The Bible Speaks to Homosexuality

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  -Romans 1:24-25

Great time gathering with the church family through a very sensitive topic today as how the Bible speaks to homosexuality.

How The Service Came Together

Since we are going through Romans, I am planning gospel-centered worships services rather than topic-specific services.  I planned today’s service probably a month ago but made a few changes to it on Thursday morning after practice.  Unsure of exactly what the topic would be today, I just created the service around creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.

I planned for us to sing through “You Are Holy (Isaiah 6)” and then go into a version of “Holy Holy Holy.”  On Thursday morning, I decided that for our confessional prayer time, I wanted to do a responsive reading.  I couldn’t find one that centered around Isaiah 6 so I wrote one.

As I sent off all the last minute details to everyone, I worked through the rest of my tasks and finally got around to Gospel Project curriculum to prepare for my discipleship group.  I was pretty astounded and excited to see that this very Sunday’s curriculum was focused on Isaiah 6, and they encouraged to sing “Holy Holy Holy” at the end of the time together.

While I would like to take credit for such alignment, only God can be that detailed.

Service Order

  • Preparation for Worship
  • Scripture Reading – Isaiah 64:1-4
  • Song – Open Up the Heavens – Meredith Andrews
  • Responsive Reading – Isaiah 6
  • Song – You Are Holy (Isaiah 6) – Christ for the Nations
  • Song – Holy Holy Holy (with additional verse on the cross)
  • Baptism
  • It Really Does Matter – Church Update
  • Prayer Time
  • Song – At the Cross – North Side Worship
  • Song – In Christ Alone – Keith and Kristyn Getty
  • Sermon – Romans 1:18-32
  • Prayer of Commissioning

ROMANS WATCH