This document discusses whether openly gay persons should be invited to join a faith community. It acknowledges that all people are sinners, but that Jesus loves and wants to save all sinners. It also notes that some sinners choose to trust Jesus more than anything else. The document explores the common Christian struggle with sexuality and sexual constraint, and suggests Jesus would send sinners to church to receive grace and guidance on following Him consistently.

1. A Delicate Matter
Requires a Different Approach

4. Would Jesus Invite Openly Gay Persons to Join Our
Faith Village?

5. Sign or No Sign?

6. BAZINGA!!!
Sign or No Sign?
The risk of causing someone to think
they weren’t welcome here trumped
the risk of a stranger getting hurt
and suing our church.

7. PRIVATE
PROPERTY
We reserve the right to
decide who can come here.

8. PRIVATE
PROPERTY
We reserve the right to
decide who can come here.
Isn’t this our God-given responsibility?

10. EPHESIANS 2 18 Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of
one Holy Spirit. 19 So you are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are citizens
together with God's people. You are members of God's family. 20 You are a building
that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus
himself is the most important stone in the building. 21 The whole building is
held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the
Lord. 22 And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are
being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.

11. MARK 2
15 Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's
house. Many tax collectors and "sinners" were
eating with him and his disciples. They were
part of the large crowd following Jesus.
16 Some teachers of the law who were
Pharisees were there. They saw Jesus eating
with "sinners" and tax collectors. So they
asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with
tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
17 Jesus heard that. So he said to them,
"Those who are healthy don't need a doctor.
Sick people do. I have not come to get those
who think they are right with God to follow
me. I have come to get sinners to follow me."

12. There Is No Difference.
Yet We Act Like There Is

13. There Is No Difference.
Yet We Act Like There Is
All sin. All fail to trust God. All fall short.
(Romans 3)

14. There Is No Difference.
Yet We Act Like There Is
All sin. All fail to trust God. All fall short.
(Romans 3)
Pharisees believed this, yet behaved as if
some sinners should be judged,
despised, avoided, and excluded.

15. There Is No Difference.
Yet We Act Like There Is
All sin. All fail to trust God. All fall short.
(Romans 3)
Pharisees believed this, yet behaved as if
some sinners should be judged,
despised, avoided, and excluded.
What kind of people today know that
they would be persona non grata in
most Evangelical churches?

16. But is just being gay sinful?

17. But is just being gay sinful?
Jesus didn’t. Paul did.

18. But is just being gay sinful?
Jesus didn’t. Paul did.
Romans 1:18-2:1 (cf. 1Cor 6:18-20)

19. But is just being gay sinful?
Jesus didn’t. Paul did.
Romans 1:18-2:1 (cf. 1Cor 6:18-20)
Same-sex behavior (v.26-27)

20. But is just being gay sinful?
Jesus didn’t. Paul did.
Romans 1:18-2:1 (cf. 1Cor 6:18-20)
Same-sex behavior (v.26-27)
But is same-sex orientation a sin,
especially if a person truly believes this
wasn’t a choice?

21. But is just being gay sinful?
Jesus didn’t. Paul did.
Romans 1:18-2:1 (cf. 1Cor 6:18-20)
Same-sex behavior (v.26-27)
But is same-sex orientation a sin,
especially if a person truly believes this
wasn’t a choice?
People born straight still struggle with
sin; no different if a person is ‘born’
gay. Sin is a problem for us all.

22. The Choice to Follow Jesus
JC

23. The Choice to Follow Jesus
A Clear CHOICE
JC

24. The Choice to Follow Jesus
A Clear CHOICE
Out of everybody who’s
straight or gay, only a
small percentage
have made this choice JC

25. The Choice to Follow Jesus
A Clear CHOICE
Out of everybody who’s
straight or gay, only a
small percentage
have made this choice JC
Different...
ATTITUDES
DESIRES
DIRECTION

26. Very Limited Audience
Christians
Gays

27. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
Christians
Gays

28. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
Christians
Gays

29. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
‣ Not very conservative or very liberal
Christians
Gays

30. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
‣ Not very conservative or very liberal
• Those looking for ways to lead with the
Christians
love of Jesus and to live in God-honoring
ways with fellow strugglers and stragglers
Gays

31. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
‣ Not very conservative or very liberal
• Those looking for ways to lead with the
Christians
love of Jesus and to live in God-honoring
ways with fellow strugglers and stragglers
✦Not most gay people
Gays

32. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
‣ Not very conservative or very liberal
• Those looking for ways to lead with the
Christians
love of Jesus and to live in God-honoring
ways with fellow strugglers and stragglers
✦Not most gay people
‣ Not those who want to follow their desires Gays

33. Very Limited Audience
✦Not everybody in the world
✦Not even all Christians
‣ Not very conservative or very liberal
• Those looking for ways to lead with the
Christians
love of Jesus and to live in God-honoring
ways with fellow strugglers and stragglers
✦Not most gay people
‣ Not those who want to follow their desires Gays
• Some (Christian & Seekers) looking for
ways that Jesus promises to bring deeper
fulfillment and joy to their lives

34. Our Common Struggle with Sexuality

35. Our Common Struggle with Sexuality
• Part of the choice to follow Jesus is to yield our sexuality to Him

36. Our Common Struggle with Sexuality
• Part of the choice to follow Jesus is to yield our sexuality to Him
• Discipline of Sexual Constraint is part of every Christian’s new life

37. Our Understanding and Application of
SEXUAL CONSTRAINT
*unique challenges for Christians who are gay

38. Our Understanding and Application of
SEXUAL CONSTRAINT
For all teens and single adults
Chastity
Purity
Celibacy*
*unique challenges for Christians who are gay

39. Our Understanding and Application of
SEXUAL CONSTRAINT
For all teens and single adults
Chastity
Purity
Celibacy*
For all married adults
Faithfulness, monogamy,
covenant-bond until death
*unique challenges for Christians who are gay

40. Our Understanding and Application of
SEXUAL CONSTRAINT
For all teens and single adults COMPLICATIONS
Chastity Libido/Lust
Purity Mistakes & Rebellions
Celibacy* Divorce & Remarriage
For all married adults Loneliness
Faithfulness, monogamy, Same-sex Covenant
covenant-bond until death Partnerships*
*unique challenges for Christians who are gay

41. Would Jesus invite openly gay persons
to join our Faith Village?

42. Would Jesus invite openly gay persons
to join our Faith Village?
SIN - Nobody is righteous, not one

43. Would Jesus invite openly gay persons
to join our Faith Village?
SIN - Nobody is righteous, not one
LOVE - Jesus sees every sinner as
worth loving, saving and belonging

44. Would Jesus invite openly gay persons
to join our Faith Village?
SIN - Nobody is righteous, not one
LOVE - Jesus sees every sinner as
worth loving, saving and belonging
CHOICE - Some sinners decide to trust
Jesus more than anyone or anything else

45. Would Jesus invite openly gay persons
to join our Faith Village?
?
SIN - Nobody is righteous, not one
?
LOVE - Jesus sees every sinner as
?
worth loving, saving and belonging
? ?
CHOICE - Some sinners decide to trust ?
? ?
??
??
Jesus more than anyone or anything else
?
CHURCH - Where Jesus sends sinners ?
to get grace and guidance on leading lives
that are consistent with their choice to
trust and follow Him

46. This church
belongs to Jesus
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls. For My
yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-29