In conjunction with Tenth Presbyterian Church's 2010 Urban Ministry Conference, Sex in the City (3/5-7), the members of Tenth's pastoral staff and HarvestUSA will discuss issues of sex and sexuality in our culture. A list of the topics we will be discussing is available here.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? by David White

When it comes to emotionally charged issues in our culture, homosexuality may top the list. So the first thing we need to acknowledge is our temptation to approach this issue driven by our feelings, experiences and sociology rather than through careful biblical reflection. If we don’t personally experience same-sex attraction (though countless brothers and sisters in the Church do), nearly all of us have close friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, etc. in the gay life. These relationships profoundly impact how we respond to this issue – we’ve heard their stories and empathize with their pain.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Resisting - Not Repressing - Sexual Desires Gives Freedom and Self-Knowledge By John Freeman

MODERN psychology tells us, and indeed, our entire culture seeks to convince us, that it's not good to repress or deny our sexual urges and desires. They're seen by many as simple biological needs that demand expression; it's seen as unhealthy not to seek that expression.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Is it helpful to live together before getting married? Dr. Philip G. Ryken

Is it helpful to live together before getting married?

I can think of several main reasons why couples might want to live together before getting married.

First, there is the obvious reason, which is to enjoy sexual intercourse.  This is reinforced by a social reason: “everyone’s doing it.”

Then there is what might be termed the practical reason: it is more cost-effective and convenient to manage one apartment than two.

Third, there is the prudential reason for cohabitation.  Many couples want to make sure they are making the right choice.  The last thing they want to do is end up in a divorce (or even worse, in the bad marriage that their parents had).  They believe that living together is the best way to test their compatibility and thus to make sure that they marry the right person.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

"Singleness and Chastity", Ellen Dykas – Harvest USA

Yeah yeah…singleness and the chastity thing. Blah blah blah right?!  We know, we know…hand’s OFF and clothes ON till we get married. We know already. Wellll…maybe a few more thoughts could be added. What follows has helpful for me as a 40-something, unmarried woman, who is desiring to live a chaste lifestyle as an overflow of a pure heart. Doing the thing perfectly? No, but by God’s grace I am walking towards Christlikeness.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Who Struggles with Sexual Sin? by Rev. Marion Clark

Who struggles with sexual sin?

Well, I do. Ever since adolescence, I cannot think of a time that I have not struggled with sexual temptation and knowing the appropriate attitude and behavior to have. I suspect just about every man has similar struggle and even most women, though in different ways. One can, after all, be out of balanced both in obsessive behavior and in negative reaction against.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Sex Gone Wrong, Dave White

God designed sexuality with a deeply theological context and a heart-shaping purpose. When sex goes wrong it loses the power and poignancy of God’s created intent, becoming instead a futile pursuit for satisfaction that constantly eludes and can become enslaving. To understand it’s brokenness we need to examine the design.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Topics

If you want to know what topics we will be discussing on this blog, you can check out the schedule here.