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Dear Friends,

We’re still in 1 Corinthians 6-7, so we are still talking about sex. On Sundays. In Church.

Awkward? Yup! And yet, this is what God says in his Word, and church is the place God says we need to talk about sex – together as a church family.

So this Sunday and next week in our Daily Worship Devotions, we’re considering 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 & 17 and what God has to say about sex and married Christian couples. God is pretty comprehensive about sex in Corinthians. Next week, we’ll consider a section that talks about sex and marriage with regard to singles, widows, and those married to people who are not Christians.

Corinth was a pretty messed up place sexually. One of the main reasons Corinth existed – and was thriving! – was that Corinth was where you went to worship the gods and have sex with Temple Prostitutes. Also, we need to remember that Christianity is new in Corinth. Sure, like everywhere in that part of the world, there had been a small Jewish presence and community in Corinth. Some of those Jews converted to Christianity, but the majority of converts to Christianity in Corinth (the majority of the members of the church in Corinth) did not grow up in “a Christian home.” Neither did they grow up in a context/country where thoughts and practices about marriage and sex had been heavily formed by Christianity.Read More

Dear Friends,

After a two-week break, we’re returning to 1 Corinthians. That means that, for the month of June, we’re going to be dealing with sex on Sundays and each week in our Daily Worship Devotions.

In 1 Corinthians 6-7, God in his Word speaks frankly, plainly, and practically to the Corinthian church about sex. If you survey the text, you’ll also see that he speaks quite comprehensively. In this section, God speaks to married people, single people, and widows about sex and marriage. God speaks to us about all sorts of sexual sin and brokenness, including denying our sexual desires. But he also commands those who are married to not deny their sexual desires (withholding). In 1 Corinthians 6-7, God speaks to us, and commands us about sexual sin as well as sexual health. It really is quite a passage.

Let’s be frank; talking about sex is awkward and uncomfortable in and of itself. And talking about sex at church for several weeks in a row feels like an unbearably awkward scenario. Trust me, I feel it too! But church, in the context of our spiritual family gathered around God’s Word, is the one place we both need to and should talk about sex together. So, here we go! Read More

Dear Friends,

I’m thankful for the “You have memories” function on the Facebook. I don’t know about you, but I’m not great about remembering and celebrating, so I appreciate the prompts and notifications on that App and very much enjoy looking back at pictures, posts, etc.

Remembering is an important and much neglected spiritual discipline. In his Word, God deliberately, and repeatedly, calls us to look back and remember. So, given that it’s Memorial Day Weekend, I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to turn our attention to what God has to say to us about remembering, why it’s such an important spiritual discipline, and consider how we might do better at it both as individuals and together as a church family.

Remembering is an active activity. It’s different from simply “not forgetting.” When God calls us to remember, he’s calling us to revisit, reflect, and dwell upon events in the past – including events that happened before we were born. We see this call to remember very, very regularly in the book of Psalms – our “Book of Public Praises.” Once you notice it, it’s a little staggering to see just how often the call to remember shows up in so many psalms! Why is it so important? What’s the point? Why does God call us to remember so often?Read More