Counter Culture Session 4

What is the word used by God to describe the woman He created? Why is this significant?

"Helper" is the word used by God to describe the woman He created. This is significant because it shows the distinct gender roles God assigned to both men and women. Women were created for men. The man must be the head, and the woman must be the helper. They go together so that God's design can truly work.

What countercultural truth is presented here about sex in the marriage relationship?

"It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman... The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

If you remember the pattern of creation from last session, what was God's repeated declaration?

"It was good"

What were Paul's three responses?

"Not everything is beneficial" "I will not be mastered by anything" "The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body"

THREE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD

1. All this is good for us. 2. All this is glorifying to God. 3. All this is the essence of the gospel.

THREE TRUTHS ABOUT MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD

1. God created men and women with equal dignity. 2. God created men and women with different roles. 3. God created men and women as a reflection of the Trinity.

Summarize the biblical perspective on your body presented in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

A follower of Christ should not indulge themselves by partaking in sexual pleasures. It is not beneficial or working to glorify God as he designed it to be. It only controls and damages the one who takes part in it, for the body was not meant for sexual sin. It was meant for the multiplication of God's creation between a husband and a wife so that they may be united and become one flesh, just as Christians are a part of the Lord's spirit. God loves us and designed us beautifully with a purpose. Therefore, we should honor him with our bodies and actions.

How is marriage a picture of the gospel and our relationship with God in Christ?

A husband and wife are attracted to the parts of each other that are different, and they honor each other as equals as they enjoy each other's differences. God has a position of authority over us, and we are meant to submit to Him, but we are all of the same worth to Him. God plays both roles, head and helper. In marriage, the man is the head, and the woman is the helper; both are equally valuable and necessary.

How does our culture define marriage?

A man and woman who pledge their lives to each other and come together as a couple because of a desire to be with that person and love them.

How are issues of sexuality, gender, and marriage under attack, not only in culture but also within the church today?

In the church, there are many arguments about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It doesn't seem to matter what denomination anymore; it is a prevailing issue in society. For whatever reason, Christians are telling other Christians that they are not allowed to stay or be a member of the church where they have loved and worshipped and served their Savior, the same Savior of everybody else, simply because they are attracted to people of the same gender or feel as if they were born into the wrong body. On account of the marriage part, yes, the Bible says that it is sinful to be homosexual, but every one of us sins. Marriage has always been a sinner united with another sinner, and yet, God blesses the marriage when the couple comes before the altar. Why would he not do the same for LBGTQ people?

How is the woman's response to her own husband an act of worship and a picture of the church's relationship to Christ?

Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. The husband is the head of the wife.

__________ YET __________. MEN AND WOMEN ARE BOTH __________ IN THE __________ OF __________. BY __________ WE ARE NOT __________.

EQUAL; DISTINCT; CREATED; IMAGE; GOD; DESIGN; IDENTICAL

Why is it significant that sin has not yet entered the world when it was not good for man to be alone?

Everything was still perfect. Man was perfect, but he wasn't perfect enough. There was something missing. In order to keep the perfection of God's new creation, there was a need for woman. Only man and woman together could be perfect.

What biblical evidence shows that men and women are created with equal dignity but distinct and different roles?

God saw that Adam was in need of a helper fit for him, so he created both man and woman, and they were both unashamedly naked in the garden, created in the image of God. The helper is equal to Adam because he needed somebody that was like him, but she needed to have different talents in order to actually help him. They were created to do different things so that they could complement each other and work together. The man was simply meant to be the head and woman the helper.

1. All this is good for us. 2. All this is glorifying to God. 3. All this is the essence of the gospel.

THREE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD

1. God created men and women with equal dignity. 2. God created men and women with different roles. 3. God created men and women as a reflection of the Trinity.

THREE TRUTHS ABOUT MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD

How is the American church at risk of being deceived?

The American church, at least according to this and most DEFINITELY not to me, is at risk of being deceived because many denominations are opening their doors to homosexually married and other idolaters. This is somehow wrong according to what he is saying. The American church should not allow those who have committed idolatry and/or will not enter the kingdom of heaven to come.

What does it mean for Christ to be the Head of the church?

It means that Christ is the reason for the Church and what makes everything that occurs within the church really have meaning. He leads his people and is the primary goal.

Why is it significant that verse 22 says wives should "submit to your own husbands"?

It means that wives are not responsible for submitting to other men who are not their husband. They need only do as their own love asks.

Why is it significant that Paul instructed the Christians in Corinth not to be deceived?

