Does God really approve of a passionate—perhaps even red-hot—sexual relationship between a husband and wife?
Some Christians have grown up with the idea that sex is somehow less spiritual or that God merely tolerates it within marriage. Yet, the Song of Solomon paints a very different picture.
As we finish this beautiful and sometimes surprisingly descriptive book, Solomon and his bride openly express their attraction to and desire for one another. Their words are romantic, suggestive, and unmistakably passionate. And God chose to include them in His Word.
So, what does that tell us about God’s view of sexual intimacy within marriage?
And what about pornography? Some claim that pornography can enhance a married couple’s sex life. But does bringing other people—even images of other people—into our sexual thoughts fit God’s design for marital intimacy? And what does Scripture say to singles who are tempted to satisfy sexual desires outside God’s boundaries?
Today we’ll look at the striking contrast between God-honoring marital passion and a counterfeit that promises satisfaction but can ultimately undermine genuine intimacy.
We’ll also look at the wonderful way Psalm 104 ends in praise to God, the importance of fearing the Lord rather than men, and Paul’s reminder that spiritual gifts should be used in ways that benefit others.
Have you ever heard someone say, “I love him but I’m just not ‘in love’ with him”? Maybe you have said or, at least, thought the same thing. If so, could your ideas about love be colored more by the world than by God’s Word? So, what is biblical love? Is it what greeting card writers or Hollywood movie producers want us to believe, some irresistible attraction, something we fall into and out of? Or is it something else?
We hear a great deal today about tolerance, acceptance, and simply loving people as they are.
And certainly Christians should never be harsh, self-righteous, or unnecessarily argumentative.
But does love always mean acceptance?
What if someone we care about is heading in a direction that Scripture says is sinful or spiritually dangerous?
Would it really be loving to remain silent?
And what should we do when speaking biblical truth brings the accusation:
“You just need to be more like Jesus and love people”?
Could they be right?
Or could our culture’s definition of love be very different from God’s?
Second John repeatedly connects two things our world often tries to separate:
truth and love.
So perhaps the real question isn’t whether we should choose truth or love.
Perhaps it’s whether we truly understand either one.
We’ll also look at the danger of false teaching, how believers should respond when correction is necessary, and why speaking truth without humility can become just as wrong as refusing to speak at all.
Leadership books, seminars, articles, and posts abound in every realm of life. They approach leadership in many different ways. Jesus’ explanation of leadership might seem counter-intuitive to many. In fact, it even surprised His disciples. But Jesus’ kind of leadership is extremely important to understand, especially in the context of marriage.
