American culture has changed rapidly in the past few years on the acceptance of homosexuality. However, the testimony of the Christian Bible has not changed. God loves all people, yet he ultimately decides right & wrong. This lessons brings to light these teachings. For more help, read our discussion on same-sex marriage. You’re welcome to comment on this lesson plan, but our website is not a forum for debate.
TARGET AGES: 10-14
OBJECTIVE: To debunk cultural myths regarding homosexuality by finding answers in God’s word. Also, to respond appropriately when we encounter others who disagree with biblical truth.
MAIN IDEA: Homosexuality is one of the sexual sins listed in the bible. We should respond with truth (in love) to others concerning this sin.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES: Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Matthew 19:4-6, Luke 6:41-42, John 4: 15-26 & 39-42, Matthew 5:14-16
MATERIAL(S): 4 clear, plastic cups (filled halfway with water), plastic spoon, red, yellow, and blue food coloring
Introduction (5 minutes)
PREVIOUS LESSON REVIEW: Ask, “What did we learn about worship last week? How did you worship God this week, and do you think he was pleased with your motives and actions?” Remind students that having a sincere heart is a requirement of true worship. Also, our external actions mean nothing if we aren’t submitted to God and don’t allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through worship.
OPENING PRAYER: “Please give us the heart to understand your word, Lord, concerning this prevalent issue in our culture today. We look to you for guidance as we defend your truth. Amen.”
Lesson (35 minutes, including the object lesson)
- MYTH #1: Homosexuality is okay. First explain to the students that acknowledging homosexuality as a sin must happen in order to fully understand God’s word on the subject. Read Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Say, “We see from these verses that homosexuality is one of the sexual sins (among lust and adultery) the bible warns against. But before we address how to deal with this sin in others’ lives, we should first look into our own hearts to purge personal sin.” Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8. Comment, “The bible tells us we reject God when we refuse to deal with our sin. Praying and repenting of our sins puts us back in a right relationship with God and Jesus.”
- MYTH #2: Jesus never spoke against homosexuality (or homosexual marriage). Read Matthew 19:4-6. Ask, “What is this passage about (marriage)?” Explain to the students that Jesus’ definition of marriage means any other definition is inaccurate. Therefore, Jesus did speak against homosexual marriage by defining marriage as a one-woman-one-man relationship. Object lesson: “Does anyone know what the colors yellow and red make when they are mixed together (orange)? Let’s find out!” Put a few drops of red and yellow food coloring in one of the cups of water and stir with the spoon until orange appears. Next, experiment by using yellow and blue food coloring in another cup (to make green). Lastly, use blue and red to make purple. Ask, “Did any other color combination make orange? This is exactly why other definitions of marriage don’t work – God created one man for one woman to work together in a marriage just like the colors red and yellow work together to make orange. We can trust that God’s plan for marriage is the best plan.”
- MYTH #3: Loving others means accepting their sinful actions. First, read Luke 6:41-42. Ask, “What are these verses talking about (hypocritical accountability)? What should we do before we attempt to help someone else deal with their sin (pray, repent, and make sure our motives are pure)? These verses are often used by others in an attempt to excuse sin.” Explain that we aren’t supposed to just go around pointing out others’ sins, but we aren’t supposed to “turn a blind eye” to sin either. However, Jesus set the example of speaking truthfully with others concerning their need for salvation and repentance of sin. Read John 4:15-26 & 39-42 to see how Jesus spoke truth to a Samaritan woman regarding her sexual sin.
- MYTH #4: Believers hate homosexuals. Explain that many people think Christians hate homosexuals simply because we disagree with their lifestyle. Ask, “So how do we show others this isn’t true (allow time for answers)?” Read Matthew 5:14-16. Explain that by serving, loving, and investing in others that non-believers will be more likely to see the “light” of Jesus. Comment, “Arguing and getting angry with others over the topic of homosexuality is not beneficial to anyone. Instead, we should pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help those who disagree with God’s truth about sexual sin and then be willing to let God use us to help bring non-believers into a relationship with him.”
