Stretched on Purpose: Trials as God’s Training Ground

Feeling pulled thin? In this message we reframe stretching, suffering, and weakness as God’s way to prepare us for His promises—not punish us. From Israel’s wilderness lessons (Deuteronomy 8) to Gideon’s fearful first steps (Judges 6–7) to the call to “run with horses” (Jeremiah 12:5), we learn that God often leads us into weakness so we’ll learn to rely on His word, not our strength. The stretch builds the capacity you’ll need for the promise you’re asking for.

Scripture: Deut 8:2–5; Judges 6–7 (Gideon); Jer 12:5; Ps 23

Takeaways:

CTA: This week, name one stretch you’re resisting. Ask, “Lord, how is this preparing me?” Then take one small, concrete step of obedience.

Sex, Holiness, and Why the Church Must Talk About It (Series Finale)

Sex is everywhere—except the church. In this final week, we reclaim what God created for His glory and reset the conversation around heart posture, not just behavior. We review sexual immorality as righteousness corrupted(wickedness = crooked righteousness), then revisit God’s design:

Sex as a covenant-binder (for marriage, not “relationship booster”),

Sex as an image of Christ and the Church (oneness, mutual self-giving),and tease the “controversial” third purpose that confronts our culture head-on.

Scripture: Matthew 5 (heart before behavior); 1 Corinthians 6–7; Ephesians 5:22–33; Genesis 2:24

Themes: desire vs. obedience, covenant, holiness, discipleship in a sexualized culture

Big Idea: The world shouldn’t catechize us on sex—Jesus should. What He designed is good, holy, and purposeful.

Takeaways:

Don’t let culture be your teacher; let Scripture form you.

Sex is for covenant and images Christ + His Church.

Holiness targets the heart, not just the rulebook.

CTA: Share this episode with someone discipling teens/young adults, and invite them for the follow-up as we unpack the final purpose of sex.

Holy Sex: Desire, Covenant, and the Image of Christ: In this message we move past “don’t do this” lists and get to the heart behind sexuality. Pastor unpacks why Jesus addresses desire and posture before behavior (James 1:14–15), why followers of Jesus are not led by desire but by Him, and how sex—inside marriage—legitimizes covenant and images Christ and the Church (1 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5; Genesis 2:24).

For singles: learn to practice self-control and holiness now, not as punishment but as formation.

For married couples: reclaim the bedroom as ministry and mutual self-giving, not performance or self-gratification—confronting common distortions like porn and entitlement, and embracing “do not deprive one another” with wisdom and love.

We end with an invitation to surrender every area to Jesus and a teaser for next week’s most controversial purpose of sex: children.

Scripture: James 1:14–15; Jeremiah 13, 16; 1 Corinthians 7; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; Ephesians 5:22–33; Genesis 2:24

Themes: desire vs. obedience, covenant, sanctification, marriage, holiness

CTA: If this helped you reframe intimacy around Jesus, share the episode and invite a friend for part 2 next week.

Many would admit that they weren’t taught about sex in Church. But what does the Bible have to say about sex? In this episode, Pastor Tommy tackles the issue of sexual immorality and that your sexual walk and pleasure is more than about you.