"Dear Corinth: Why Sex Matters” | Rev. Vicki Harrison

Are Our Bodies Just Biology?

Let’s be honest—our world talks about sex constantly, but rarely with wisdom. Week 3 of our Dear Corinth series dives into Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, a church in a hyper-sexualized culture eerily similar to our own.

Pastor Vicki Harrison explores chapters 5 and 6, where Paul confronts dangerous lies creeping into the early church—like the idea that sex is just a physical act, or that what we do with our bodies doesn’t impact our souls. Sound familiar?

Watch the full message below or listen to the audio player to go deeper.

Key Takeaways from 1 Corinthians 5–6

1. Just because it’s allowed doesn’t mean it’s beneficial.
Paul challenges a Corinthian mindset that says, “I have the right to do anything.” While freedom is central to the Christian life, it isn’t a license to indulge in anything we want. Paul urges believers not to be mastered by their desires.

“I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. (1 Cor. 6:12)

2. Your body is sacred—not disposable.
The Corinthians thought the body was temporary, something God would eventually discard. But Paul flips that on its head. Christianity teaches the resurrection of the body, not just the immortality of the soul. That means your body matters deeply to God.

Your bodies are members of Christ... you are not your own; you were bought at a price. (1 Cor. 6:15, 20)

3. Sex is spiritual. Always.
Sex isn’t just physical—it’s uniting. Paul reminds the church that to join with someone sexually is to become “one flesh.” We can’t separate our souls from our bodies. That means casual sex, pornography, and infidelity cut deeper than we admit.

Flee from sexual immorality... whoever sins sexually sins against their own body. (1 Cor. 6:18)

Faith in Action

This message isn’t meant to shame—it’s meant to restore. Whether you’ve struggled with sexual sin, wrestled with shame, or felt like your body isn’t valuable, this truth remains:

You were created with purpose.
You are valuable to God—body, soul, and spirit.
And the Holy Spirit lives in you.

What would change if you believed your body is a temple of the living God?

Reflect on where you may need to reclaim your sense of value—and invite the Spirit to speak healing and truth.

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More Sermons in this Series

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Other Sermons from Pastor Vicki