Conclusion (5 minutes)
RECAP: Homosexuality is a sin and we should respond with truth in love, not with arguments or anger. We should pray for those who disagree with us, and ask God to draw them to his truth through Jesus Christ.
CLOSING PRAYER: “Lord, show us how to be a Godly witness to those who believe homosexuality is okay. We ask for you to use us to spread truth to others concerning this topic. Amen.”
good article–thanks for sounding the trumpet–it is so needed. For a well balanced message on this ck out Pastor Brad Trask at Brighton Assembly Of GOD in Brighton, Mich. He preached on this subject 2 weeks ago (I think it was) and did a great job of it too. GOD BLESS
I appreciate that there is a lesson on this topic.
“People who practice homosexuality” is a better phrase to use than “homosexuality” though. Just using “homosexuality” conflates desire with action. Having same sex attraction does not automatically mean that you are acting on it. I know several people who experience attraction to the same sex (their temptation) but are living lives of celibacy so that they can honour God with their bodies. Lumping desire and action together ostracizes and emotionally hurts these people trying to follow God.
My conclusion is that, “People who practice homosexuality” is a better phrase to use than “homosexuality” .
I believe if the church is going to pick this section out in the bible as then they should also teach the whole Bible not just the parts they are uncomfortable with. I know the author believes he or she is doing good work but Jesus said: “come how you are”.
KJV Deuteronomy 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Do you where pants or ever borrowed a man’s coat or worn anything that belonged to a man?)
1 Corinthians 11:5
But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.
1 Corinthians 11:15
but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
For a man ought not to have his head covered since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man.
1 Timothy 2:12
But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
1 Corinthians 14:34
The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
1 Timothy 2:11
A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
1 Timothy 2:12
But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
All I did was quote scripture.
So I hope you are practicing all of these things before telling Children of God that they are sinning.
Respectfully I would say it is not your place. God is God and only he can judge. And please don’t respond because I am a man and you should be silent. If this upsets you? Then how do you think gay people feel when you post things like this on the internet.
I’m sure you mean well but are YOU following the bible as it is written? I could go on more.. but I don’t believe that I have to. Let God do the judging and focus on your own sins. (which are forgiven all ready if you invite Jesus into your heart and repent.)
Lastly about marriage. The bible talks about men and their Many Wives and concubines which were okay. So are we talking about marriage as it is written in the bible with a man able to have many wives or mistresses? (a concubine was mistresses or women with less status than a wife.) Probably not we are talking about the evolution of marriage is it is socially accepted by your definition. Right or Wrong. WE EVOLVE, Marriage has evolved. I believe… This is not in any written text but my thoughts. YES, Homosexuality is WRONG….. for you! That’s why you feel that way. But for them, it is the way they were created. And please don’t say it’s a choice because that is what you think or believe. But you don’t know. We make assumptions based on the information we have. but unless you are gay you can’t say. Unless you can have an attraction to both sexes.. and then choose the same sex as your orientation.
Ok, I say The bible has scripture on marriages. But it has changed completely since then. So unless we are going by the litteral translation of what is acceptable in the bible rather than understanding that times change and so does customs, practices, even LAWS.
21 Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
Mathew 7-15
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Here is a good one. ( I mean no disrespect to anyone but just trying to open some eyes and hearts)
Romans 13:1-2 says: “Obey the government, for God, is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.”
And well the government has decided by the people that Gay Marriage is Legal. Of the Law.
I spoke with a nun early this year and she said something I will not forget because it was profound. The bible is full of “TRUTHS” But not everything in the bible is meant to be taken as literal truths.
I believe in the fifties the church condemned interracial marriages. It was a big deal using scripture to condemn that as well.
I am not trying to upset anyone.. but I just want people to take a step back and think before they throw stones or quotes from the bible to serve their uncomfortableness with things they just don’t understand.
