and stomach for the food, and God will destroy both of them. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:51.439 The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:57.040 By his power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will also, he'll raise us also. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:01.360 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.879 Pretty harsh language here, I'll answer in a second. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.360 Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:10.319 Never. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:16.480 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her body? 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:23.839 For it is said, and he's quoting Genesis chapter 2, for the two will become one flesh. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.480 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:29.360 18. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:31.519 Flee from sexual immorality. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:36.480 All other sins a person commits are outside the body. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.519 But whoever sins sexually sins against their own body. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:49.839 Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:54.480 You are not your own, for you've been bought with a price, therefore honor God with your bodies. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.319 Chapter 7, verse 1. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:58.800 Now about the matters you wrote about. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:06.319 They, again, quotations, they've said, It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:15.680 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:22.879 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:23.920 Let's stop there. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:25.680 That will be enough for today. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:31.439 Just about another 20 verses, he goes on this other rant, but we'll we'll stay there for the day. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:36.959 Um, I think it'd be important that we pray as we jump into this text. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:40.399 Father, I thank you for your word. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.920 Hebrews 4 says that the word is sharper than a two-edged sword. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.199 It cuts between soul and spirit, morrow and bone. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:50.720 It cuts. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.639 God, I pray that the sword of the spirit would cut today. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:01.439 Not for shame reasons, but for conviction reasons and helpful reasons. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:05.680 God, your word says that when scripture is preached, it's like seed to the soil. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.279 Seed to the soil. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:11.279 And if it lands on good soil, it shall bring back 30, 16, and a hundredfold. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:17.439 God, I pray for the seed of your word to land on good soil today. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:23.279 Open our minds, open our ears, and more importantly, open our hearts today. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:28.560 God, I pray for those that are not Christian, not saved, um, they're just here with a friend or a neighbor or a girlfriend. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:29.680 Would you speak to them today? 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:31.680 Would you reveal yourself to them today, God? 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:42.240 Um, every married person, every single person, every those dating, engaged, whoever we're at in our marital seasons of life, God, would you speak to us through this deeply convicting text? 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:48.240 God, would you give me the grace today to share boldly but also gently today what you put in my heart to share? 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.759 Holy Spirit, be present. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.199 I know that I am the second preacher in the room, for you are the first preacher. 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.120 Would you speak to every heart and mine today? 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.079 In your mighty name I pray. 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:11.680 And everyone said, This last week, um, literally this last week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I was in LA for a pastor's gathering of pastors all over America and the world from Malaysia and Singapore and Australia, and these pastors were over at this gathering I got invited to, and so I was down in LA Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.720 This literally happened Monday night. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.199 Uh, we're at a hotel getting ready to go to our dinner. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:25.439 And I was with a group of my friends that are all senior pastors, and and we're talking, we're sitting next to a table, and this um young girl, she's probably in her young 20s, maybe 22, 23, is with her dad. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:30.800 And they're having a lively conversation, um, argument. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.080 Um, that's pretty loud, like the restaurant can hear them. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.279 We for sure can. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.799 Uh, and those sitting next to her, and this is verbatim, word for it, this will happen. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.600 We're sitting there, she's with her dad, and her dad says to her, I don't like the men that you date. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.159 And every father said, Amen to all of them. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.960 Like, I don't like any of the men that you date. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:49.919 He's the best. 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:50.799 No, he's the worst. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:52.159 He's not optional, right? 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.879 So he's like, the father's like, I don't like who you're dating. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:09:00.320 And she says back, and I quote, Dad, I'm a good Christian girl. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:03.120 I don't have sex on the first date. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.080 I at least wait till the fifth. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.879 That is much better than all of my friends. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:12.960 End quote. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:15.759 What a sentence. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.600 Dad, I'm a good Christian girl. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.679 I don't have sex on the first date. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.080 I at least wait till the fifth. 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:26.240 This happened this week. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.679 Shocking that I was being also preparing for this sermon. