“Honoring God with Our Bodies” – a message from 1 Corinthians 6 by Greg Marshall

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “God’s Grace for an Imperfect Church: 1 Corinthians.” In this message, Greg Marshall explores Paul’s comments on sexuality and our bodies as God’s people from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

God cares about the relationship you have with your body. All spiritual growth happens in our bodies. 

It is possible to have desires, preferences, and appetites that are not beneficial.

• They are not beneficial when they create separateness in us and our relationship with God and others. 
• They are not beneficial when we need to orient our lives around them.  

Our bodies are not appetite machines. Our bodies are central to the plan of redemption. 

Paul taught that sex is a sacred intimacy that is good and designed to be experienced in a covenantal relationship. At the same time, Paul taught that humans can flourish without sex. 

Sex in its intended context facilitates intimacy and oneness that reveals a mystery about Christ and the Church. Outside of its intended context, sex creates separateness that hinders flourishing and creates damage.  

Our bodies are literally part of the body of Christ. Our bodies are sacred.

The sacred oneness realized in sex is a sign of the oneness that is available to all people in Christ. 

We flee sexual immorality to move toward true intimacy with God and others.

God created our bodies intentionally. He intends that we are intentional with how we share them. He indwells us in these bodies. 

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Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Read the book of Philippians and notice all the ways Paul’s letter calls us to be present to God and others with our bodies.
• Practice asking God these questions (and then listen): God, what do you want me to know about how I relate to my body? What does it look like for me to love you and know you more in my body?