Paul knew that many of them were looking at their culture, seeing sexual immorality, and saying that it is okay, but they are wrong. They are looking to culture and not to God. He wants for them to know this so that they trust him to give them his best judgement.

__________ quoted and refuted the __________ of his day.

Paul; pop culture

Do you see how the work of __________ in Genesis 3 is a foundational __________ not just on __________ in general but specifically on __________, __________, and __________? Husbands waffle back and forth between __________ their __________ to __________ and __________ their __________ to __________. Wives, in response, will __________ such __________ and __________ such __________.

Satan; attack; humanity; men; women; marriage; abdicating; responsibility; love; abusing; authority; lead; distrust; love; defy; leadership

In what areas of life are you tempted to say, "I'm going to obey what the Bible says instead of truly believing that God's design is good"? What is the difference?

The difference needs to be addressed first since it is basically that the Bible says and reflects what God wants from us and how He created us, but oftentimes, what He wants and what he created us to do does not seem good. For example, as being discussed in this session, I am tempted to say this when it comes to me submitting happily to a man. I am not the submissive type, and I don't back down easily, but if it is what God wants, then I will do it. Although, I will not be happy about it, and I will not believe that it was a good design, not for me.

Whom did God entrust with the responsibility of carrying out the divine command?

The man

What reasons did he give for fleeing sexual sin: Verse 18: Verse 19: Verse 20:

Verse 18: All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body Verse 19: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own Verse 20: you were bought at a price.

Why does our culture resist the idea of authority and submission as bad?

We see the abuses of those realities in different relationships. It has been distorted because of sin. We no longer see the positive balance of the two roles mixing together. It tends to result in only pain and horror, and of course, our culture sees the terrible nature of that. The automatic solution is to simply not have authority and submission.

How is the focus of this session's study also related to the image of God?

We were created in the image of God, and when we abuse the bodies that he masterfully crafted and formed, bodies that look like his divine figure, we insult our King. He designed us to have specific roles and positions, and when we don't accept that, the balance that he created is undone. He Himself has the same order and divison of positions within the Trinity, so we detract from His image when we do not model Him.

What was Paul's rationale for abstaining from sexual sin (see v. 14-16)?

When one sins sexually, they become "one flesh" with whoever they are engaging with. Two becoming one is meant to only occur between a husband and his wife. Doing it with many people or prostitutes makes a person a part of many bodies, taking away God's glory and purpose.

What's the consequence for the woman's sin (v. 16)?

Woman's husband will rule over her, and she will have severe pain during childbirth.

Look back at that phrase in verse 13: the __________ is meant "for the __________, and the __________ for the __________." Not only are our __________ designed for __________, but __________ is also devoted to our __________. Literally, He is __________ our bodies. God wants us to __________ the maximum __________ for which our bodies are __________, and as the __________ of our bodies, He knows what will bring them the most __________. This takes us back to one of the core __________ of the __________: the __________ that God __________ us and is __________ us. God __________ the __________ for us, and He __________ our bodies not just for His __________ but also for our __________.

body; Lord; Lord; body; bodies; God; God; bodies; for; experience; joy; built; creator; pleasure; truths; gospel; reality; loves; for; desires; best; designed; glory; good

Unfortunately, this is an area in which the __________ in our culture has done a __________ job and a tremendous __________ to Christians. Simply saying __________ and teaching that sex is __________ until you get __________ and then suddenly expecting a husband and wife to flip a switch now that they are allowed to __________ in and __________ a __________ __________ is naive, at best. It is __________, __________, and even __________ damaging at times

church; poor; disservice; no; bad; married; engage; enjoy; sexual; relationship; emotionally; relationally; spiritually

Immediately following this __________, God declared that it wasn't __________ for man to be __________, and He decided to make a __________ suitable for him, as we studied last week.

command; good; alone; helper;

Not only is it __________ to God's __________ and therefore wrong to __________ on or __________ on sexual desire for others outside marriage, but it is also wrong to __________ sexual desires in others outside of marriage. God forbids __________ __________ (see 1 Tim. 2:9-10) and sternly warns against __________ __________ (see Prov. 4:23; 5:1-23; 7:1-27). In addition, God prohibits any kind of crude __________, __________, or __________ that remotely __________ around sexual __________ (see Eph. 5:3-5). Addressing the __________ culture surrounding the church in the first century, God said, "It is __________ even to __________ of the things that they do in __________" (Eph. 5:12).

