How Far is Too Far?

Wednesday night, February 24, 2010

Pastor Shane is preaching on the truth about sex and how God intended it to be. The world does not love you. They want to sell sex to you and use you as a sexual object. God has a better plan for you! He loves you! God created sex and intended it only for marriage. Pastor Shane shows the youth:

Webster defines Abstinence as refrain from doing something. (Abstinence is waiting to have sex when you get married).

Sex outside of marriage leads to a fear of three things:

1. Disease
2. Pregnancy
3. Losing the other person.

Common Sense Answers for asking...:

• "How can I establish some boundaries so I don't go too far?"

ANSWERS for Developing Healthy Boundaries:

1. Care enough about your life to ask the right questions. (You may ask, "Shouldn't we know if we are sexually compatible?") The right questions to ask: "What are the best choices for my life?" "What are the best choices for my relationship with God?" "What are the best choices for my future?" (Jeremiah 29:11)...Sex was created for making babies, pleasure, intimacy and most of all...oneness for husband and wife.
2. Evaluate what is important to you. (You may ask, "Why am I in this relationship?" "What do I want from this relationship?" "How will being physical get me what I really want or need?" "What will a physical relationship do to our relationship?")...Newsflash...waiting for sex until you marry won't hurt you! You will be known for having self-control, respect, character, integrity and trustworthy. Are you going to trust God and His ways or the world's ways? (Psalm 1:1-3) Ask yourself, "Do I delight in everything the Lord wants for me?"
3. Establish a temptation plan. (Everyone is tempted. (1Corinthians 10:13) God doesn't tempt you, that comes from the flesh and Satan). (James 1:13-14)
4. Verbalize your boundary plans. (Proverbs 15:22)
5. Ask for accountability. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
6. Guard your mind. (Philippians 4:8)
7. Embrace God's grace...don't cheapen it. (Romans 6:14-15)
8. Believe that you are not defined by who you Date or How Far you go.
9. Pursue intimacy with God. (You will have a natural desire to please Him. You will receive the power to resist temptation. You will be more attracted to godliness.)

There is a way to escape temptation:

1. Know your bottom line. (Know how far is too far vs. What's best for your future)
2. Communicate your standards.
3. I will stick to my convictions....even when it's difficult!
4. I will avoid compromising situations.
5. I will get out when necessary. (2Timothy 2:22)

Common Principles:

1. The further you go, the faster you go.
2. The further you go, the further you want to go.
3. The further you go, the more difficult it is to go back.

Where you draw the line determines three things:

1. It determines temptation.
2. It determines the intensity of temptation.
3. It determines the consequence of giving in to your temptation. (When you verbalize your boundaries, you realize love waits and lust pursues you.)

Know the bottom line...what is it that is best for your future? God's way is the better way for your future!
  

Uncovering More Lies & Myths and Revealing the Truth about Sex

Wednesday night, February 17, 2010

Pastor Shane is trying to show the youth the truth about sex and show them the lies the world is telling them. Guys are wired visually. Girls are wired emotionally. God has your best at heart! Philosophers and Psychologist both agree on one thing...our deepest desire for all of us is intimacy. We all long for and desire intimacy. God wired us that way.

Cultural Fakes For Intimacy:

1. Sex outside of marriage is normal.
2. A same sex physical relationship is no problem. (embrace alternative lifestyles)
3. A fantasy-filled life is no big deal.

God wants to keep your mind clean. He wants to spare you of hurt. Having sex outside of marriage can leave a mark and scar your heart. God's plan is monogamy--one partner committed within the marriage. (Genesis 2:20-23; Hebrews 13:4, Genesis 2:24) So, what about homosexuals and how do we treat them?

1. Know that God loves you! (John 3:16)...Love the sinner!
2. Homosexuality is a sin. (Romans 1:25-27)...Hate the sin!

 Sin becomes a trap like pornagraphy. You start to hide it and it messes up your life! Sin hardens your heart to conviction of that sin in your life. (Matthew 5:27-30)

The #1 Question with guys and some girls about sex issues deals with masturbation...Theory--Confronting masturbation head-on: (not an easy subject to deal with, but the truth should be told)

1. Masturbation is a sin and stay away! It leads to lust!
2. Some Parents have said that masturbation is God's gift...if their son is doing this in his own room, then he won't be having sex with his girlfriend. (It will lead to lust!)

Shane's Theory: Stay clear of it! Get help!...you are not alone! Statistics say: 95% of guys deal with it...50% are girls. (1Corinthians 6:13)

So, what do we do? In order to pursue God's best for our lives we need to remain obedient to God :

1. Experience God's Love. (Ephesians 3:18-19)
2. Express God's Love. (Ephesians 5:1-3)
3. Enjoy God's Plan. (Romans 12:1-2)

God has a better plan for your life! Pursue His plan!

YOUTH UPDATES:

• Friday, February 19th...if you want to go to Vision 2010 and did not pay for your ticket, bring $42.50 to SRBC @ 5pm (ET)
• Saturday, February 20th...Mission Serve 2010 participates please be at SRBC before 9:30am (ET) You will be bagging groceries as a fundraiser in Columbus @ Winn-Dixie on Veteran's Pkwy. from 10am-2pm (ET).
• Please remember to pray for one of our dear friends and Youth Leaders...Mrs. Norma Rayburn...fighting cancer.

Lies the World Tells Us About Sex (Part 1 of 4)

Wednesday night, February 10th, 2010 Pastor Shane was teaching the youth about the Lies the World Tells Us About Sex from John 8:31-32. We are saturated with lies and myths especially on TV about sex. Over the next 4 weeks Shane will teach:

1. Lies About Sex
2. Uncover More Lies and Myths and Reveal the Truth about Sex.
3. How Far is Too Far?
4. I've Messed Up...Now What?

The world has proven that sex sells and they want to sell you their stuff! So, what are they not telling you? That God has a better plan for you. God is the Creator of Sex and made it only for marriage. He designed sex with boundaries...for marriage.

Myths:

1. Sex is no BIG DEAL.
2. Sex is purely PHYSICAL. (Sex Ed says that it messes with your mind, heart and it IS PHYSICAL.) ...The strongest sexual organ is your mind! We need to learn to control what we are thinking!
3. God's DOWN on sex. (God created it...He gave us a whole book of love...Songs of Solomon/Song of Songs.)
4. Everyone is DOING IT.
5. It is impossible to be PURE.

After TV has made sex interesting to you and you have had sex...Here are the things you should know that TV doesn't show you:

1. Your sexual decisions will leave LIFE LONG MEMORIES.
2. Your sexual decisions can have LIFE LONG CONSEQUENCES.
3. The best sex lives are found in MARRIAGES WHO WAITED.

Shane has a Challenge for you...Go to God's Word...

1. Investigate God's Plan. (John 10:10)
2. Search for God's Wisdom. (Ephesians 3:14)
3. Experience God's Forgiveness. (1John 1:9)
4. Enjoy God's Hope. (Mark 10:6-9)