Sexuality
Bearing God's Image
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27
When God created humans, the Bible says that he placed his image upon them. What does it mean to be made in God’s image?
It means that, as humans, our bodies and our beings are to reflect who God is - his nature and his character. And this is very important to God! We are meant to be witnesses and multipliers of his goodness and trueness.
Watch the Bible Project’s video on the Image of God below:
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
If we are bearers of God’s image, what does this say about sexuality? It says that our sexuality is very good. It’s very valuable to God, to the point that any corruption of it is a detestable thing to him and ought to be to us as well.
The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. - 1 Corinthians 6:13a
Sexual immorality breaks the image of God and actually makes us less than human. It’s both damaging to us and to others.
Watch the video below on the Theology of the Body:
The sexual act is a beautiful thing meant to reveal a great truth about God. This is why it’s very important that it doesn’t get tainted. And God designed it this way to be between a man and a woman from the very beginning.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” - Genesis 2:23
Watch the Bible Project video on Song of Songs below:
Practice
-
Read Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:4-25
-
Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and 7:1-7
-
Read Ephesians 4:11-32 and Ephesians 5
After reading, think of what questions or insights you may have and discuss them with your small group leader or staff member. Consider such topics as the image of God, sexual immorality, homosexuality, transgenderism, etc.
After completing this module, can you think of any ways you can love God with your sexuality? Any changes or repentance that you can do? Anything you can put into practice? After thinking this through:
-
Make a step to put this into action. If you feel comfortable, consider discussing this with your small group leader or staff member and inviting them to support you in this endeavor.
Dig Deeper
Here are some extra readings to go deeper into this topic: