Bible Study 4: Stewarding Male Sexuality

Bible Study 4: Stewarding Male Sexuality

Few areas of manhood reveal both the beauty of God’s design and the devastation of distortion as powerfully as sexuality. From the very beginning, God made men and women as embodied, sexual beings, calling them into covenantal union: ‘The two shall become one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24). Sexuality was never an accident—it was God’s idea. It was meant to be holy, intimate, and fruitful: a covenantal gift that deepens trust, nurtures love, and even points us toward the mystery of Christ and the church.

But since the fall, this good gift has been twisted. For countless men, sexuality has become a battlefield—a place of temptation, secrecy, shame, and confusion. Pornography has rewired brains, adultery has shattered families, promiscuity has cheapened intimacy, and even silence about sex in the church has fueled cycles of guilt and repression. Culture adds to the confusion: it either idolizes sex, making it the very center of identity and worth, or trivializes it, treating it as nothing more than appetite and entertainment. Tragically, the church sometimes compounds the distortion by reacting with fear, shame, or avoidance instead of teaching God’s beautiful design.

The truth is, male sexuality is neither to be idolized nor demonized—it is to be stewarded. God calls men to view their sexuality as part of their whole, organic identity: created in His image, embodied in covenant, and redeemed in Christ. To steward sexuality is to honor God with our bodies, to resist distortion, and to live with wholeness. Stewardship means discipline that resists lust, holiness that resists secrecy, faithfulness that resists betrayal, and integration that resists compartmentalization.

In Christ, men are not slaves to lust or shame. They are sons of God, temples of the Holy Spirit, and called to live as organic men whose sexuality is aligned with God’s purposes. Stewarding sexuality means rejecting the counterfeit scripts of culture and embracing the redemptive design of God.

Scripture Study

Genesis 2:24 — Sexuality as Covenant

Hebrew (Selected Phrases):

• עַל־כֵּן יַעֲזָב אִישׁ (al-ken ya‘azov ish) — “Therefore a man shall leave.” Indicates a decisive break from parents to form a new covenant bond.
• וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ (vedavaq be’ishto) — “and be joined/cleave to his wife.” Davaq means to cling or be glued together—covenantal permanence.
• וְהָיוּ לְבָשָׂר אֶחָד (vehayu lebasar echad) — “and they shall become one flesh.” Echad implies holistic unity, not merely physical.

WEB Translation:

“Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.”

Key Insights:

• Sex is not casual—it is covenantal, symbolizing unity of life, love, and purpose.
• “One flesh” = physical, emotional, spiritual, and covenantal union.
• Sexuality reflects God’s design for intimacy and generativity.

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 — Sexuality as Temple Stewardship

Greek (Selected Phrases):

• φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν (pheugete tēn porneian) — “Flee sexual immorality.” A command to run, not negotiate.
• τὸ σῶμα ὑμῶν ναὸς τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος (to sōma hymōn naos tou hagiou pneumatos) — “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Naos = sanctuary, holy dwelling place.
• ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς (ēgorasthete gar timēs) — “you were bought with a price.” Refers to Christ’s sacrificial blood.
• δοξάσατε δὴ τὸν θεὸν (doxasate dē ton theon) — “therefore glorify God.”

WEB Translation:

“Flee sexual immorality! ‘Every sin that a man does is outside the body,’ but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Key Insights:

• Sexual sin uniquely damages body and soul—it desecrates God’s temple.
• The Christian man’s body belongs to God, not to himself.
• Stewardship = fleeing immorality, honoring God, and living in holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 — Sexuality as Sanctification

Greek (Selected Phrases):

• τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ (touto gar estin thelēma tou theou) — “This is the will of God.”
• ὁ ἁγιασμὸς ὑμῶν (ho hagiasmos hymōn) — “your sanctification/holiness.”
• ἀπέχεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας (apechesthai hymas apo tēs porneias) — “that you abstain from sexual immorality.”
• εἰδέναι ἕκαστον τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος (eidenai hekaston to heautou skeuos) — “that each one know how to control his own vessel [body].”
• ἐν ἁγιασμῷ καὶ τιμῇ (en hagiasmō kai timē) — “in sanctification and honor.”

