Image of God As Original Relationship

Something Beautiful for God: A Christian Vision of Sexuality

Sermon Series Outline:

1. ACT ONE: Creation of the Heavens and the Earth (Ordinary Time)

a. Jesus on the Meaning of Marriage (Matt. 19:3-12; Gen. 1:27; 2:24; Isaiah 56:1-8)

b. Image of God as Original Relationship (Gen. 1:26-27)

c. Fruitfulness and the Image of God (Gen. 1:28-30; 2:5-15)

d. Power, Authority and the Image of God (Gen. 2:28-30; Psalm 8)

e. The Meaning of the Body (Gen. 2:5-7)

f. God Created them Male and Female (Gen. 1:27; 2:18-25)

g. Built for Relationship (Gen. 2:18-23)

h. The Anatomy of Desire (Gen. 2:21-25)

i. One Flesh (Gen. 2:24-25)

j. Naked and Not Ashamed (Gen. 2:21-3:11)

k. The Meaning of Covenant (Genesis 17:1-14)

l. Family as Instrument of Salvation (Matt 1:1-17)

2. EPIPHANY INTERLUDE

a. The Inclusivity and Exclusivity of Jesus (John 4:1-26)

b. The Authority of Jesus (Matthew 7:24-29)

c. The Sexuality of Jesus (Hebrews 2:5-18)

d. Death to Selfie (Mark 8:31-38)

3. ACT TWO: Fall into Sin (Lent)

a. Paradise Lost (Gen. 3:1-24)

b. Loneliness (Gen. 4:1-16)

c. Sex After the Revolution (1 Cor. 6:9-20)

d. Big Time Sensuality (1 Peter 4:1-11)

e. Divorce (Matt. 19:3-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16)

f. Gender Trouble (1 Cor. 11:1-16; Matt. 19:10-13)

g. A History of Sexuality (Romans 1:18-32)

4. ACT THREE: Redemption and the New Creation—Eastertide and Ordinary Time

Emergence of a New Creation Sexuality

a. Resurrection of the Body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49)

b. Singleness, Marriage and a New Creation Sexuality (1 Cor. 7:17-40)

c. All in the Family (Mark 3:20-35)

d. Raising Kingdom Children (Deut. 6:4-9)

e. Mission of Marriage in New Creation (Eph. 5:25-33)

f. Spiritual Friendship (1 Samuel 20)

g. Chastity as Sexual Beauty (1 Cor. 6:12-20)

h. Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-9)