contrary; design; meditate; act; provoke; immodest; clothing; seductive; speech; speech; humor; entertainment; revolves; immorality; sex-crazed; shameful; speak; secret

Notice that woman did not have to __________ man. There was no overt peer __________, __________, playing mind games, or working his __________. It simply says she __________ the fruit, __________, and __________ "some to her husband who was __________ her, and he __________" too (v. 6). Instead of __________, he followed her __________. Instead of __________, she __________ them both. They were created __________ yet __________. They failed __________ yet __________. They sinned -- __________ -- against God.

convince; pressure; manipulation; emotions; took; ate; handed; with; ate; leading; lead; helping; hurt; equal; distinct; equally; distinctly; together

Remember, the __________ of __________ is to __________ God's __________ and __________, rebelling against His loving __________ in our lives.

core; sin; deny; goodness; sufficiency; authority

This is where any Bible-informed conversation about men and women must begin: with men and women both being __________ with __________ __________ before __________ and __________ other. Men and women both __________ in the inexpressible __________ of creatures formed in the __________ of God Himself. In this way God speaks loudly from the start of Scripture __________ any sort of male or female __________ or __________ in the world.

created; equal; dignity; God; each; share; worth; image; against; superiority; dominance

But what does God say? Once again, let's look back at the __________ of human beings. The opening pages of human history provide foundational __________ about __________ and __________ and our __________ with God and one another. The importance of these foundational __________ cannot be overemphasized. And though many people today feel that the Bible is __________ in its views on __________, those same people may be shocked to realize that these verses in Genesis are actually quite __________, historically.

creation; truths; men; women; relationships; truths; antiquated; gender; radical

The __________ of __________ in Genesis 2 is sufficient to establish God's prescribed __________ for sexual __________ between a man and a woman. But the Bible is clear and consistent, affirming from cover to cover that __________ activity is sexual __________ before God. Yet just like Adam and Eve, we are __________ not just in our __________ but in the __________ to subject God's __________ to our __________.

design; marriage; pattern; union; homosexual; immorality; tempted; culture; chuch; Word; judgement

This divine __________ involved far more than the capacity to __________, as important as that was. There was something greater than mere __________ here. There was __________. God created man and woman to __________ their shared __________ while __________ their various __________. He __________ man and woman for sexual __________. We will look more at this later in this session, but see that the blessing and command of God involved sexual __________ and biological __________ through physical __________. Mutual __________ and __________ resulted from being __________ yet __________.

design; reproduce; genetics; enjoyment; cherish; equality; complementing; differences; designed; intimacy; intimacy; reproduction; differences; benefit; pleasure; equal; distinct

God's __________ for __________ is the reason Scripture uses such strong language __________ sexual activity outside __________. The Bible calls this __________, and it is forbidden in the 10 commandments (see Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10; Prov. 6:28-32). But this is not just an Old Testament __________. Jesus and the New Testament writers reiterated this __________ (see Matt. 19:7-9; Rom. 13:9; Heb. 13:4). According to God, __________ with __________ who is not your __________ or your __________ is __________, whether that happens __________ marriage, __________ marriage, or __________ marriage.

design; sex; prohibiting; marriage; adultery; command; restriction; sex; anyone; husband; wife; sin; before; during; after

According to our culture, sexual __________ are merely social __________. Gender is biological __________. Some would even say that it is a __________, even if biology determines otherwise. If a person says they are male, female, or neither, then who is to say otherwise? Shouldn't it be their __________?

differences; constructions; chance; preference; choice

2. God created men and women with __________ roles. • Man and woman __________ each other. • Man was created to be the __________. • Woman was created to be the __________. • Man was created to exercise loving __________ over woman. • Woman was created to extend glad __________ to man.

different; complement; head; helper; authority; submission

Is the __________ of marriage in our culture simply a matter of moving on from __________ and __________ ways of thinking to __________ and __________ ways of thinking? Is marriage merely a __________ that is open to __________ with the times? If so, it stands to reason that it needs to be __________. If merely a tradition, there may be __________ tied up in it, but really there is no __________ to our culture or even to our churches if it __________. Or is marriage an __________ that was ordained to be __________ through all time? Is it __________ of something deeper, something __________? Is it __________ to recognize the __________ as not only __________ but also __________ to marriage?

discussion; old-fashioned; traditional; progressive; open-minded; tradition; changing; updated; sentiment; harm; changes; institution; consistent; representative; spiritual; hateful; gospel; applicable; foundational

