The task of the Christian is not to whine about the moment in which he or she lives but to understand its problems and respond appropriately to them.” (Carl Trueman) Perhaps nothing has garnered more attention in our current cultural moment than identity, gender, and sex. But attention has not meant agreement for there is a host of opinions about the problems we face, and how to respond appropriately to them. In this series, we are exploring how, ultimately, each of us is made for God and what difference that then makes regarding identity, gender, and sex.
The resources on this page are intended to help you better understand how we have been made for God when it comes to Identity, Gender, and Sex. Although we hope that these resources are helpful to you, they are not, and cannot be, a replacement for God’s word, the Bible. Unlike God’s word, these resources are not perfect, breathed out by God, or able to discern our inner-most thoughts and intentions in the same manner as God’s word. We believe these resources will be most helpful when utilizing them in community and subjecting them to God’s word together.
If you’re having feelings of hopelessness or helplessness and would like to meet with a member of the Restoring Hope counseling team, please email restoringhope@hopecc.com. If you have questions or concerns related to the Made for God sermon series, please email cor@hopecc.com.
Week 1: Identity, Human Dignity, and God’s Authority of Love
In the first week of this series, we look at the exclusive and authoritative role God possesses when it comes to identity, human dignity, gender, sex, and love. If God’s Word is not authoritative in our lives, then there would be no reason to return in future weeks to hear what he has to say. But if his Word is authoritative, and at Hope Community Church we believe it is, then we are right to heed what he says in the following weeks of this series
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 1: Handout
Made for God Week 1: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
What is God’s Design for Gender/Sex?
Hope Sermon: What Was God Thinking When He Created Sex?
Website: Christian Sexuality
Book: Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters by Dr. Juli Slattery
Week 2: Sex and Gender from a Biblical Perspective, God’s Biblical Creation as Good
There are two undeniable realities which emerge from the earliest pages of the Bible–God is Creator of all things and his work of creation is good. Given our current series, this means gender and sexuality are created by the Lord and, in an unblemished state, they are unquestionably good. So, we must first begin by acknowledging God’s initial design and intent for sex, gender, and human sexuality.
Week 3: Sex and Gender from a Gospel Perspective – What Does the Gospel Proclain Amidst Our Individual and Collective Brokenness?
Sadly, God’s good work in creation has been sullied due to sin. The consequences of sin within sex and gender cannot be overstated. Confusion, hurt, harm, immorality, brokenness, assault, adultery, rape, and more have befallen all of us. But sin does not get the last word; God does. This week we will hear how the gospel speaks into our individual and collective brokenness providing a word of hope and healing.
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 3: Handout
Made for God Week 3: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
What Does the Gospel Say Amidst Shame, Hurt, Harm, Assault, and Abuse?
Hope Article: Breaking Shame Narratives by Paul Stiver and Kaelyn Larson
Book: Rid of My Disgrace by Justin Holcomb and Lindsay Holcomb
Week 4: Is the Goal, “First Comes Love, Then Marriage, Then the Baby in the Baby Carriage”? On Singleness, Dating and Marriage.
God’s good work of creation within sex and gender can be easily misconstrued. For example, in the church, becoming a husband and dad or a wife and mother can be depicted as the highest good. In so doing, our primary calling to bear God’s divine image and glorify him gets replaced by a secondary calling. This week we will hear of our primary identity in Christ which should then inform how we understand singleness, dating, and marriage.
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 4: Handout
Made for God Week 4: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
What Does the Gospel Say About Singleness?
Hope Sermon: Singleness
Book: 7 Myths About Singleness by Sam Allberry
What Does the Gospel Say About Dating?
Hope Sermon: The Idolatry of Marriage (or Singleness)
Sermon Series: Sex, Singleness, & Marriage from Redeemer Church
What Does the Gospel Say About Marriage?
Article: What is a Christian Sexual Ethic? by Preston Sprinkle
Book: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy & Kathy Keller
How Does the Gospel Speak Amidst Divorce?
Hope Sermon: The Law, the Gospel, and Divorce
Sermon: Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness – Tim Keller
What is Complementarianism?
Hope Article: Gender Roles by Kaelyn Larson
Hope Essay: Seeking Clarity on Complementarianism
Week 5: Repsect, Honesty, Truth, and Love for Those Facing Lust, Pornography, Masturbation, and Fornication
The list of sexual sins is long. For every good and perfect gift that God has given, we have been quick to dishonor him and tarnish the gift of sex. This week’s message will not shrink back from addressing the ugliness and idolatry of sexual sin. But it will not leave us hopeless. The gospel speaks a better word than the empty claims of sexual sin. We hope that many will turn from sin to God and trust him for health and holiness.
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 5: Handout
Made for God Week 5: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
What is Lust & What Does the Gospel Say About It?
Hope Sermon: Lust: Dealing With the Dragon Within
Hope Sermon Series: False Intimacy
Pornography
Article: NY Times – Internet Porn Nearly Ruined His Life. Now He Wants to Help.
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming
What Does the Bible Say About Masturbation?
Hope Sermon: From Naked and Ashamed to Covered and Loved
Forum: Sex and the End of Loneliness: An Open Forum hosted by Timothy Keller
What Does the Gospel Say About Fornication?
Hope Article: Is it Okay to Sleep Together if We Really Love Each Other? by Cor Chmieleski
Book: Premarital Sex in America: How Young Americans Meet, Mate, and Think About Marrying by Mark Regnerus and Jeremy Uecker
Week 6: Repsect, Honesty, Truth, and Love for Those Facing Same-Sex Attraction
The American Church has expressed different opinions about the nature, response, and implications of same-sex attraction. How does the Bible square with these varied approaches? Is identity rightly tied to one’s attractions as some suggest or are such beliefs misguided? This week’s message will look more deeply into the realities of same-sex attraction. What does the gospel proclaim amidst same-sex attractions?
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 6: Handout
Made for God Week 6: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
What Does the Gospel Say About Same-Sex Attraction/Homosexuality?
Hope Sermon: Holy Sex and Homosexuality
Conference Talk: Sexuality and Identity by Jackie Hill Perry
Book: Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry
Book: Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide for Parents, Pastors, and Friends by Mark A. Yarhouse
Week 7: Repsect, Honesty, Truth, and Love for Those Experiencing Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a term which describes the unease or distress due to a perceived incongruence between one’s biological sex and an internal sense of gender identity. Does the Bible speak of such realities? And what is a gospel approach to those who respond to dysphoria with hormone treatment or surgery? And is it possible for the church to enter into their distress with a message of hope and help rather than demonstrations of neglect or harassment?
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 7: Handout
Made for God Week 7: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
How Does the Gospel Speak into Gender Dysphoria?
Podcast Episode: Gender Identity, Biblical Womanhood, and Girly Girls by Thirty Minutes with the Perrys
Book: Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture by Mark A. Yarhouse
Week 8: Is There Hope For Us? Identity, Human Dignity, and the Future of the Church and Our Church
This week concludes our Made for God sermon series. A lot of ground has been covered to this point. Looking ahead, what does it look like to take the requisite time to understand the problems we currently face and the ones still to come from a biblical perspective and to respond appropriately? Each of us, ultimately, is made for God. And that truth makes all the difference when we consider the future of Hope as it relates to identity, gender, sex, and human dignity.
Small Group Studies
Made for God Week 8: Handout
Made for God Week 8: Leader Copy
Additional Resources
Hope
Hope Sermon: Beauty from Ashes: Hope for the Sexually Fallen
Hope Sermon: Restoration: Picking up the Pieces of Our Broken Sexuality