Honoring God Through Healthy Sexuality and Spirituality

Devotional

Day 1: Honoring the Image of God in Others

Every person you encounter is an image bearer of God, deserving of dignity and respect. When we reduce someone to an object—whether through our actions, words, or even thoughts—we violate the sacredness God has placed in them. This is especially true in the realm of sexuality, where objectification can become normalized or justified, but it always leads to disconnection and dehumanization. Instead, we are called to honor the divine imprint in every individual, seeing them as God sees them, and treating them accordingly in all our relationships and behaviors. [16:09]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to see others as objects rather than image bearers of God? How can you intentionally honor the image of God in someone you interact with today?

Day 2: Your Body Is a Temple—Honor God With It

Our bodies are not just physical vessels; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price and meant for the Lord. This truth calls us to a higher standard in how we use and care for our bodies, especially in matters of sexuality. Rather than being mastered by desires or cultural narratives, we are invited to live in a way that reflects our belonging to Christ, seeking what is beneficial and honoring to God, not just what is permissible. [02:39]

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV)
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can honor God with your body today, especially in how you relate to others or care for yourself?

Day 3: The Goal Is Christlikeness, Not Just Rule-Keeping

The highest ethic for followers of Jesus is not simply to be “biblical” in a rule-based sense, but to be Christlike—applying the heart and wisdom of Jesus to every situation. This means moving beyond legalism or shame-based approaches to sexuality and instead asking how Jesus would treat others, how He would apply Scripture, and how He would embody grace, truth, and love. Our aim is to reflect Christ’s character in all things, including our sexuality, relationships, and the way we view ourselves and others. [03:47]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection: Where have you been more focused on rules than on Christlike love? How can you shift your mindset today to reflect Jesus’ heart in your actions and attitudes?

Day 4: Knowing Who You Are—Identity Before Intimacy

A healthy relationship is built on two people who know who they are apart from each other, so that their connection is based on wanting, not needing, the other person. When you are secure in your identity in Christ, you can offer yourself as a gift rather than seeking someone to fill your emptiness or define your worth. This shift transforms relationships from codependency to genuine love, where both partners are free to give and receive without the burden of being someone’s source of identity. [28:28]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: What is one way you can cultivate your identity in Christ today, so that you can offer yourself to others from a place of wholeness rather than need?

Day 5: Moving Toward Sacred Connection, Not Just Erotic Play

Sexuality is meant to lead us toward deeper connection, wholeness, and selfless love—not just the fulfillment of desire or the pursuit of pleasure. The healthiest narrative is one where sexuality is expressed within a covenant of trust, safety, and mutual giving, rather than in isolation, objectification, or casual encounters that ultimately leave us more disconnected. God invites us to move beyond the surface, to seek sacred connection that reflects His love and design for intimacy. [36:13]

Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have settled for disconnection or objectification instead of sacred connection? What step can you take today to move toward deeper, Christlike intimacy in your relationships?

Sermon Summary

Sex and sexuality are often difficult topics to discuss, especially in the context of faith, but they are essential to our understanding of what it means to be human and to follow Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul addresses a culture that normalized objectification and exploitation, reminding us that our bodies are not just physical entities but are meant for the Lord, and that we are called to honor God with our bodies. The real question is not simply about when or with whom sex is permissible, but rather why we engage in it and what it means for our relationships, our identity, and our spiritual journey.

Healthy sexuality and healthy spirituality share the same language: wholeness, sacredness, trust, safety, and joy. Sex is not just a physical act; it is deeply connected to our awareness of disconnection and our longing for meaningful connection. When we reduce sex to a mere act or focus only on rules, we miss the deeper questions of identity, purpose, and relationship. The church has often failed in this area, sometimes wounding people through shame, objectification, or toxic purity culture. The gospel, however, is about renewal and new creation, not about being ruined by past mistakes.

Sexuality is best understood through a series of tensions: honoring the image of God in others versus objectifying them; accepting people without having to affirm everything about them; seeking understanding, not just acceptance; keeping what is sacred private rather than making it profane; moving toward order and new creation rather than chaos; and choosing humility and selflessness over personal freedom. These tensions invite us to ask better questions about our behavior: Does it honor others? Does it foster unity? Does it lead to greater order and wholeness?

There are three main narratives we can live out of: erotic play (focused on lust and objectification), intimate connection (focused on mutual love and consent), and covenant promise (rooted in commitment, safety, and trust). Each narrative shapes our experience of sexuality and our relationships. True freedom and joy come not from being needed, but from being wanted—knowing who we are in Christ and offering ourselves as a gift, not out of lack or insecurity, but out of love and wholeness. Ultimately, our sexuality is a vital part of our character formation and spiritual growth, teaching us to prefer others, to trust God with our bodies, and to journey with grace and kindness.