Sure, men and women have physical __________, but even these can be changed if someone so chooses. Aside from this, men and women are __________ -- and by __________ our culture means __________. People are people, right? There is no __________. If this is our line of thought, it makes total sense for people's gender to be as subjective as their fashion. If it is socially acceptable to change hairstyle, change clothing, or even surgically modify our physical appearance, then what is different about changing our __________? Why is it acceptable to __________ practically anything about our __________ except __________? And who is to say a person can have sexual __________ with and __________ only a person of the __________ gender? Why get hung up on traditional views of __________ and __________? There is no __________ since we are __________. We are beyond that now as a society. This is what our culture says.

distinctions; equal; equal; identical; difference; gender; change; appearance; gender; relations; marry; opposite; men; women; difference; identical

The corresponding effects (of men ruling and abusing them) in women's lives are additionally clear. Women are equally susceptible to a sinful __________ of God's __________ for them. A wife is prone to __________ what she wants when she wants, regardless of what her husband __________ or __________. He is not in __________; I am, she thinks, literally __________ against her __________ and his role of __________ in marriage. As a result, she __________ not only her __________ but ultimately __________.

distortion; design; do; says; does; charge; working; husband; leadership; defies; husband; God

1. God created men and women with __________ dignity.

equal

At the same time, Scripture also contains __________ to __________ who are __________ for a husband or a wife, as well as men and women whom God specifically __________ to __________. The apostle __________ put himself in the latter category, even saying, "I wish that all were as I myself am ... in view of the present distress" (1 Cor. 7:7,26). In view of the __________ and __________ that surrounded __________ in first-century culture, he advocated remaining __________ in favor of "undivided __________ to the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:35). Scripture thus __________ all single men and women, as long as they are single, to __________ their __________ through a __________ to Christ and His __________ in the culture around us.

exhortations; singles; waiting; calls; singleness; Paul; persecution; perversion; Paul; single; devotion; encourages; maximize; singleness; commitment; commission

Our bodies are __________ the Lord, first and foremost, as __________ of His __________. Then we become one __________ as __________ and __________, and our bodies __________ to each other. Scripture testifies here to the unique __________ of sexual intimacy and the intense __________ for sexual intimacy. Contrary to popular misconception, Christians, God, and the Bible are all very __________. God created __________. He created __________. He made __________ more than __________. He made it __________.

for; temples; Spirit; flesh; husband; wife; belong; pleasure; desire; pro-sex; it; us; sex; functional; enjoyable

2. All this is __________ to God. • We reflect God's __________. • We trust God's __________.

glorifying; character; word

1. All this is __________ for us. • Unity in diversity: we are attracted to each other by our __________. • Equality amid intimacy: we honor each other as we __________ each other.

good; differences; enjoy

3. All this is the essence of the __________. • Christ is our __________ groom. • We are Christ's __________ bride. • God has designed the headship of men and the help of women to display the __________ of Christ to the culture around us.

gospel; sacrificial; submissive; gospel

Again, the __________ extended by God wasn't merely __________ but __________. He not only promised a future __________ and __________ for all who __________ their sin and __________ their lives to the __________ authority of the __________, but He also provided __________ in the moment to __________ their shameful __________. Even the __________ from the __________ was an act of both __________ and __________.

grace; prophetic; practical; hope; deliverance; confess; submit; loving; Savior; clothing; cover; nakedness; banishment; garden; judgement; grace

Near the end of Scripture, God refers to men and women as fellow "__________ ... of the __________ of __________" (1 Pet. 3:7). According to God's __________, men are never to be perceived as __________ than women, and women are never to be perceived as __________ than men. We have seen that God __________ any __________ of men or women as __________ objects to be __________ or __________. For all eternity no __________ will be __________ than the other. No one should feel __________ or __________ by nature of being a man or a woman.

heirs; grace; life; design; better; better; abhors; treatment; inferior; used; abused; gender; greater; superior; inferior

God decides to make a "__________" (vs. 18) -- a suitable __________ fit for the __________ and for the __________ God had given to him. When man fell asleep, God performed the first surgery, taking a __________ from man's side. When the man opened his eyes, he was __________, to say the least. The first words a human being is ever recorded saying were __________, as the man __________ in __________ of __________.

helper; partner; man; work; rib; stunned; poetry; sang; awe; woman

If someone wants to advocate for __________ activity, he or she must maintain that the Bible is __________ to modern __________, __________ with our __________, and thus __________ as a source of __________ and __________ for our lives. The reality is that as soon as we advocate __________ activity, we undercut biblical __________. And in the process of undercutting the __________ of the __________, we undermine the __________ of the entire __________. For if the Bible is wrong about certain issues, then what else is the Bible wrong about?

