Going Deeper – Week 5 - Sex, Desire & the Bigger Picture of Human Love
- Stephen Sutton
- May 11
- 4 min read
This week in our God’s Book series we explored one of the most sensitive and confusing topics in our culture today. You can watch the message here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf6ZAGHtnCc
What does the Bible actually say about sex?
And the reality is… we are all coming into this conversation from different places.
Some of us carry shame from legalistic church culture. Some of us carry wounds from sexual brokenness or abuse. Some of us carry regret. Some of us carry confusion. Some of us carry deep longings we don’t quite know what to do with.
Which is why it matters so much that when the Bible speaks about sex, it does not begin with embarrassment, disgust, or prudishness.
It begins with Gods GOOD creation.
Start at the Beginning
One of the biggest ideas from Sundays message was this:
The Bible’s teaching on sex is BIGGER and BETTER than our treatment of sex often is.
Our culture tends to think about sex in terms of "me" and "now"
But the Bible thinks in terms of; covenant, creation, relationship, community and long-term flourishing
Right from Genesis, sex is presented as part of God’s good creation.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” - Genesis 1:31
The Bible is not anti-body. It is not anti-pleasure. It is not embarrassed about intimacy. In fact, the Bible even contains poetry celebrating romantic and sexual love (see Song of Songs!). Sex is not dirty. It's powerful.
Read Ahead This Week
1. Genesis 1:26–31
Human beings made in the image of God.
Notice the goodness, dignity, and beauty of embodied humanity.
2. Genesis 2:18–25
The “one flesh” passage.
This becomes foundational for the Bible’s understanding of sex, covenant, marriage, and union.
3. 1 Corinthians 6:12–20
One of the key passages from Sunday.
Paul speaks into a deeply sexualised Roman culture and calls Christians into a radically different vision of human dignity and holiness.
Especially notice: “You are not your own… you were bought at a price.”
And:
“Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.”
4. Ephesians 5:21–33
Marriage as a signpost pointing toward Christ and the Church.
One of the Bible’s deepest ideas is that human marriage points beyond itself toward ultimate union with God. You are made for and headding towards a ONEness with God.
Helpful BibleProject Resources
Jesus Vision for Sex and Desire – BibleProject Podcast
A brilliant discussion about the topics of sex and desire
“Holiness” – BibleProject
Really helpful for understanding holiness not as cold rule-keeping, but as being set apart for God’s good purposes.
“Image of God” – BibleProject
This helps frame why bodies, relationships, and human dignity matter so deeply in Scripture.
A Bigger Vision Than Rules
One of the key things we explored on Sunday is that when we read the bible we need to mainly be asking “What are the rules?” but “What kind of life leads to flourishing?”. If the God made this world then He knows how LIFE in all its fullness is lived.
The Bible’s sexual ethic is not about God trying to ruin people’s fun.
It is about God showing us about how He has designed LIFE.
Genesis describes sex as becoming “one flesh.”
That is much bigger than two bodies colliding together for a moment.
It involves; trust, vulnerability, faithfulness, commitment, safety, covenant, and the joining together of lives into a new family unit.
The Bible treats sex as something deeply meaningful because people are deeply meaningful.
The Radical Nature of the New Testament
One of the surprising things we touched on Sunday is how revolutionary Christianity’s sexual ethic actually was in the ancient Roman world.
The Roman Empire was deeply exploitative sexually, slaves (both male and female) could be used sexually, prostitutes were common, women had far fewer rights, powerful men were expected to satisfy their desires however they wanted
Into that culture Christianity arrived saying, NO! Your bodies matter, women matter, slaves matter, faithfulness matters, covenant matters, people are not objects to consume
That was radically countercultural then…
…and in many ways it still is now.
The Gospel for Sexually Broken People
This is so important:
The gospel is not only for people with clean stories. The Bible is full of people with complicated sexual histories, failures, wounds, regrets, and brokenness.
And yet Jesus continually moves toward people with grace and restoration.
As we heard on Sunday, “That is what some of you were. But now you are washed…” we are a community of broken people who are forgiven, restored, and invited into a new way of life.
A Reflection for This Week
Where have you most absorbed our culture’s story about sex, relationships, identity, or bodies? And how might Jesus be inviting you into a better story?
A Simple Practice This Week
Spend some time praying slowly through Psalm 139:13–18.
Thank God for your body. Thank Him that you are known fully by Him. Ask Him to heal any shame, confusion, regret, fear, or wounds you carry.
Then simply pray “Jesus, teach me to live with my body, desires, and relationships in a way that reflects your love and wisdom and LIFE.”
Comments