Paul spoke of a thorn in his side. Some speculated that he was a homosexual and struggled with that area of his life. Because I don’t know I will say “I don’t know if his thorn was REAL or a Metaphor”
? 2 Corinthians 12 ? Middle of Verse 7 – So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God’s grace is sufficient.
If you are gay, you can still know God. He wants a relationship with you. Know this. We all have sinned and have sinned. The cool things that GOD did this amazing thing. God sent his son, as a man. (so that Jesus can relate to all of our desires and struggles and fears, a First-hand experience if you will) . He spoke of love and forgiveness. Compassion
When Jesus was asked to throw stones at a known sinner he said
But he said let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Anyways .. so he lived his life-giving and teaching always doing good (He was human and the son of God., soo he did things like stay behind in the temple without telling his parents. They thought they lost him when 3 days had past and they couldn’t find him. Also, there was this incident when Jesus gets mad and turned over tables because they were buying and selling things in the church… He told them that they turned the temple into a “Den of Thieves”.
Lots of people had a problem with Jesus back then. So, of course, they got together and said this guy has to go and this guy named Jesus was arrested and tried by the Sanhedrin, and then sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally crucified by the Romans. Jesus was stripped of his clothing and offered wine mixed with myrrh or gall to drink after saying I am thirsty. They whipped him and gave him a crown of thorns *(To mock him because they didn’t believe he was the son of God.. horrible thing to do but they just didn’t know what they were doing. )
He dies in the end. On the Cross. He last breaths where “God Forgive Them for they know not what they do” Not Condemn them because they are full of sin.
3 days later he rose and ( John 20:7 tells us that the cloth which had been placed over Jesus’ face was not just thrown aside, but was neatly folded. Kinda cool I like tidy things. But this meant in that time he was coming back ) Ok So he has Risen. There is a huge earthquake (caused by angles who moved the big stone that blocked the tumb and the angles sat on the stones) The guards saw him and fell into a dead faint. Anyways He sees Mary Magdeline tell her to meet them in Galilee
Ok and then his disciples meet him in Galilee
16Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Ok, so he says keep his commandments. Below are the commandments Jesus gave his disciples (we can say it’s for us too)
He said that “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15)
Love One Another
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Pray for your Enemies
Matthew 5:44-45 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Repent
Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Take up your Cross and Follow Me
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Go and Make Disciples
Matthew 28:18-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Pray Always
Luke 21:36 “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
at all times (Luke 21:36),
not using vain repetitions (Matt 6:7-8),
to the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers (Luke 10:2),
so that we won’t enter into temptations (Luke 22:40, 46),
to the Father in secret (Matt 6:6),
for God’s will and the kingdom to come, for the forgiveness of our sins, and for our needs (Luke 11:3-4), for those who despitefully use us (Luke 6:28).
Believe that Jesus is in the Father
John 14:11 “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.“
So those are his commandments.
The only sin he says he won’t forgive is
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28–29).
These are from Jesus mouth as retold by the gospel.
Now let’s talk about Heaven. The gift of eternal light. Who goes to heaven.
John 1:12 ESV
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
John 3:36 ESV
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
I don’t know where all this came from .. but I felt compelled to write it. Also, I don’t claim to know everything and how God works and I’m not an expert of the bible. These are my beliefs as I understand the bible. I think each of us .. has some of it right and some of it wrong but we try. Come to know him and he will reveal himself to you. In the end, you could be right. Or you could be wrong.. And God can Judge us or forgive us. We will all find out in the end.
PS (forgive my many grammatical errors)
Also to the Author – Forgive me if I have sinned against you. I really just wanted to provide another stance on the issues.
Thank you for this! Very helpful!
Let me start off by saying it is not my place to judge anyone so I live in love. I have to ask a question though. How is it that a person who is attracted to the same Sex but chooses to be celibate honoring God. I ask that because that person still has thoughts and desire for the very thing God considers a sin.