Human Sexuality & the Teachings of Jesus - Part 1
This is our Sunday teaching from Senior Pastor, Tom Thompson. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 16th February, 2025. Below you can find the full talk audio, and a summary article.
Want to lead a connect group session on this teaching? The notes are here.
Talk Summary - The Genius and Grace of Jesus on Human Sexuality
We’re diving into a five-part series exploring human sexuality through the lens of Jesus' teaching. This opening session sets the foundation for an honest, compassionate, and Christ-centered discussion. Throughout this series, challenging but essential topics will be addressed—issues of pain, healing, raising the next generation, and ultimately, how the church can respond with wisdom and grace.
A Difficult Conversation
Sex is not always an easy topic to discuss, especially in church. Many carry personal experiences, cultural influences, and deep emotions when it comes to sexuality. Some may feel defensive, worried about how certain topics will be addressed. Others may feel relief, grateful for a space where these conversations can happen openly and with care. Jesus calls His followers to trust Him—not just with their spiritual lives, but with their whole selves, including their sexuality. His teaching is not just good—it is the best news.
Wrestling with Realities
Personal experiences shape how sexuality is understood. Many grew up hearing simplistic rules about relationships and sex, only to later encounter contradictions within Christian communities. Some witnessed hypocrisy, confusion, or even harm when it came to navigating relationships. Others sought guidance but found little clear teaching on how to faithfully follow Jesus in this area of life.
Jesus and Sexuality
When turning to the Gospels, Jesus’ approach to sexuality is both surprising and deeply compelling. Unlike cultural messages that promote self-gratification, Jesus lived as a single man, deeply invested in relationships, yet free from lust. He shared meaningful friendships with both men and women, honored their dignity, and demonstrated a level of intimacy and emotional openness that challenges assumptions.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls His followers beyond a rule-based approach to sexuality. He does not simply say, “Do not commit adultery,” but continues, “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Jesus is not just concerned with outward actions—He is after the heart. Lust, He teaches, is not just about desire but about consuming another person for selfish purposes. Every time this happens, brokenness is introduced into personal lives and communities.
Consecration Over Consumption
Jesus offers a radical alternative to the consumerist approach to sex that is so prevalent today. Rather than taking for oneself, His followers are called to consecrate—to dedicate their bodies, desires, and relationships to God. This is not about repression but about redemption. It means living in a way that honors both God and others, where every interaction—whether in marriage, singleness, or friendship—brings a fragrance of heaven into the world.
This series is an invitation to trust Jesus, wrestle with His words, and discover the beauty of His vision for sexuality. May the church choose consecration over consumption, honour over lust, and love that reflects the very heart of Jesus.