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.440 It just was like a serendipitous moment. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.200 Like, oh, what is the Christian view of sex? 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:39.120 She did not say, Dad, I'm a good girl. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.360 She didn't say, Dad, I'm an LA girl. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:45.279 She didn't say, Dad, I like, she said, Dad, I'm a good Christian girl. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:48.399 I don't have sex until the fifth date. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:10:00.720 What is, I mean, there's hundreds of people in this room and in other rooms, and if I handed the mic around and asked every one of you, define for me what Christian sexuality looks like, I think we get 400 different answers. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.519 Especially living in this city in 2026. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.679 I don't know we'd all land on the same sentence, like this is what the Bible teaches on sexuality. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.120 But, friends, I just want to talk about today. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:17.840 What does it mean to be a good Christian girl, a good Christian boy, and view sexuality in such a way? 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.879 I'm actually not going to talk about sexuality as a whole today. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:26.559 I actually want to elevate the conversation much high much higher than sexuality, and I want to talk about your body. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.240 Your body. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:36.399 What does it mean for you, if you are in the room today, a believer, what does it mean for you to serve the Lord with your body? 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:38.879 That's that's what I want to tackle down today. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.440 Not even sex. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.960 That's such an easy conversation. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.879 I want to elevate it much higher than that. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.000 What does it mean for you to serve the Lord with your body? 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:50.799 Because, friends, we live in a very sexualized world. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:58.159 That's quite obvious when you talk about OnlyFans and Fifty Shades of Grey and Game of Thrones and whatever all the other stuff. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:02.159 Like we live in a very sexual world. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:07.360 But we also lie to ourselves that we think we're the most sexual beings that have ever lived, and it's a lie. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.000 We have not even touched the surface to the Roman Empire yet. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:20.960 And you're in your free time, go take a history class on the Roman Empire, and you will find out real quick. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:26.480 They are Vegas, Portland, Amsterdam, times 50. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.759 We have not even touched how they viewed sex in the public square. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.679 We're talking about public orgies. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.320 We're talking about rape at a level that you cannot get. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.559 Like we uh we are not even close to how sexual these people were. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:48.879 And Paul has the audacity to write two chapters worth, chapters six and seven, to a church in the city called Corinth. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.279 Corinth was the original Vegas. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:59.519 And letters from Philo and Cicero and Plato, uh, actually a slight to call someone was a Corinthian. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:04.559 If you're a girl or a guy, you are wowing out in these streets to go, man, she's really being a good Corinthian. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.240 Like it was a slight. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.360 You'd read their letters, like it's to be a Corinthian is like a wildly sexually perverse, crazy person in these streets. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:19.840 And when you look at even ancient Rome and ancient Corinth, they worship a god named Aphrodite. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.919 You all would know this, the god of sex and pleasure. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.399 Little nerd moment for you. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.799 You know it's pretty crazy. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:37.759 There's a in Corinth, you can do some history on this if you like, there's a amongst the entire Roman Empire, the Corinth, the city of Corinth, had the biggest Aphrodite statue. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:47.039 Do you know how people would, before they'd have sex or want a good orgasm or want if they're in infantility and they want to hit, before they would have sexual intercourse, they would go worship the statue, Aphrodite. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.200 Do you know how they would worship the statue? 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:53.440 On her feet, at the bottom of the statue, they would put frankincense and myrrh. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:03.840 And you think it was random that Mary received frankincense and myrrh for the life of Jesus? 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:10.720 The wise men offering frankincense and myrrh to King Baby Jesus was a statement of anti-worship. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.440 And they give Aphrodite frankincense and myrrh. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:26.320 So Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 and 7 writes this absurdly revolutionary, offensive letters to this church. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:32.720 Friends, not unsaved people, not the crazy neighbors, to a church that is not living right. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:45.919 Lair Hurtado, who is a major historian, he ran the historic department at the University of Ettenberg in the UK, died a number of decades ago, but he was a major early church historian. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.919 And he writes this about this text that we read. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.799 This is his commentary. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.759 He says this. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:55.600 In the Roman era, there was a double standard in sexual practice. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:14:01.519 Women were generally held to a standard of strict marital chastity. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:12.159 Men, however, were allowed to be considerably more free to have sex with many others, although sex with another man's wife was not approved. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:17.279 All other kinds of sexual activity were openly tolerated and actually encouraged. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:24.159 As Demostes says, letter in the third century, he says this, he's a from the fourth century, the crater. