“Sex and gender [Pt. 2]”
SERMON Title: Sex and gender [Pt. 2]
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:7; 20b-25 (EsV)
Introduction:
We continue in discussing the topic of gender from last week’s sermon. Today, we’ll explore 5 questions:
What is gender?
What is gender dysphoria?
What causes gender dysphoria?
What does God say to those who are struggling with gender?
How should we respond to those who are struggling with this issue?
Overview:
(1) What is gender?
Gender has less to do with our anatomy, and more to do with the subjective sense of how we view ourselves; how the maleness or the femaleness, masculinity, and femininity play themselves out in this world and in our lives.
The difference between biological sex and gender is probably even more clear in Genesis 2:24 - “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Gender is talking about a subjective sense of who we are.
Gender is that part of ourselves where we come to understand what it means to be male or what it means to be female, as well as how we play that out in society and culture at large.
Gender is given to us by God in connection with our biological sex. But the development of how it works out happens relationally.
(2) What is gender dysphoria?
Struggles related to gender. There is a mismatch between your biological sex and your internal sense of self.
(3) What causes gender dysphoria?
Deception and spiritual warefare.
Our personal internal desires. (Gal 5:17 & 1 Pet 2:11)
Wounds of sin committed to us and by us. (Rom 1:21-27)
(4) What does God say to those who are struggling with gender?
God’s Good News for us. (Eph 2:1-5)
God’s invitation for us is to live in a way where gender is not the primary identifying feature of our life. (Gal 3:28)
(5) How should we respond to those who are struggling with this issue?
With mercy and empathy for others who struggle with the enslaving power of sin.
With patience and prayer over those who are working on overcoming these struggles in their own life.
With warning by love for those who have hardened their hearts over the weight of their sin against God.
With humility because of the Gospel for non-believers who may not grasp the weight and difficulty of this particular struggle.
With commitment to sticking by Jesus in the face of a society who distorts and rejects the biblical teachings around sex and gender.
Application:
Sermon reflection questions:
Do you personally struggle with gender dysphoria? Do you know anyone who struggles with this around you?
How can you lend an ear or a voice to those who struggle personally or are indifferent with this issue?