Key Takeaways

1. Honoring the Image of God: Every person is an image bearer, not an object. When we objectify others—whether through pornography, casual sex, or even in our attitudes—we diminish their sacred worth and train ourselves to treat people as means to our own ends. The call is to continually ask whether our actions honor the image of God in others or reduce them to objects for our gratification. [16:09]
2. The Power of Narrative: The story we live out of—erotic play, intimate connection, or covenant promise—shapes not only our sexuality but our entire approach to relationships and self-understanding. Erotic play promises connection but delivers disconnection and neurosis, while covenant promise, though not a guarantee of health, provides the structure for safety, trust, and true intimacy. Choosing a better narrative is a spiritual act that forms our character and our capacity to love. [36:13]
3. Integration of Spirituality and Sexuality: Spirituality and sexuality are not separate realms; they are deeply intertwined. Healthy sexuality is not about suppressing desire or indulging every impulse, but about integrating our longing for connection with our identity in Christ. This integration leads us away from chaos and toward new creation, reflecting God’s order and purpose in our lives. [06:29]
4. The Gift of Self-Knowledge: The greatest gift we can offer a partner is not our virginity or our neediness, but a secure sense of self rooted in Christ. When we know who we are without another person, we can offer love freely, wanting rather than needing them. This shift transforms relationships from codependency to genuine, selfless love. [28:28]
5. Embracing Grace and Renewal: The wounds, shame, and failures of our sexual past do not define us. The gospel is about new creation and renewal, not about being ruined by mistakes. We are invited to journey at our own pace, trusting God’s grace to heal, restore, and lead us into wholeness—both in our sexuality and our spirituality. [12:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Paul’s Diatribe and Corinthian Context
[01:27] - Objectification and the Image of God
[03:22] - Christlikeness Over Biblicism
[04:27] - Why and What Matter More Than When and Who
[05:14] - Healthy Spirituality and Sexuality
[06:46] - Apologies for Wounds and Purity Culture
[08:17] - Generational Perspectives on Sexuality
[10:03] - The Problem with Purity Culture
[12:43] - Defining Sex: Disconnection and Reconnection
[14:07] - Sexuality vs. Genitality
[15:06] - Six Tensions of Sexuality
[17:33] - Acceptance, Affirmation, and Understanding
[20:43] - Sacred vs. Profane: The Hoopa Analogy
[23:21] - Creation, Order, and Chaos
[24:38] - Selflessness and Joy in Sexuality
[26:46] - Sexuality and Food: Anorexia, Gluttony, and Balance
[27:31] - Four Better Questions for Sexual Ethics
[28:28] - The Gift of Self-Knowledge in Relationships
[30:30] - Sex at Its Best and Worst
[32:05] - Three Narratives: Erotic Play, Intimate Connection, Covenant Promise
[36:13] - The Power and Pitfalls of Each Narrative
[39:50] - The Novacaine Effect: Sex and Character Formation
[43:25] - Reflective Questions and Prayer
[46:33] - Closing Blessing and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NIV) — > “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 6, what is the difference between what is “permissible” and what is “beneficial” when it comes to our bodies? ([00:28])
What does Paul mean when he says, “your bodies are members of Christ himself” and “temples of the Holy Spirit”? How does this shape the way we think about our physical bodies? ([01:57])
In the sermon, what are some words used to describe both healthy spirituality and healthy sexuality? ([05:14])
What is the significance of the phrase “the two will become one flesh” in the context of sexuality and faith? ([02:25])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says the real question is not just “when or with whom” sex is permissible, but “why we engage in it and what it means for our relationships, our identity, and our spiritual journey.” How does this shift in focus challenge or change the way we think about sexual ethics? ([04:27])
The speaker talks about the tension between honoring the image of God in others and objectifying them. What are some practical ways this tension shows up in our culture, and why is it important for followers of Jesus to recognize it? ([16:09])
The sermon describes three narratives for sexuality: erotic play, intimate connection, and covenant promise. How do these narratives shape not just our sexual behavior, but our understanding of love, trust, and commitment? ([36:13])
The speaker apologizes for the wounds caused by shame and toxic purity culture. How does the gospel’s message of renewal and new creation offer hope for those who feel “ruined” by past mistakes? ([12:15])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to ask, “Does my behavior honor the image of God in others, or does it objectify them?” Think about your own attitudes, media consumption, or relationships—are there areas where you need to make a change to better honor others as image bearers? ([16:09])
The speaker says, “Healthy sexuality and healthy spirituality share the same language: wholeness, sacredness, trust, safety, and joy.” Which of these words feels most lacking in your current understanding or experience of sexuality or spirituality? What is one step you could take to move toward wholeness? ([05:14])
The sermon describes the “gift of self-knowledge”—knowing who you are in Christ and offering yourself as a gift, not out of neediness. Are there ways you have looked to others (or to sex) to define your worth? What would it look like to find your identity in Christ instead? ([28:28])
The speaker talks about the importance of keeping what is sacred private, rather than making it profane. Are there boundaries in your life or relationships that need to be strengthened to protect what is sacred? ([20:43])
The sermon says, “The wounds, shame, and failures of our sexual past do not define us. The gospel is about new creation and renewal.” Is there an area of your past where you need to receive God’s grace and let go of shame? How can the group support you in this journey? ([12:15])
Of the three narratives—erotic play, intimate connection, covenant promise—which one do you most identify with right now? Is there a next step you feel called to take toward a healthier narrative? ([36:13])
The speaker asks, “Can we trust God with our body, or have we bought into the lie that our spirituality and our body are just two separate things?” What would it look like for you to trust God more fully with your body and your sexuality this week? ([46:21])

