MAIN POINT:

Make the choice to by sexually pure whether you are unmarried or married!

ICEBREAKER:

What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word “pure”?

INTRODUCTION:

Pastor Chris preached this week on sexual purity. He quoted Martin Luther, “Peace if possible, but purity at all costs.” Sexual purity for those that are unmarried means abstaining from sex. Sexual purity for those that are married means engaging in sexual relations only with one’s spouse.

ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY:

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

1. Paul says reminds the Thessalonians in verses 1 and 2 that he taught them how to “walk and please God.” Who has taught you how to walk and please God?

2. Verse 3 says that God’s will for us is our sanctification. Look up sanctification. How are you being sanctified or set apart for God? How are you different than you were before you chose to follow Christ?

3. Verses 4-6 address sexual immorality. Why is it so difficult to control our own body? Discuss instant gratification versus delayed gratification.

4. What safeguards or accountability measures can you set in place to avoid sexual immorality?

5. Verses 7-8 again stress that it is God who calls us to be holy. It can be easy to compartmentalize our lives. For example, we find it easy to follow God’s law not to kill our brother (Deuteronomy 5:17), but we find it more difficult not to covet our neighbor’s new house or car (Deuteronomy 5:21). How can we remember that every part of our lives (including our sexuality) is to be holy? Brainstorm ideas for how to un-compartmentalize our lives and apply God’s instructions to our whole selves.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:4-5.

6. These verses apply to those who are married. If you are married, have you considered that your body is no longer completely your own? How does that make you feel?

7. There is no excuse for violating the marriage bed (with another person, pornography, etc.), but verse 5 does give us a warning. Do you make time for intimacy in your marriage?

8. Purity both outside and inside marriage can be a challenge. Our theme verse this year is Psalm 92:12-14. Read the verse. Are you planted in God’s house? Do you attend church regularly and hear teaching on God’s word? Are you attending group regularly and being held accountable by other members of Christ’s body?

9. Consider memorizing Psalm 51:12. Pastor Chris calls this the “Lord make me want to” verse. David had sinned in adultery with Bathsheba and had also murdered her husband. He asks God to forgive him, restore his joy in salvation and to give him a willing spirit to do right. May God make our hearts willing!

LEADER NOTES

Note to leaders: you (or your group members) may find it uncomfortable to address sexual purity in a mixed gender group. Consider separating into men’s groups and women’s groups if you feel that will make the discussion more productive.

1. Discuss mentors. We can also be taught by people that we do not know in person, but by pastor’s sermons that we listen too, podcasts, etc., but be careful to watch who you follow and be sure they follow Christ!
2. To sanctify is “to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate” according to dictionary.com. Sanctification is the state of being sanctified.