September 2021 Conversation
Welcome
This is the September 2021 Conversation page. We hope you have had a great summer and are ready to join in again with the Lausanne Europe 20/21 Conversation.
This month's Impact Group will wrestle with the challenging issue of being church in the midst of an increasingly sexualised culture. There is a thought-provoking article by Olof Edsinger, a Swedish theologian who has written a number of books and articles on the subject. We will also look at Scripture and reflect on the issue in the light of God’s Word.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at conversation@lausanneeurope.org
And if you are just starting your Impact Group, or are confused about what they are about, then check out the introduction pages to the Conversation and Impact Groups to find out more.
This month's Impact Group will wrestle with the challenging issue of being church in the midst of an increasingly sexualised culture. There is a thought-provoking article by Olof Edsinger, a Swedish theologian who has written a number of books and articles on the subject. We will also look at Scripture and reflect on the issue in the light of God’s Word.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at conversation@lausanneeurope.org
And if you are just starting your Impact Group, or are confused about what they are about, then check out the introduction pages to the Conversation and Impact Groups to find out more.
Download PDF Version
The Church in a Sexualised Culture
To prepare for your Impact Group, we would encourage you to read Olof Edsinger's article and to think about the questions on the right, so you are ready to discuss them in the group.
READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Scripture
We thought it would be good to reflect on some key Biblical texts on sexuality and identity. Please pray before you start reading that the Holy Spirit will guide you to learn new things. After reading the passages, think about the questions on the right before you meet as an Impact Group.
Genesis 1:27
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Philippians 3
Read the whole chapter but especially verses 20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body”
Colossians 3:1-4
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Genesis 1:27
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Philippians 3
Read the whole chapter but especially verses 20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body”
Colossians 3:1-4
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan has been on all of our minds over the last few days with its images of desperate people seeking to flee, even mothers handing their babies over to soldiers to get them out of the country. No words can describe these and other scenes coming out of Afghanistan, or the terror that men, and especially women, in Afghanistan must be feeling now. But let us also remember that the Lord is Sovereign and keep praying for Afghanistan and its precious people. Let us also keep praying for our Christian brothers and sisters, who are now in more danger than before. And let us pray for the Taliban and their salvation. As refugees will inevitably start pouring out of Afghanistan, let us pray for safe journeys and speedy asylum processes, and if any of them find their way into our neighbourhoods and churches, may we be ready with open arms to welcome them into our families and churches.
In next month’s conversation we will be looking further into this issue, but for now, let us keep praying.
In next month’s conversation we will be looking further into this issue, but for now, let us keep praying.
1. Introductions and Prayer
Begin with prayer but if there is someone new to the group, make sure everyone introduces themselves.
2. The Church in a Sexualised Culture
You should have read Olof Edsinger's article before the Impact Group and considered how to answer the following questions. Now is the moment to share your thoughts with the rest of your Impact Group.
- The writer describes the Christian view on sexuality in general, and LGBTQ issues in particular, as “the great stumbling block of the Christian message today”. He also talks of these issues as something of a litmus test determining whether you are “in” or “out” in today’s culture. Do you agree?
- What do you think it means practically to live out the Christian story in today’s sexualised culture?
- Social media affects many aspects of life today – love and relationships included. What are the pros and cons of this?
- What does it mean to you to have your identity in Christ? Why do you think sexual identity has become so important in our day?
- How can we as Christians keep body and soul together?
- Was there anything else in the article that you found challenging or encouraging?
3. Scripture Reflection
- What perspective is Paul giving in Philippians 3 and how is this different from that of the secular humanistic view of the world we live in, also described in Olof’s article?
- When we read the biblical perspective on our identity in Genesis 1 and our eternal focus in Colossians 3, how does this contrast with the ever more common idea that our sexual identity is something that we can choose?
- Was there anything else that stood out to you in these verses?
- What are the implications of these scriptures for you? How might you apply them in your local context?
4. Prayer
Always make sure that you leave enough time to pray together every time you meet. Here are the prayer points for this month’s Conversation:
- Pray for a fresh understanding from the Holy Spirit of what it means to be created in the image of God.
- A prayer of repentance for where we have let the secular ideologies on sexuality define our identity (and other people's identity). Pray that we may go back to God's story on identity and sexuality.
- Pray for God's wisdom and grace when having conversations about identity and sexuality, particularly with those who have limited understanding of the Christian story and its concept of identity and sexuality.
- Finally, pray for Afghanistan. As the global Church, pray for protection for those who are trapped with airports closed and borders shut. Pray for angelic intervention for the citizens and everyone in Afghanistan at this time (Acts 16:25-31). Pray for revival and for a 'Saul to Paul' encounter for the Taliban. Pray for Afghan Christians that they might stand firm in their faith.
5. Make Your Contribution to the Conversation
We really want to hear back from your Impact Group after each session. Please find a few minutes to summarise what you hear from God, the highlights of the discussion, and any questions that were raised, in the comments box immediately below.