Life Chapel Toledo

SEX, GENDER & LIFE
MIND V BODY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023

In this series we hope to answer three basic questions biblically - 

1. Is sex limited to male/female marriages? 
2. Is gender defined by our biology?
3. Who is eligible for human rights?

Genesis 1:26-27

The creation of man and woman comes at the end of a list of the creation of complementary forces:

- Light/Darkness
- Waters above/waters below
- Land/Sea
- Day/Night
- Man/Woman

This pattern shows us how we should interpret the creation of man and woman: Two opposite but not opposing parts that create a pattern that leads to life. 

“We must be able to separate politics from people.” - Studies show that most people who struggle with gender dysphoria do not desire a genderless society but simply resolution to the incongruence they feel between their mind and body.

Christians should seek and encourage others to seek congruence with our physical sex for three reasons:

1. It’s not just the brain. Every cell in the body is sexed

2. There is more diversity when our bodies and not our attitudes, feelings, and desires define us as male or female.

3. The Scripture supports gender being defined by sex.

Romans 12:1-2

SEX, GENDER & LIFE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2023

Goals for this Series:
1. To clarify the scripture’s position on same-sex relations through clear biblical expository

2. To stir the church's heart to compassion for those struggling with SSA and desiring to follow the way of Christ.

3. That through better understanding and more compassion we can become a church that is loving and compassionate and yet uncompromising when it comes to what we see to be the clear biblical ethic.

4. Ultimately, to point people to Jesus above all else as the center of our hope.

Progressive Christianity v Traditional Christianity comes to a different conclusion about biblical sexuality.

The traditional interpretation and understanding of biblical sexuality is the correct conclusion.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24

Leviticus 18:22

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“The church needs a new apologetic, a way of thought and life that neither demonizes nor elevates the same sex desires facing many Christians... This new apologetic must further permit us to form a deeper response to homosexuality, one that honors both scripture, the wisdom of tradition, and peoples real experience.” - David Bennett

God loves you and a relationship with him is the ultimate relationship.

Resources:
1. A War of Loves - David Bennett 

2. Gay Girl Good God - Jackie-Hill Perry

3. Holy Sexuality - Christopher Yuan

4. LGBTQ and the Church - Becket Cook // The Controversial Jesus: Jesus and the Gay Community - Jon Tyson 

YouTube Resources:
LGBTQ+ & the Church | Interview with Becket Cook & Pastor Lee Cummings 

The Controversial Jesus - Jesus and the Gay Community - Jon Tyson

JONAH SERIES
MISPLACED PRIORITIES
Sunday, October 8, 2023

Have you ever met someone who had misplaced priorities?  Maybe you were that someone.

Jonah 4:5-11

Jonah had misplaced priorities - Jonah was all about Jonah - Jonah was self-centered.

God points out that Jonah was mad about the plant dying but had no pity for 120,000 people and all they owned being lost to the judgement of God.

John 5:16 

Religious people of Jesus day were mad about Him healing on sabbath and disciples picking corn on the sabbath, yet they themselves were in need of a healing.

Romans 1:31 and 2 Timonthy 3:3 uses the word “heartless” in the ESV.  In the KJV it uses the words “unnatural affection.”

The word “heartless” or the phrase "without natural affection" is the translation of one Greek word, astergeo. 

It was a characteristic of many pagans of the ancient world. Significantly, it is also prophesied to be a characteristic of the humanistic pagans of the end-times.

We are living in the time of heightened misplaced priorities. 

Isaiah 5:20-21

Luke 17:26-30 

God is calling us to realign with His purpose, plan and priorities.

JONAH SERIES - 5 
GOD’S NOT FINISHED WITH YOU
Sunday, October 1, 2023

Jonah 3:1-10

“The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…”

Isaiah 46:10

The first and most important thing you need to know is that God never throws your book away. 

Wherever you are struggling in life you can’t stay there and reach your purpose.

1. GET UP!

Proverbs 24:16 

2. GO!

Philippians 3:13-14

3. DO!

John 9:4

It’s not too late.  You haven’t missed your moment.  It’s not over.

JONAH SERIES
RADICAL REDEMPTION
Sunday, September 24, 2023 

Jonah 2:1-6a

In this moment of despair Jonah decides now is the time to pray.  

Sheol - the place of death.

Jonah finds himself at “deaths door.”

In verse 4 Jonah repents by saying, “I will look again toward your holy temple.”

In verse 6a Jonah goes back to his near death experience when he says “I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;”

David writes about a similar situation.

Psalms 40:1-3

Jonah 2:6b-9

Jonah 2:6 I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

Jonah arrives at the doors of death, then the conjunction of BUT changes everything.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Jonah makes an interesting observation in verse 8 - 

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.”

Jonah now knows that God loves all, even those who cling to worthless idols, even the people of Nineveh.

The last phrase of this prayer in the belly of hell is “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” This is about Lordship.

Jonah 2:10 

God is a God of second chances.  He’s just waiting on you to make the first move.

This is radical redemption!

JONAH SERIES
THE PRODIGAL PROPHET
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Congruence matters.  The outer you will always rise or lower to the inner you.
Luke 12:1-3
Jonah has this conflict, the outside he is referred to as a Servant of the Lord (2 Kings 14) yet on the inside he is doing everything possible to NOT be a servant of the Lord.
Jonah 1:1-3
1. Sin cost more then you want to pay 
Romans 6:23
2. Sin takes you farther then you want to go. 
Psalms 139:7-10
3. Sin works you harder then you ever imagined 
Mathew 11:28-30
4. Sin keeps you longer then you want to stay 
Hebrews 12:1-2
5. Lastly, Sin will make you believe you are better than you really are.  
It is so easy for the enemy to slip sin into our own life when we are watching others…
It’s called self-righteousness.
There is a coming judgement. 
Galatians 5:19-24
Paul list the works of the flesh and clearly states that people who do such things will not be saved.  
But God does not leave us hopeless. 
If we will crucify our flesh and it passions and desires we can live producing the fruit of the Spirit.

Wake Up!
Pastor Sharon 
Jonah 1:1-16
When the church is asleep the world is suffering. 
Proverbs 24:33-34
What is the sign of a someone that’s asleep?  INACTIVITY 
The result of inactivity is dormant authorities and missing mantles. 
Romans 13:11
Ephesians 5:15-17 NKJV
A warrior mindset is walking circumspectly. 
1 Peter 5:8 NLT

Thank you for joining us for our Sunday morning gathering as we start our new series, Jonah!
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Summer in Pslams: Be an Encourager 
Sunday, August 27, 2023

Psalms 121:1-8

Verses 1 and 2 - the writer encourages himself. 

Verses 3 through 8 - the writer encourages others. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Encouragement is building others up. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 

Your words of encouragements stir up those around you moving them into two powerful forces - Love and Good Works

Parents and guardians we are starting a fresh school year. Find a way to encourage your kids. 

Husbands and wives, your marriage will be a better marriage if you learn to speak life over your companion.  

If you are a leader in any capacity you should desire to be an encourager. 

Here’s a few ways you can encourage one another. 

Words of Affirmation - Simple words like "You can do it" or "I believe in you" can work wonders.
Acts of Kindness - Small gestures of help and support demonstrate care and encouragement.
Active Listening - Sometimes, all someone needs is a listening ear.
Praying for One Another - Prayers are powerful forms of encouragement. 

BE AN ENCOURAGER!

Thank you for joining us for our series, Summer in Psalms.
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