Sermon Clips

The goal of Christianity is not to be Christlike, the Bible is not the final Authority how Jesus applied the Bible is the final Authority that's why none of you killed a goat this morning that's why none of you poured out half an of water C of wine that's why none of you are wearing tassels on the corners of your garments right now that's why most of you are not ashamed to shave the side of your face and nobody in this room is aware of the fact that it's a sin to wear a shirt of mixed cloth because the goal of Christianity is not to be biblical the goal of Christianity is to be Christlike. [00:03:19]

When and the who of sex is far less important than the why and the what and and that's been problematic is is for a long long time the church has focused almost entirely on when is it okay and who is it okay with with almost no education on why and what it even is and if we focus a bit more on the why and the what the wi and the who will take care of itself right so the wi and the who is far less important then the why and the what. [00:04:30]

What makes good sex good sex is not the quality of the sex act it it's actually good what makes good sex is that the good sex is the cherry on top of a big giant cake of love and support and communion and wholeness and comp passion and and supportiveness and lack of volatility and it's all of that see spirituality and sexuality cannot be disconnected. [00:06:12]

Purity culture was an equal but opposite reaction to the absolute debauchery of the Baby Boomers by far the most promiscuous generation in the last 100 years were the people born between 1944 and 1960 it's not even close according to the biggest study around this ever done by the University of Washington they they said that the Gen the generation born in the 40s had three and a half times more sex partners before marriage than the generation turning 30 today does and here was the caveat they got married at 19 generation they is married at 30. [00:07:57]

If you gave up on sexual Integrity because you felt ruined because of the images of Purity I'm sorry I'm sorry because the gospel is renewable the gospel is New Creation and I'm sorry about that I'm sorry for anyone who has experienced the pain of being objectified if that's been your story I'm sorry for the lie that marriage guarantees a healthy sexuality it absolutely does not and there's a reason we're going to talk about that. [00:12:09]

Sex has two Dimensions first it is our awareness of disconnection and then second it's all the ways we go about trying to reconnect so sex isn't just the ACT if sex is just the sex act then it gets very easy to rationalize very unhealthy actions because it's just my body but no sex goes way way way way way can you imagine telling a holocaust Survivor oh it was just your body no it actually goes into an awareness of disconnection and then all the ways we try to connect. [00:13:05]

Healthy sexuality we engage the other from our identity and unhealthy sexuality we're engaging the other person for my identity and that creates different Dynamics now as I thought about how could I talk about this in one talk I think I think instead of asking like there's some dumb questions I've heard about sex like I've heard dumb things anyway but I but like some of the dumb things are is it right or wrong can I still go to heaven when I die if I do it how far can I go before God's mad these are dumb questions and I think it it's a distraction from actually the thing underneath the thing that if we just handle that those questions actually come to light anyway. [00:14:23]

Here's the gospel uh you know all the way from Genesis 1 and this is what changed the world that every human being on the earth whether they know it or not is held together by God was made for God for by him and through him and for him all things were created and in him all things hold together in Genesis 1 one of the most revolutionary poems ever written it claimed that both male and female were made in the image of God an unthinkable thought when that was written when that was written the word image of God was limited only to Kings what Genesis claimed is that no no no it's not just the elite that have the image of God it's everybody every everywhere male and female it's a holy sacred awareness that God is in each individual person. [00:15:19]

One of the tensions I think we need to develop is it's a gift it's a Grace and that is this to be able to accept a person without having to affirm everything about that person and we don't frankly find that very difficult with any other topic like I fully accept all of you but if I knew everything about all of you there'd be something I wouldn't affirm whether it's what you eat or what you drink or your Fitness level or how you drive or how you speak to your husband or how you speak to your wife we don't have to affirm everything in order to accept a person and that's what something God showed us from the beginning this incredible ability to accept someone without affirming everything about that someone we need to develop that. [00:18:09]

