Homosexuality Talk Follow Up...

Hey All,

I just wanted to follow up from last night.  This series has been very encouraging so far, and we still have one more topic to discuss next week.  We got a lot of positive feedback from Brad's talk on abortion and we have also got some great feedback on the talk from last night on homosexality.  Please pray for James as he prepares to close out our series on "Christian Ethics," with suicide next Wednesday.  

Last night was a exciting topic for me to discuss as it is close to my heart.  A couple of years ago, God placed a good friend in my life who struggled with homosexuality.  I spent the next ten months with him diving into Scripture, having numerous heart to heart discussions, and doing life together with him.  I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to help someone deal with their specific struggle with sin, and God even grew me in my walk as well.  

I shared numerous passages last night including Romans 1:18-32, 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 8:28, 10:9, 10.  I also spent some time in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.  I challenged our students to not look at homosexuality as an issue, but from a perspective of looking at that individual through the eyes of God: seeing them as a person created in the image of God.  The theme revolved around the fact that we are all sinners and homosexuality should not be a sin that is seperated from other sin.  I then closed the night with Matthew 22:37-40, and John 8:1-11 that again focuses on how we are to respond to those living in sin.  I made it clear that it is not okay to continue to live in our sins, but if our lives contradict Scripture, then it is up to us to make the necessary changes.  In conclusion, we are called to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, and then to love others as ourselves.  How we treat those living a life set apart from God will determine our if we truly understand the commandment Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37-40.  

In Christ,

Ryan Potter