Your Body, God's Temple
Downtown Campus Pastor
In this passage, Paul rebukes the Corinthians’ sexual immorality by reminding them that their bodies are united with Christ and together are the temple of the Spirit. Their flippant treatment of God’s gift of sex is not reflective of a people who were bought at great price with Christ’s blood. Paul calls them to run from sexual sin and to honor God with their bodies.
Application
Paul challenges the Corinthian belief that “I am allowed to do anything.” What habits, choices, or beliefs are part of your life that might not be blatant sin but are not beneficial to your walk with Christ?
Jesus’ example (his physical birth and death, his bodily resurrection) shows us that our bodies matter and are not temporary. In what ways are you defiling your body with sin or treating it as a sacred space filled with God’s holiness?
What would ruthless confession of and aggressive movement away from sin look like for you? Who can you involve for accountability in your next steps?
Key Points
When we mismanage a gift God gives us, such as sex, it becomes a danger.
100% of our sin is driven by the idea that it will satisfy us, but goodness, life, and flourishing come from following God’s direction.
God’s people should not be enslaved by any desire except our desire for God.
Sex builds oneness however we use it—whether in or outside of God’s design in marriage.
Other Scripture References
Main Passage Excerpt:
You say, “I am allowed to do anything,” but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality.
1 Corinthians 6:12–20All Scripture Readings:
To the King | Grace Church Worship
1 Peter 1:18–21 • Psalm 95:1–7 • Philippians 3:20–21
O Praise the Name | Hillsong Worship
Matthew 27–28 • 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 • Revelation 7:9–12 • Hebrews 9:28
That Is Who You Are | Grace Church Worship
Genesis 1• Psalm 18:1–6 • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
So Much Better | Legacy Nashville
Philippians 3:8 • John 10:10 • Psalm 63
Christ Be Magnified | Cody Carnes
Psalm 148 • 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 • Romans 6:1–11
Glorify Your Name | Legacy Nashville
Psalm 66:1–4 • Revelation 15:3–4