WEB Translation:

“For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God.”

Key Insights:

• God’s will for men is not unclear—it is sexual holiness.
• Men must exercise self-control as a spiritual discipline.
• Sexuality should be expressed in holiness and honor, not in lust and selfish passion.

Takeaway for Men’s Study

• Genesis 2:24: Sexuality is covenantal—“one flesh” means lifelong unity.
• 1 Corinthians 6: Sexuality is sacred—the body is God’s temple, bought at a price.
• 1 Thessalonians 4: Sexuality is sanctified—discipline and holiness bring honor to God.

Big Idea: Stewarding Sexuality as an Organic Man

Stewarding sexuality is not about denial, indulgence, or shame—it is about integration. God designed men as organic humans, living souls of body and spirit, created in His image. That means sexuality is not a separate or dirty part of life to be hidden, nor is it an idol to be indulged. It is an essential dimension of our identity that must be brought under Christ’s lordship and woven into the whole of who we are.

For the Organic Man, stewarding sexuality means:

• Holiness – Sexuality is not driven by lust or secrecy but aligned with God’s design. The organic man resists pornography, fantasy, and exploitation because his body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Holiness transforms desire into a reflection of God’s glory.
• Faithfulness – In marriage, sexuality deepens covenant intimacy. In singleness, sexuality is stewarded through discipline and devotion to God. The organic man does not compartmentalize; he embodies faithfulness whether married or unmarried, living with integrity before God and others.
• Covenantal Integrity – Sexuality is expressed as part of a bigger covenant story. It points beyond itself to God’s faithfulness, reminding men that true intimacy is rooted in trust, sacrifice, and love. The organic man honors this covenant, seeing sexuality as a gift to nurture, not a tool to consume.

In practice: Stewardship means treating sexuality as a sacred trust. It affects how men think, how they use their eyes, how they honor women, how they lead in marriage, and how they carry themselves in singleness. The organic man integrates his sexual life with his spiritual life, his relational life, and his vocational life—living as a whole, holy man of God.

Put simply: To steward sexuality is to embody holiness, faithfulness, and covenantal integrity in every dimension of life, showing the world what redeemed manhood looks like.

Genesis 2:24

• Hebrew: דָּבַק (davaq) = to cling, join, hold fast; בָּשָׂר אֶחָד (basar echad) = one flesh.
• WEB: “Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.”
• Insight: Sexuality is covenantal, uniting husband and wife into one life.

1 Corinthians 6:18–20

• Greek: πορνεία (porneia) = sexual immorality; ναός (naos) = temple; δοξάσατε (doxasate) = glorify.
• WEB: “Flee sexual immorality! ‘Every sin that a man does is outside the body,’ but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? … You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
• Insight: Male sexuality belongs to God, not self. Stewardship = honoring God with the body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5

• Greek: ἁγιασμός (hagiasmos) = sanctification/holiness; σκεῦος (skeuos) = vessel, body; ἐπιθυμία πάθους(epithymia pathous) = passionate lust.
• WEB: “For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God.”
• Insight: God’s will = sexual holiness, not indulgence. Self-control honors both God and others.