homosexual; irrelevant; humanity; inconsistent; experience; insufficient; truth; guidance; homosexual; authority; authority; Bible; integrity; gospel

Man and woman were God's __________. He commanded them to be __________, multiplying His __________ throughout His creation, filling the earth with the __________ of the Creator. But this command was not just a theological __________. It was __________ and __________. God expected __________. Multiplication would have been __________ if God had created humans male and male or female and female. God's unique __________ enabled them to carry out His __________.

image-bearers; fruitful; image; glory; metaphor; literal; practical; procreation; impossible; design; command

Instead of taking __________ for __________ himself and his wife from __________, man silently sat by. Man wimped out, abdicating his position of loving __________. In this original sin we see not only the __________ of the first person but also the first __________ of God's clear __________ and good __________ in our lives in order to follow the __________ and __________ of others. This was the beginning of culture's rift with God's __________. From the very first couple, there has been a need to counter the culture we are in.

responsibility; protecting; temptation; leadership; failure; denial; word; authority; behavior; opinion; design;

This question lies at the heart of what amounts to a moral __________ in the __________ and __________ in which we live. For millennia civilizations have __________ marriage as an __________, __________ __________ of a man and a woman with each other. Merely __________ decades ago, politicians in our country __________ across party lines to __________ this definition of marriage in what was called the __________ of __________ Act. Yet in June __________ the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the __________ of __________ Act, paving the way for the complete __________ of marriage across our culture. In the days that followed, states began officially __________ marriage according to __________ terms, now notably identifying __________ relationships as so-called __________.

revolution; time; culture; defined; exclusive; permanent; union; two; voted; defend; Defense; Marriage; 2013; Defense; Marriage; redefinition; defining; different; same-sex; marriages

God created us as __________ beings. We are men and women with __________ that have been made in God's __________ for God's __________.

sexual; bodies; image; glory

Regardless of how you rank the current controversy over __________ __________, it is clear that the most fundamental questions about what it means to be a __________ and whether we should __________ to God's __________ are at stake in this issue.

sexual; immorality; Christian; submit; Word;

When God confronted him in his __________, the man had the audacity to __________ his wife. In all this the world witnesses the first spineless __________ of a man's __________ to __________, __________, __________, and __________ for his wife. But he did not stop there. Notice that he not only blamed the __________ but also indirectly blamed __________: "It was that woman that You __________ to me, God. So it is either her __________ or Yours." He got two __________ in before admitting any __________ in this whole thing. The woman immediately chimed in that she was not to __________ either. Now she was __________ the man's __________, but the example was one of __________ and __________. Nobody was to __________, they said.

sin; blame; abdication; responsibility; love; serve; protect; care; woman; God; gave; fault; accusations; part; blame; following; lead; passivity; victimization; blame

The first __________ in the world occurred not as a reaction to a genetic __________ but as a response to a __________ test. The serpent's design in __________ the couple was a deliberate __________ of God's __________ in creating the couple in the first place.

sin; temptation; gender-specific; deceiving; subversion; design;

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, every person born of a man and a woman has inherited this __________ __________. We may all have different __________ heritages, but we all share one common __________ inheritance: __________. And we all share one common __________: __________ (see Rom. 5:12-21).

sinful; heart; biological; spiritual; sin; need; salvation

If you are __________, do not __________ in sexual activity. Not just for your __________ good but for the sake of the __________. It is the ultimate in __________ today to see young, single __________, who are often incredibly __________ about social issues like __________ and __________ , simultaneously __________ the social fabric of __________ through __________ outside of __________. According to one "nationally representative study of young adults, just under __________ percent of __________, __________, __________ Protestants who are currently __________ someone are having __________ of some sort."

single; engage; own; gospel; hypocrisy; evangelicals; passionate; poverty; slavery; undercutting; marriage; sex; marriage; 80; unmarried; church-going; conservative; dating; sex

Scripture clearly speaks to __________ men and women. For those who have a __________ sexual __________ for __________, God's __________ exhorts __________ men and women to be __________ (see 1 Cor. 7:2). The onus here is particularly on __________, whom God __________ to take the __________ in the marriage __________. Without question, this call to __________ a __________ goes against the grain of current cultural trends that __________ the importance of __________

single; strong; desire; marriage; Word; single; married; men; designed; initiative; relationship; pursue; wife; minimize; marriage

