Sermon Study Guide | Series: Love Is | Sermon: Holy | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Song of Songs 2:7 | Date: February 15, 2026

‍

If you’d like to dig deeper take a look at our Series Resource Guide: 📘 Love Is — Resource Guide

If this series resonates with you and you’re married or engaged to be married, register for The Marriage Course online

‍

CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

Have you ever made a decision out of emotional hunger? whether in a relationship, a purchase, or even a friendship, and realized later that you were settling for less?

We live in a culture that says sex is either everything or nothing. In that noise, it’s easy to feel confused, ashamed, or pressured to get it right. This week’s message isn’t just about behavior—it’s about reclaiming the sacredness of our bodies and intimacy. Whether you’re single, married, wounded, or searching, take a moment to reflect: How has your view of sex, desire, or your body been shaped by either shame or game? Be honest and share with your group.

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 and Song of Songs 2:7

• Paul calls us to “flee sexual immorality.” Why do you think Paul uses such strong language around this topic? What does “flee” look like practically?
  
  
• The message talked about how culture sees sex as a game and religion has sometimes treated it as gross. How have you seen those extremes play out in your life or the lives of others?
  
  
• What does it mean that “you are not your own; you were bought with a price”? How does that change the way you see your body and what you do with it?
  
  
• Song of Songs 2:7 warns not to “awaken love until it pleases.” How does this apply to the current season of life you’re in (single, dating, married)?
  
  
• Consider the metaphor of a fireplace: sex is powerful and good, but it belongs in the right context. What are the dangers of fire outside the fireplace? What are the blessings of tending it rightly?

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• If you’re single: How might you see this season not as a waiting room but as a gift of freedom to follow God with undivided attention?
  
  
• If you’re married: What’s one step you and your spouse can take this week to prioritize intimacy—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually?
  
  
• If you’re carrying wounds from past experiences: What would it look like to pursue healing this week—perhaps through prayer, counseling, or confession?
  ‍
• What boundaries do you need to put in place to treat your body as holy and honor God with your decisions?
  ‍
• Are there any lies you’ve believed about sex, desire, or your worth that need to be replaced with truth?

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

Jesus, thank you that we are not our own—we belong to you. Thank you for the beauty and sacredness of our bodies and our desires. Help us reject the lies of a culture that treats sex like a game, and protect us from the shame that sometimes comes from religion’s silence or fear. 

Teach us how to honor you with our whole selves—body, heart, and soul. For those who are hurting, bring healing. For those who are waiting, bring peace. For those who are married, bring renewed intimacy. And for all of us, help us tend the fire in the fireplace you designed. Amen.