A healthy sexuality is the single most powerful vehicle there is to lead us to selflessness and joy because it's not just about sex it's about preferring the other now a couple things next Slide the idea that people can't control their sexuality is not the voice of reason it's like I just can't that's the voice in Corinth is I can't control myself food for the stomach the stomach for food man one way or the other this is happening right that's not the voice of realism it's the voice of Despair like like aren't we just doomed to food for the stomach and stomach for food the question underneath the question is are we different from animals like seriously is there not a higher order of things for image bearers instead of objects for image bearers instead of animals. [00:24:32]

Sexual issues mirror food issues I know strange but it's it's it's true like so so food or eating disorders there are anorexics anorexics are people who it's more way more complicated than this but they they ignore their need for food and pretend like it's it's not there they're better off without it and it ends up killing them right Anor there so there's anorexics on the other side there's Glutton Glutton are like I'm going to live boundlessly and just shove anything in my mouth that I feel like doing that also will kill you and it's not a matter of right or wrong it's like is it a Cindy bacon chain well that's that's a dumb question is it a Cindy bacon probably not but if you eat bacon every day you will die right. [00:25:38]

Knowing who you are without them is actually your greatest gift to them your greatest gift to them is not your virginity your greatest gift to them is knowing who you are without them and here's the reason why next slide in this they are not needed rather they're wanted when you know who you are without them you can give your spouse the gift of not needing them but something far more desirable than being needed is actually being wanted and that's see being needed plays well on Hollywood but not in life. [00:28:19]

Sex at its worst is driven by genitality this moves towards objectification due to loneliness, insecurity whatever the reason might be this can happen in marriage as well it's not like marriage is the solution that automatically fixes it too often the messages that marriage automatically fixes it it does not if you don't handle your identity stuff before you get married you're just going to take that into a covenant marriage and yeah it's just you in the person yeah you're married and yeah the church accepts it but that doesn't mean you're giving your partner the gift of wanting them instead of needing them to fill all your holes it doesn't mean that it doesn't mean that you're you're not you're not needing them to to fill all the places you feel lack and pain. [00:31:08]

The problem with erotic play is is where goes your body with food sex and power there goes your soul because you can't separate objectifying this from that ultimately erotic play leads to dehumanizing all people like what if we what if we told the Holocaust Survivor it was just your body it's like no no no there was a dehumanization there see casual sex is anything but casual sex because you are not casual I'll say it another way casual sex is anything but casual because you're anything but casual it's it's it's just it's it's just not it's it's a narrative that promises connection but always delivers disconnection which leads to a neurosis and this feeling of Despair. [00:35:27]

The goal is to express a feeling and connection with someone you truly love so you truly love the person you're connect you're connected to them you're committed to them the freedom of expression with consent so there's always consent you're not wondering if there there's there with no fear of shaming there there's something in Psychology called the freedom of response right so so both people have a freedom of response in this in this story both people have can say no both people can can can um Express their will or their desire without fear of of these ultimatums so so this is this is intimate connection which which is infinitely a better narrative than than erotic play that there's so much good to the intimate connection narrative. [00:36:20]

If you introduce sex too early in a relationship it releases is an enzyme in your brain that will blind you to the character flaws that will drive you insane later let me say another way um I'm not sure that landed you're like, okay all right um everybody know what Novacane is novacaine is the numbing agent dentists give you before they drill into your teeth it makes you numb it's it's it's a medical sex is novacaine in some cases early on in your marriage sex is the novacaine that makes them tolerable don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about you're like I don't know yes you do both men and women both in the first seven years of marriage get to a point where there's a day where you're driving each other nuts and instead of working it out you just out sex what's bothering you you're like I'm not mad at you anymore okay because sex is novocaine that that that is very very good. [00:40:54]

Good sermons aren't meant to be agreed with or disagreed with they're meant to be wrestled with I've said I've not said more than I did say just for time constraints um you don't want this to go much longer and so if you'd like a fuller discussion of this like I said um Grace City Church Albany Georgia if you just YouTube search Grace City Church uh Shane Willard sexuality there's a 2-hour version there's also an 11 session followup on my table um but just for tonight here let's let's end this with some questions um what if sex is a vital part of our character formation not just something we do physically number two what if sex is actually our teacher what if it's teaching us something about preferring the other person. [00:42:59]

Healthy people don't need them or their sexuality to Define their identity their identity is something else at the most base level human being labels are for products love is for people as soon as you can label someone not human even at the most base level that's the level you can mistreat them um number six are we in a situation where we can alter ourself sorry offer oursel I'm 48 I can barely read that without glasses are are we in a situation where we can offer oursel as a gift and not feel used for offering our yourself as a gift it's an important way to know whether you're in a healthy Situation. [00:44:21]

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