We are all born __________. Every one of our __________ is predisposed to __________. But that does not __________ or __________ our tendency toward any particular __________. The __________ is true. We are __________ our __________ for a __________ to __________ us and __________ our __________ because we all inherit __________ bent toward __________

sinners; hearts; sin; excuse; justify; sin; opposite; confessing; need; Savior; redeem; transform; desires; hearts; sin

This misunderstanding (men become too overbearing with their authority) is one of the primary reasons __________ and __________ are such __________ and __________ terms for us today -- because we have seen the dangerous ways these ideas have been exploited. Particularly in marriage relationships, we think of men who __________ their wives __________, __________, and even __________ in order to show they are in __________, men who selfishly __________ their wives to get what they want when they want it, no matter how their wives __________ or are __________.

submission; authority; unpopular; uncomfortable; mistreat; emotionally; verbally; physically; control; use; feel; affected

There are various opinions about exactly why God used the plural pronouns __________ and __________ to refer to __________ in this unique act of creation. However the Bible is absolutely clear about the fact that men and women are both created in the __________ of God and that we experience a unique __________ with God. So in that sense, yes, men and women are absolutely __________. They are noted as __________ created in the __________ of God yet __________ as created to be __________ and __________. __________ yet __________.

us; our; Himself; image; relationship; equal; equally; image; distinct; male; female; Equal; distinct

Then God said, "Let __________ make mankind in __________ __________, in __________ likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own __________, in the __________ of God he created __________; __________ and __________ he created __________.

us; our; image; our; image; image; them; male; female; them

What was Paul's practical advice about sexual immorality (see v. 17)?

whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Why is Ephesians 5:22-24 offensive in our culture?

These verses are offensive because they say "wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Women now believe that they are equally able to make decisions, and nobody should be able to tell them what to do or make choices for them.

What do these verses (Genesis 1:26-27) reveal about God's design for human gender?

They reveal that God designed both men and women in his image to rule over all of God's creation. They are equally in charge of creation and equal in appearance to the Lord.

According to God's design, what is the woman's role in marriage?

To submit to their husbands

Here we see a glimpse of the __________. The one true God is revealed as three Persons: __________, __________, and __________. __________ yet __________. God is not an impersonal force, but in a beautifully mysterious way, He exists in perfect __________ with the __________. Three in one. God didn't need to create the __________ and __________. He was not lacking __________. God was and is __________, __________, and __________. Yet in His goodness, He chose to __________ everything, including __________ and __________. "Let us make __________ in our __________", God said about humankind.

Trinity; Father; Son; Holy Spirit; Equal; distinct; relationship; Trinity; world; humanity; anything; perfect; complete; infinite; create; men; women; man; image

3. God created men and women as a reflection of the __________. • The Persons of the Trinity are equally __________. • The Persons of the Trinity are positionally __________. • This is loving authority and glad submission in the context of beautiful __________.

Trinity; divine; different; relationship

Provide examples showing that sexuality is one of the most sensitive issues in our culture today.

-There are posters in public restrooms all over the country to help prevent sex-trafficking -Highway billboards provide the hotline number for people who have been trafficked. -Both women and men are getting increasingly more open with their bodies. Clothing apparel is revealing. -People are blamed for sexual assault when they simply touch another person on many occasions in our court system -In many cultures, either men or women are superior to the other. -Many young women give themselves away as they strive to impress men, becoming something they never would have wanted for themselves.

What unique spiritual opportunity exists for a single man or woman?

An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs.

How do Jesus and the Trinity help us see a biblical picture of authority, submission, equality, and distinction?

God created men and women as a reflection of the Trinity, and the Persons of the Trinity are equally divine, positionally different, and with different levels of authority, as the Father has authority to the Son. They all have the same value, but different authorities and roles. The Father always has authority over the Son, who must submit to the Father. Although, they are both just as important and are equally powerful and valuable, they just all three have distinct roles to play that require them to be willing to submit and lead each other.

God did not have to create the woman this way, but He did. Why is the manner in which God created the woman significant?

God created the woman from the rib he had taken out of the man. This is significant because it shows that we were all, man and woman, created in God's likeness. Our bones are the same, so we are created equal. Although, woman was taken out of man, and now we must help and serve him.

What is meant by "All things are lawful for me" (twice in v. 12)?

I have the right to do anything I want. Nobody can stop me, for I am my own ruler.

Describe their relationship with each other following their sin.