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:37.120 He says, We Romans, this is quoting Roman culture, we Romans have prostitutes for pleasure, slaves for our daily desires, and wives to give us legitimate children to guard our household. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:48.080 In this setting, Paul's exhortations to sexual integrity, given mostly to men, project a radically different standard among Christians. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:48.960 Look at this. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:15:00.960 He makes the unusual move of holding men to the same standards of holiness and honor expected of women, thereby challenging the dominant double standard of the time. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:08.960 In the ancient world, when a woman got married, if she had sex with anyone else outside her husband, they could kill her by law. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:14.240 But men were allowed to be as deviant and sexual as they wanted. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:21.919 With slaves, prostitutes, women at all times, it was encouraged that that's how men, that that's how men are men. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.559 We have notches in our belt. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.279 We stack our list of who we've slept with. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:37.360 So Paul's letter in 1 Corinthians is a mind-boggling, deep challenge to this early church that has now been saved in the city of Corinth. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:40.720 And he challenges them not, you know the language, we'll go back here in a moment. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:45.759 Notice he's not just challenging them about their sexual activity, he's talking about their body. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.639 Because imagine being the church of Corinth. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.519 You've lost homes, probably, you've lost friends. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.879 You've like you've this church has been deeply persecuted. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.080 And now they're being told that Jesus does not just want their mind, he wants their body. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:06.639 This is what we need to be reminded of today: that Jesus has to say with what you do with your body. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:14.080 And really quick, just as a way of introduction, Paul is addressing two polarizing views of the body within this church. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.679 He quotes them both. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:19.600 He quotes one sentence in chapter 6 and one in chapter 7. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.879 He is challenging the Roman view and the Gnostic view. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.240 He challenges two polarizing statements. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.600 How this church in Corinth is viewing sexuality. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.120 Number one, so with the Roman view. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:33.039 Look what he says in verse 13. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.080 So again, he's quoting them. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:42.720 He says, You guys say to me, I have the right to do anything I want. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:49.360 You say, two things in the same. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.159 Look at this. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.200 It's like a whole riddle. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.279 Food for the stomach and the stomach for food. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.440 And God's gonna destroy both of them, so who cares? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:59.519 The body, however, is not meant for sexual morality. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.639 Now, what is Paul saying? 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.079 He's he's had this little word. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.640 He's like, so what you guys are saying, this is the Roman way. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.119 Dude, I have a stomach, and when I get hungry, I eat. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.480 I have genitals, when I get horny, I sleep. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.680 I have sex. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.960 That's what he's playing with. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.759 He's like, you guys keep telling me I can do whatever I want. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:23.200 It's just my body, and both are gonna be destroyed anyway. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.079 Who cares? 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:24.960 I have a stomach. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.960 When I get hungry, I eat. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.480 I'm a dude. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:30.720 When I get horny, I find someone to sleep with. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.920 Who cares? 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:37.200 This is the Roman liberal, it doesn't matter what you do with your body, who cares? 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.319 We're all adults. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:44.240 As long as you're in a monogamous, consensual, adult, mutual relationship. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.519 Who cares what you do? 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.720 It's just your body. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.759 Chill out. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:53.759 It's almost like in the modern church that Christians are okay with Jesus being their truth but not their way. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.480 Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.039 You don't get it choose, is he your truth or your way? 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:08.799 So it's almost like these Christians are like, Paul, we believe who Jesus is, resurrected from the dead, king forever, born of a virgin. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.519 I believe you. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.240 But like, why does it matter what I do with my body? 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:15.680 This is the Roman way that he is challenging. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:19.119 And then he quotes in chapter 7, verse 1, he does the other way. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.000 Look at this. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:24.960 These people are saying, the matters that you've wrote about, it's good for a man not to have sexual relations. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:28.480 They're going the other way, saying, okay, we were raised in this Roman culture. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.039 Actually, we shouldn't even touch each other. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:34.640 Like, like that's a like sex is kind of dirty. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:36.559 It's only for procreation. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.160 Have sex to have kids, that's it. