Sex in the City ... and in the Suburbs
The ongoing struggle for authentic Christian relationships
 
Here's the shape of our conversations:
 
August 17 
     The Call to be God's
        Holy People
     I Corinthians 1:1-9
     Pastor Susan, Proclaimer


August 24      
     God's Good and Sacred Gift
     I Corinthians 5:1-2; 6:12-20
     Pastor Susan, Proclaimer


August 31      
     The Gift of Marriage and the 
           Gift of Singleness
     I Corinthians 7:1-7
     Pastor Susan, Proclaimer

September 7   
     The More Excellent Way
     I Corinthians 13
     Pastor Susan, Proclaimer


September 14 
     Standing Firm, Being Strong
     I Corinthians 1:4-9, 16:13-14
     Pastor Pete Proclaimer

 
The Christians in first century Corinth struggled with how they were to live in the midst of a culture where morals were in disrepair and 'please yourself' was the order of the day. They were tempted by the sexual promiscuity that was all around them. They wrestled with how to have healthy marriages. They were trying to love God with their hearts but wondered if they could separate their heart from what they did with their bodies.
 
The first letter of Paul to followers of Jesus in Corinth are words written to guide a community in crisis. With pastoral sensitivity and clarity of conviction, Paul writes words to guide their thoughts, which in turn help shape their beliefs and practices.
 
The struggles going on in the first century city of Corinth don't seem too much different from our own in the suburbs of Greenville, do they? Because of that, I believe that scripture has a helpful word to offer our community as well. Beginning August 17 and continuing for five weeks, we'll engage Paul's letter to the Corinthian believers in a series of messages called:

Sex in the City ... and in the Suburbs
The ongoing struggle for authentic Christian relationships

A professor of preaching said that "a good sermon is not a beautiful package with a pretty bow tied by the preacher.  A good sermon is like the rings on the surface of a lake when the preacher has gone down in deep water."  As a parent of three children and a pastor among you, I have a growing awareness and a growing concern over the no boundaries culture in which we are living and raising our families. 

I am well aware that these are deep waters - at times difficult and uncomfortable to talk about. No doubt at times I'll be way over my head here! But I hope that you'll come and listen in on the conversation between the culture and the scriptures as we engage this important struggle for authentic Christian relationships.
 
Thankful to be partners on the journey with you!

Pastor Susan