Reframed, Part 2; Reframing Relational Constructs

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

construct

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Genesis 1:28

construct

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” … But for Adam no suitable helper was found. Genesis 2:18, 20

construct

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

Construct

Genesis 1 & 2 is not ; it’s .

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
      but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered; Proverbs 28:26

Jesus every single construct.

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

How Jesus responds to someone living outside God’s framework:

² At dawn he [Jesus] appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.
     They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 
     ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
     ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
     ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:2–11

Small Group Questions

1. What is your favorite part of the fall season?
2. How do you emotionally approach the topics of gender, sexuality, roles and marriage? Are you fearful, anxious, excited, empowered, etc.?
3. Which of the four constructs prompt the most questions for you? How does the scripture help you move towards an answer?
4. Jesus responded with kindness, grace, and truth in offering the woman a new way to live. How are you doing at balancing these three as you represent Jesus in your everyday world?
5. What is your biggest take away from this message?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?