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.960 It's not for recreation. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.400 Don't you dare have fun. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.279 It's like it's they they go the other way. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:46.000 They go the Gnostic way that like the body's evil. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.119 Let's get away from it. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.319 We can't wait to go to heaven. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.759 We can't wait to be more spiritual. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:54.160 Let's disengage from laughter and poetry and sex and food and games and comedy shows. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.279 And it's like, no, no, no, all this earthly stuff is really evil. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:59.200 Let's disengage. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.839 Be more Gnostic. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:10.160 And Paul goes, uh, no, actually, since sexuality is occurring, each man should have sex with his wife and wives with husbands. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.319 Um, a little key words here. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.200 He doesn't just say, actually, you're right. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.000 Sex is good. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.720 Go find somebody. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:29.599 He says, Hey, married people, wives and husbands, he goes, go touch each other. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.720 It's good. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.960 Amen. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.240 Some of you are like, bro, I can get behind this God. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.119 Like, I can notice what he's saying. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:46.000 He's not saying have sex with ever you want, like the liberal way, or like the Roman way, but he's not doing the Gnostic way, saying, yeah, sex is kind of dirty. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.519 You probably should like abstain from it. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.960 He's like, it's awesome. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.599 Married folk, fulfill each other. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:53.440 Wives, fulfill your husbands. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.200 Husbands, fulfill your wives. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:20:00.400 So he's challenging these two drastic polarizing views of sexuality. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.920 In other words, sex is either an appetite or appalling. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.680 The Romans are like, dude, it's an appetite, get over yourself. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.279 And the Gnostics are like, it's kind of gross. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:13.279 It's kind of, Paul's like, it's neither an appetite nor appalling, it's holy. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:18.079 Friends, we have a book in the Bible called The Song of Songs. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.920 Sigle people, you're not, you're not allowed to read it. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.920 Wait till you get married. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.759 Have you ever read that book? 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:32.799 And if anyone tells you it's a love letter from Jesus to you, I'm sorry. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:35.920 I don't think you and Jesus should be doing any of that stuff in that book. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.960 It is not a love letter from Jesus to you. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.880 In that book, they're talking about I can't wait to blow in your garden. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:45.920 I can't wait to climb your hills. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:55.200 I can't wait to peruse, like, I mean, I mean, read the book, man. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.640 But think about this. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:01.920 Of all of the books that could have stayed in the canon that didn't, this one stayed. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.079 The early church was like, this one has to stay. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.160 Because sex is gross? 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.680 Oh no, sex is so good. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:09.839 The Bible in the Song of Psalm, this is profound. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:14.079 It says that it's a Song of Psalm, if you don't know, it's it's a couple um getting ready for their honeymoon. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:17.440 So it's them talking to each other and saying they can't wait to do these things to each other and all this stuff. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:19.359 And the Bible says on their wedding night, they have sex. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:24.000 And then the Bible says in Song of Psalms that a voice from heaven says, have your fill. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.680 God wasn't like, ew. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:35.359 We're not doing this today, but Genesis, uh, mind you, uh, sex came before sin. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:40.480 Sexual desire is not a result of sin, it's a result of God. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.079 And God's like, good for you guys, go ahead. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.839 Have fun, kids. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:55.039 So today I really want to wrestle down this idea that Paul is challenging that we need to worship God with our bodies. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.599 Because unfortunately, the church is no different than the world. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:02.480 There is no line of difference. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.680 There is no differentiation. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.720 It's like our sexual appetites are just as the world, and we're fulfilling them the same as the world. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.319 But Paul was telling this church in Corinth, you don't live in Corinth anymore. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.759 You're a citizen of heaven. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:17.759 How we treat our bodies is not how this city treats their bodies. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:21.680 You must change how you treat your body. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:33.759 About 150 years after Paul died, there was a man named Dagnesis, and he was a huge critic of the church, and uh he wrote a lot of letters to the church and making fun of them and challenging them about the virgin birth, about the Holy Spirit, about all these things. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.880 And this is what he says in one of his letters while watching the church. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:40.799 He says that Christians were people, oh I have to change this, my bad. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:44.640 Christians were people of common tables, not common beds. