sex and marriage

We are in the middle of a very relevant series at Maranatha. I am talking about marriage and our title is Fighting 4 Your Marriage. This Sunday’s topic is sex so I thought that it may be helpful to offer a few more ideas and resources here. Time is short at our services and we can’t go into everything available.

I did mention these bullet points but maybe they are worth a second look.
When it comes to sex:

Face the fact that God created you as a sexual being. Sex is not sinful or dirty. Know what God says.
• Educate yourself (one sermon a year won’t cut it)
• Educate others: in the church, don’t relinquish this responsibility to our culture.
• Educate your children: if you don’t tell them, someone else will!

Understand the challenges of a culture that does not “get it”, has a warped definition of sexuality.
• Don’t buy the lies
• Don’t fall into the trap
• If you do, don’t be offended when God confronts you on it

Commit yourself to living out a God–honoring sexual life.
• Live within the Biblical boundaries
• Enjoy sex as God intended
• “be fruitful and multiply!”

Sex is a gift from God to married couples. Enjoy it! Still single? Lots of prayer, patience and cold showers!

Seriously, here are some sites you can check out:
(I am not agreeing with every point, just suggesting some resources…)

http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/
http://www.familydynamics.net/sexandthebible.htm
http://www.marriagemissions.com/

Joe Beam, author of the book, "Becoming One: Emotionally, Spiritually, & Sexually.” Gives the following insight:

Priority One
First, pay attention to your sexual life. While it is true that every part of your life affects every other part, you must make every effort to keep your sexual life healthy. Never forget God's warning about Satan's attack that He gave you in 1 Corinthians 7. Sexually unfulfilled people can be tempted through their lack of self-control. Remove that avenue of attack from Satan's forces by keeping your mate thoroughly sexually satisfied!

Priority Two
Second, keep the bedroom special. Never argue in that room. Never discipline the children there. Never, ever, pay bills in that room. The bedroom should be for sleeping and love-making-nothing else! Don't let that room be associated with any negative thing in your mind or emotions. Make it the most special room in your house.
Teach your children to respect the privacy of that room. Train them from infancy that when that door is shut, parents are spending special time with each other that is not to be violated. If you fear that they may figure out what you're doing in there, what better way to teach them healthy attitudes about sex? They learn to associate sex--although, of course, they shouldn't see or hear anything inappropriate--with love and marriage.

Priority Three
Third, if either of you wants sexual activity that the other finds uncomfortable--or perhaps even repulsive--each should submit to the other. That means that the initiator must not manipulate, cajole, pressure, or punish the reticent mate. But it also means that the reticent mate should prayerfully and purposefully work toward doing what the initiator requests--as long as it fits the principles outlined above.
With time and patience, each mate will get what he or she desires-a loving relationship that doesn't get stale, doesn't frustrate, and does fulfill each with great satisfaction.