Weeks 7, 8 and 9: Is It a Sin to Be Gay?

We are wrapping up our teaching series called, "BIG Questions Unbelievers Ask." There is a lot of conversation happening right now in our culture about LGBT issues and whether the church should reconsider the traditional interpretation of Scripture. So this week, we are exploring the question, "Is it a sin to be gay?"

Part 1 – Introduction to the Controversy

Key Themes:

• Does God hate me because I'm LGBT?

• Thoughts on the Christian's struggle with sins of the flesh

• How do I follow Jesus as a same sex attracted person?

• Survey of the 2 major evangelical approaches to the LGBT question

• Key "Progressive Evangelical" figures (Matthew Vines, Jen Hatmaker)

• Can a someone be a Christian and gay?

Digging Deeper:

• Book chapter: "Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own body?" Without a Doubt, by Kenneth Samples

• Book: Same Sex Controversy, by James White 

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Part 2 – What does the Old Testament teach about homosexuality?



Key Themes:

• Brief review of lesson 1

• Genesis 1–2

• Genesis 19 (Sodom)

• Ezek. 16:48–50

• Lev. 18:22 and 20:13

• Mark 10:17–31

Digging Deeper:

• Video: "Homosexuality & the Bible," with Robert Gagnon (good discussion of the Christian's relationship with the Mosaic law)

• Video: "Homosexuality: A Christian View," with Dr. Wesley Hill (New Testament scholar; celibate same sex attracted Christian man)

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Part 3 – What does the New Testament teach about homosexuality?


Key Themes:

• Brief review of previous lessons

• Teachings of Jesus

• Romans 1

• 1 Cor. 6:9–11; 1 Tim. 1:8–11

• Common informal fallacies:
• ad hominem
• appeal to pity
• appeal to personal spiritual experience
• This is another example of the appeal to personal spiritual experience that I didn't have time to play in class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEFkgS0PZxI

Digging Deeper:

• Book: The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics, by Robert Gagnon

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Part 4 – What causes homosexuality?


Key Themes:

• Complex web of issues:
• Sexual experimentation
• Cultural persuasion; gay propaganda
• After the Ball 

• Perceptions
• Thoughts/Meditations
• Choices 

• Ephesians 2:1–10
  

• Ex-gay montage featuring:
• Joe Dallas
• Walter Heyer
• Kathy Grace
• Miriam Alexander

• Is there a gay gene?

Digging Deeper: 

• Book: Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church's Moral Debate, by Mark Yarhouse

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Part 5 – What does it mean to be transgender?


Key Themes:

• Definitions of key terms 

• Progressive vs. Traditional paradigm

• Montage of testimonies of former transgender people
• Daniel Delgado
• Kathy Grice
• Walter Heyer
• Spoken word poem: "My Life as a Stud"

• Quick responses to transgender people

Digging Deeper:

• Video: "Transgenderism" with Dr. Robert Gagnon 

• Book: Understanding Gender Dysphoria, by Mark Yarhouse

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Part 6 – How do we love?



Interviews on Practical Loving
 

Digging Deeper:

• Video: "Dr. Rob Gagnon on Transgenderism," interview with Dr. Robert Gagnon (New Testament scholar)

• Book: Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide for Parents, Pastors and Friends, by Mark Yarhouse