Discipleship #4: The Birds and the Bees of Discipleship

Pastor Scott Applegate 

Sermon Notes:

(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 NIV

God’s design and plan for sex: One Man + One Woman in the Covenant of Marriage

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew‬ 19‬:4-6‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

• Children (Genesis 1:28)

• Intimacy (Genesis 2:27)

• Pleasure (Song of Solomon)

• Protection (1 Corinthians 7:9)

What do discipleship and sex have to do with each other? Everything

Disciple: A disciple of Jesus is someone who has trusted in Him as Savior and is following Him as Lord. A disciple learns how to live from Jesus, puts His Word into practice, and desires to live a life pleasing to God.

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians‬ 4‬:1-8‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“We instructed you…”

“How to live in order to please God”

“It is God’s will that you be sanctified” – Set apart

• Don’t go beyond the circle of holy sex – “avoid sexual immorality”

• Don’t follow impulses or feelings – “learn to control your own body”

• Do all things in love – “holy and honorable”

• Do trust that God knows what’s best for you – “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life”