#sean mcdowell

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Sean McDowell talks about the unique aspects of Gen Z and how to reach this digitally-native generation, then he describes the Bible study plan he’s following this month.

[nosamyrag]

[wisdomfish]

10 Challenging Truths about Sex and the Bible...

1. Sex is not essential for a flourishing life. The narrative of our culture is that a sexless life is deficient. A person who has never had sex is deeply missing out. And yet Scripture resists this strongly. Jesus Christ was the most fulfilled human ever and he never had sex. A truly fulfilled life requires loving God and loving people regardless of sexual activity (Mark 12:28-34).

2. God hates divorce. Jesus taught that marriage is meant for a lifetime and that divorce is permissible for sexual unfaithfulness (Matt. 19). God hates divorce (Mal 2:16). And yet both the wider culture and the church have largely come to terms with it.

3. God cares about our actions and our thoughts. Jesus expanded the law to include not only adultery but also lusts of the heart. God cares not only about our actions, but what we think about (Matt 5:27-30).

4. God is the creator of sex and we are to receive it as a gift. The first truth we learn about God in the Bible is that He is the creator. He designed the world to operate a certain way and gave sex as a gift for mankind to enjoy (Gen 1:28)

5. All sexual activity outside of male-female marriage is condemned by Scripture. Adultery. Polygamy. Homosexual behavior. Incest. Pornography. Sex is only rightly experienced between a husband and wife in a marital covenant (Mark 7:21; Gal 5:19-21)

6. Singleness is a beautiful gift the church ought to embrace and celebrate. Celibates are often viewed as second-class citizens in the church. Yet Scripture teaches that singleness and marriage are both equally honorable callings (1 Cor 7; Matt 19:10-12)

7. Sexual sin is not the worst sin, but it is serious because our bodies are the temple. There are two mistakes about the seriousness of sexual sin. One is to say that it is the worst sin. This is false. Idolatry is the worst sin. The other is to say that all sins are the same. This is false, as Scripture teaches that sexual immorality violates the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:12-19)

8. Sexual freedom comes from living according to God’s design, not our feelings. True freedom is living the way God wants us to live. Freedom is not based on a feeling, but living a life that is in alignment with God’s creation (John 8:32).

9. Sex differences exist. Male-female differences are not entirely social construction. Men and women have much in common, but they also have biological, relational, and emotional differences. And we all know this. It’s common sense (Gen 2:18-25)

10. Sex is a procreative act. Part of the sexual revolution is to deny the procreative element of sex–to claim that sex is merely a physical act without deeper meaning. But the sexual act itself, even if a child does not result, is a child-bearing kind of act (Gen 1:28; 2:24)

~ Sean McDowell, Ph.D.

[craigtowens]

The Resurrection Of Jesus Makes All The Difference

The way the disciples lived after the resurrection of Jesus shows His resurrection was not a myth.

The resurrection of Jesus is THE history-changing event!

[willisfans]

Pictures from Jenny’s Wedding to Sean McDowell. Photos by Sean Fisher. Source

[actsof2020vision]

Ravi Zacharias said, “Do not underestimate the role you may play in clearing the obstacles in someone’s spiritual journey. A seed sown here, a light shone there may be all that is needed to move someone one step further.” Actsof2020vision.com 🌎

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

10 Predictive Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus

by Sean McDowell | Fulfilled prophecy is one of the most powerful and common evidence for the Christian faith. There are Old Testament prophecies that foreshadow New Testament realities, such as Christ being the Passover lamb...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

How Do We Help Kids Who Have Left the Faith?

by Sean McDowell | Perhaps the toughest question parents ask me is how they can help their wayward kids. The difficulty of this question stems not solely from the intellect, but from seeing the pain in the eyes of parents who are genuinely hurt and disappointed in the choices...