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:48.240 Because the church inverted the Roman Empire. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:53.119 Romans would not eat with certain people, they were very secluded who they ate with, but they'd sleep with anyone. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.400 The church reversed it. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.960 We would eat with everyone, but we won't sleep with who we're married to. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.279 This is his observation of the church. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.799 Man, they eat with everyone. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.359 But they don't have common beds. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:06.400 They only have sex with people they are married to. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:12.559 Friends, as a very long way of introduction, we need a new theology of the body. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.519 Especially in Corinth. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.960 Call Portland. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:25.519 Friends, I don't know if you know this or not, but you know that we are the number one strip uh strip club capital of America? 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:29.839 There's an HBL series coming out here soon about Portland strip clubs. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:33.359 Where we've been number one for about 10 years now. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:38.960 We have the most strip clubs per capita of any major city in America. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.759 We do. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:46.880 People have for school a few months ago, I had to write a paper on how did Portland become one of the gay capitals of America. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:57.279 There's a fascinating study on how the sexual revolution post-the Stonewall riots made its way to little old Portland, and how we've become, and essentially I'll sum my paper up for you. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.480 You're welcome. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:04.559 It's because we live in a city that wants you to do whatever you want with your body. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.799 Do whatever you want with it. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.720 It's your body, your choice. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:12.160 You're an individual, your self-autonomy, a free moral agent. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.440 You do whatever you want. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:17.359 Anybody that wants to come be free moral agents with their body, move to Portland. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.440 So, friends, we live in Corinth. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.680 We live in a world that I know very well. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:25.839 I'm gonna get a bunch of emails today and a bunch of fun DMs. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:32.720 And I know that you're like, I'm the I'm the old guy, I'm stuck in the mud, I'm so ancient, I'm so archaic. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:42.079 I understand that, but let me lay some things at your feet on what it means to serve God with your body, because I believe what Scott McKnight says, we need a renewal, a revival of the body. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:48.000 He says this there is a revival of the value of embodied spirituality. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:55.680 We worship God and we love God in our bodies and with our bodies, with physical, tangible, and palpable ways. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:01.039 Deep is the yearning of humans for the need to do spirituality with our body. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.480 I believe that. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:08.160 I believe there's a new revival happening right now in the world that we actually want to have holistic spirituality again. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:15.680 Because in the West, we have disembodied ourselves, that we believe that we can worship God with our mind and worship the devil with our body. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:25.759 We believe that we can believe certain things, adhere to certain subscribe to certain doctrines, and then do whatever I want with this. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:28.799 No, we need embodied spirituality back. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:31.279 One of the uh great books of C. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:31.599 S. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.839 Lewis um called The Screw Tape Letters. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.319 It's so funny. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:42.640 If you never read it, it's the wittiest satire book about a senior devil teaching a young devil how to persuade Christians not to be Christians anymore. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:48.640 And he says this the senior devil is screw tape, and the little devil's name is Wormwood, but look what he says. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:55.839 Dear Woodwood, I know with great displeasure that one of your patients, which he calls Christians, has become a Christian. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:00.240 Do not indulge the hope that you will escape the usual penalties. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:03.759 Indeed, in your better moments, I trust that you would hardly even wish to do so. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.279 In the meantime, we must make the best of the situation. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.440 Look at this, this is profound. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.839 There's no need to despair. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:22.880 Hundreds of these adults, convert, uh adult converts, have been reclaimed after a brief sojourn in the enemy's camp, he calls God the enemy's camp. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.799 And they're now back with us. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.160 Look at this. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:33.759 All of the habits of the patient, both mentally and bodily, are still in our favor. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:37.200 That is profound. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:42.000 It's a senior devil telling a younger devil that his patient has become a Christian. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.559 And he's like, ah, don't worry about it, he'll be back. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.920 Why will he be back? 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:48.160 All of his habits are still with us. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.880 Man, we can close in prayer right now. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.680 That's profound. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:01.839 Because serving Jesus is not just a mental ascent, your habits are involved. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:10.160 And for some of you, maybe while you are so stuck in your journey with Jesus, it's not because you need to think about him more and love him more. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:12.559