Man and woman blamed each other and fought. They didn't want to own up to their actions, and this was the first sign of discord within God's creation. They no longer trusted each other like they had.

Describe the man and woman's relationship with God following their sin.

Man and woman hid from God. They no longer had that perfect, all-knowing relationship with Him. They could not even show themselves to Him. Before, they had been open to God.

For the first time in Scripture and in human history, God declared something "not good." What was it?

Man being alone and without help

What's the consequence for man's sin (v. 17-19)?

Man will have to toil and work the ground in order to eat, as he will for the rest of his life. It will not be easy as the ground now has weeds, and the fruits and vegetable will rot.

__________ is arguably the most prominent __________ in our culture today and will likely prove to be the most __________ and __________, possibly becoming the decisive __________ for the __________ and __________ of the __________ in this generation. It is the sum total of the other __________ we have studied this week: __________ and __________.

Marriage; issue; polarizing; divisive; issue; direction; position; church; issues; gender; sexuality

Whom does the serpent engage in discussion and, consequently, in temptation?

The woman

For men today, the pendulum can swing too far in either direction. On the one extreme, we see spineless __________ of his __________ in society and in marriage. On the other extreme, we see a selfish __________ of __________ in society and in his marriage. One effect of sin is the tendency for a man to __________ and __________ his wife in a __________ and __________ way that denigrates women's equal __________ with him. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be a man and a woman.

abdication; responsibility; abuse; authority; overcompensate; rule; forceful; oppressive; dignity;

Our culture resists __________. We feel that different __________ necessarily mean different __________ or __________. We think __________ and __________ to __________ are inherently __________ and __________. Any __________ like that is __________, right? But that is not what the Son of God thinks. He is eternally __________ to the Father. His __________ to the Father's __________ is __________, __________, __________, __________, __________ in __________ but __________ in __________ (see 1 Cor. 11:3). __________ yet __________.

authority; roles; worth; dignity; submission; subordination; authority; bad; degrading; hierarchy; oppressive; subject; submission; authority; good; noble; wonderful; loving; equal; worth; different; role; Equal; distinct

Our __________ have been created not only __________ God but also __________ God. This truth counters the cultural perspective of our day. We are consumed with whatever can bring our __________ the most __________. The same was true in __________. The culture in which __________ was writing this letter was the height (or depth) of __________. In fact, "__________ became a synonym not only for __________, __________, __________ and __________, but also for __________." Part of __________ culture was frequenting the temple of __________, the goddess of __________, and __________ with at least one of more than one thousand cult __________. Although we may not have cult __________, our culture certainly idolizes __________ and personal __________.

bodies; by; for; bodies; pleasure; Corinth; Paul; indulgence; Corinth; wealth; luxury; drunkenness; debauchery; filth; Corinthian; Aphrodite; love; engaging; prostitutes; prostitutes; sex; indulgence

But what if our __________ have not ultimately been created for __________? What if our __________ have actually been created for __________? And even better, what if __________ is actually the way to experience the greatest __________ in our __________?

bodies; self-gratification; bodies; God-glorification; God-glorification; satisfaction; bodies

Men and women made in His __________ could share in the joy of a personal __________ with God -- __________, __________, and __________. This __________ and __________ to relate to God were __________. Nothing else in all creation bore the __________ of God. __________ and __________ alone were made in the __________ of God though not __________ to Him. He was __________; they were __________. He was __________; they were __________. He was __________; they were __________. Yet in a way that nothing else in all creation can, men and women shared certain __________, __________, and __________ capacities with God. They had the power to __________, the desire to __________, the ability to __________, and the capacity to make moral __________. God __________ them, __________ them, and gave them __________ over the rest of His creation (see Gen. 1:28).

image; relationship; Father; Son; Holy Spirit; ability; opportunity; unique; image; Men; women; likeness; identical; infinite; finite; divine; human; Spirit; flesh; moral; intellectual; relational; reason; love; speak; decisions; created; blessed; authority.

According to God's design, what is the man's role in marriage?

love his wife as he loves himself

In His __________ for us, God has identified the best __________ of our bodies, and He has been specific about our __________. As we have seen from the very beginning of the Bible, God __________ a man's and a woman's body to __________ together as "one __________" in __________ (Gen. 2:24). The language of "one __________" points to the personal __________ of this __________. Sex is not a mechanical __________ between two objects; it is a relational __________ between two people. And not just any two people. This physical __________ is designed by God for a man and a women who have __________ their __________ in a covenant __________ with each other (see Prov. 5:3-20; Mal. 2:14). There is not one instance in all of God's Word where God __________ or __________ sex outside of a __________ relationship between a husband and a wife. NOT __________.

love; use; sexuality; designed; join; flesh; marriage; flesh; nature; union; act; bond; union; committed; lives; relationship; advocates; celebrates; marriage; ONE

Do not miss the __________ of this scene. God brought man to realize that he needed someone __________ to him, made with the same __________ that he possessed but __________ from him, in order to __________ him do things he could never do on his own. This is precisely what God gave to __________ in __________, and the stage was thus set for the __________ of __________, which we will look at in greater detail later in this session.

magnificence; equal; nature; different; help; man; woman; institution; marriage

If you find that hard to believe (everything with God is pro-sex) or have trouble shifting gears __________ and __________ after years of feeling __________ and __________ for sexual activity, even for __________ your spouse within the __________ of marriage, read __________. An entire book of the Bible is devoted to romantic __________, physical __________, and sexual __________.

mentally; emotionally; guilt; shame; enjoying; covenant; Song of Solomon; love; attraction; desire

In reality, however, the court's decision in 2013 represents only one __________ of a much larger __________ away from __________ marriage across our culture that's taken place over many years. Though it is difficult to obtain precise data, __________ figures show that nearly __________ of all __________ marriages today end in __________ (a number that only increases with __________ and __________ marriages). That's if men and women even __________ to __________. The number of __________ couples in our culture has nearly __________ over the past __________ years as more and more singles __________ or put aside __________ altogether. __________ union is clearly on the __________. In the past __________ years the number of independent female households in our culture increased by __________ percent, and the number of independent male households leapt by __________ percent. Less than __________ of all homes in America today are inhabited by married couples. __________ is under attack. But it is too important to __________. It is not __________ to boldy __________ what God has __________.

part; trend; traditional; census; half; first; divorce; second; third; decide; marry; cohabiting; quadrupled; 30; postpone; marriage; Marital; decline; 40; 65; 120; half; Marriage; surrender; hateful; defend; ordained

Notice a glimpse of the gospel here. Verse 15 has been called the __________, meaning first __________. Immediately, God came to His __________, judged __________, and promised __________. Jesus, born of a woman, would be __________ but ultimately __________ over __________, __________, and our __________.

protoevangelium; gospel; people; sin; deliverance; wounded; victorious; sin; death; Enemy

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 Paul wrote, "The head of a __________ is her __________, and the head of __________ is __________." Paul was teaching that there are __________ and __________ in God Himself. So is that __________? Is that __________ of the __________? Is that __________ to the __________? Not at all. It is __________. Even right now the __________ is sitting at the __________ right hand (see Rom. 8:34; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22). Never does the __________ sit at the __________ right hand. So the Son never __________ to the Father, "This isn't __________ to Me. Why do You get to be in __________ simply because You are the __________? The Son never says to the Father, This is not __________. You have been in __________ the past 50 billion years now. Why don't You let Me be in __________ for the next 50 billion? No, this __________. And if it is __________ for God, why wouldn't it be __________ for us too? Who are we to __________ we have a __________ way?

wife; husband; Christ; God; headship; submission; bad; chauvinistic; Father; offensive; Son; good; Son; Father's; Father; Son's; says; fair; charge; Father; good; charge; good; good; good; think; better

Where is man when woman eats of the tree of life?

with her

Ultimately, God prohibits sexual __________ -- the __________ of sex and __________ with sexual activity as a fundamental means to personal __________. Throughout Scripture and history, people have mistakenly fallen into the trap of thinking that the God-created __________ of sex and sexuality will bring us ultimate __________ (see Prov. 7:1-27; 1 Cor. 10:8). Sadly, it seems that we are no different in our time. All across our culture, people believe, if only I have sexual __________ in this way or that way, then I will be __________. But this is not true. Sex is __________, but sex is not __________. It will not ultimately __________. Like any other __________, it will always __________ more than it __________ while __________ the human __________ away from the only One who is able to __________ supreme __________. Whenever God gives us a __________ command, He always gives two __________ to us: He __________ us with something __________ while also __________ us from something __________. These simple __________ help us see more clearly what we are doing when we __________ God's __________.

worship; idolization; infatuation; fulfillment; pleasure; satisfaction; freedom; happy; good; God; fulfill; idol; take; gives; diverting; heart; give; joy; negative; positives; provides; better; protecting; worse; truths; ignore; design