Teaching Summary

• Genesis 2:24 shows sexuality as covenantal union—faithful, intimate, and life-giving.
• 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 warns that sexual sin is uniquely destructive but also reminds us that the body is a temple, bought at a price, to glorify God.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 calls men to holiness and self-control, resisting lust and learning to steward desire with honor.
• Together, these passages show us that male sexuality is not an accident, a curse, or a source of shame—it is a gift from God. Genesis 2:24 roots it in covenant: “the two shall become one flesh,” revealing that sex is designed for unity, intimacy, and life-giving partnership. 1 Corinthians 6 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased by Christ’s blood, so sexuality must be sacred, stewarded to glorify God and not enslaved to lust. 1 Thessalonians 4 calls men into holiness, self-control, and honor, showing that true manhood is marked by discipline, not indulgence.
• Taken together, these passages teach us that male sexuality is a gift to be stewarded: not idolized by culture, where sex becomes identity or entertainment; not repressed by fear, where silence and shame drive men deeper into secrecy; but integrated into a holy, covenantal, Spirit-filled life.
• For the Organic Man, this means sexuality is embraced as part of his whole identity as God’s imagebearer—woven into his body, spirit, relationships, and vocation. Stewardship calls him to holiness (purity of body and mind), faithfulness (loyalty in marriage or integrity in singleness), and covenantal integrity (honoring God’s design and pointing to His faithfulness). When sexuality is stewarded in Christ, it becomes not a battlefield of guilt but a testimony of redemption and wholeness.

Scripture Dig

Genesis 2:24 — Sexuality as Covenant

1. What does “leaving and cleaving” mean for men in marriage?
• In Hebrew, “leave” (ya‘azov) is decisive—leaving father and mother to form a new covenant identity. “Cleave” (davaq) means to cling, bond, or glue together permanently.
• How does this reframe marriage as a new primary covenant for a man?
2. Why is sex described as “one flesh” instead of just a physical act?
• “One flesh” (basar echad) implies holistic union: physical, emotional, spiritual, and covenantal.
• How does this challenge cultural views of sex as casual or transactional?
3. How does this passage show the covenantal nature of sex?
• Sex is a sign and seal of a lifelong bond, not an experiment or a performance.
• How might seeing sex as covenantal change the way men approach marriage, intimacy, and even dating?

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 — Sexuality as Temple Stewardship

4. Why does Paul say sexual sin is “against one’s own body”?
• Unlike other sins, sexual sin affects both the individual and their deepest identity. It distorts the temple God created.
• In what ways have you seen sexual sin wound not just relationships but a man’s own soul and sense of self?
5. What does it mean to view your body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit”?
• The Greek naos means the inner sanctuary—the holiest place. God Himself dwells in the believer’s body.
• How might seeing your body this way change how you treat it sexually, physically, and spiritually?
6. How can sexuality be used to glorify God rather than self?
• Paul says: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Sex is not about consumption but about covenant.
• What practical steps can men take to ensure their sexuality reflects God’s glory, not selfish desires?

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 — Sexuality as Sanctification

7. How does Paul define holiness in relation to sexuality?
• God’s will is “your sanctification”—purity, set-apartness, and covenantal faithfulness.
• What does this say about the importance of sexual integrity in a man’s discipleship journey?
8. What does it mean to “control your own body in sanctification and honor”?
• The phrase skeuos (“vessel”) can mean body or wife—either way, it implies stewardship, not indulgence.
• Where do you find it hardest to exercise self-control, and what helps you grow in discipline?
9. What’s the difference between desire expressed in covenantal love and lust expressed in selfishness?
• Desire within covenant builds trust, intimacy, and mutual blessing. Lust outside covenant takes, consumes, and dishonors.
• How can men learn to re-train desire toward covenantal love rather than selfish indulgence?

Takeaway for Men’s Study

• Genesis 2:24: Sexuality unites covenantally—“one flesh” is more than physical.
• 1 Corinthians 6: Sexuality must honor God—the body is a temple, not a playground.
• 1 Thessalonians 4: Sexuality requires holiness—discipline, honor, and sanctification.

Big Idea: Stewarding Sexuality as an Organic Man

Stewarding sexuality is not simply about managing temptation or avoiding failure. It is about embracing sexuality as part of your whole identity as an Organic Man—a living soul created by God, integrated in body and spirit, called into covenant, and redeemed in Christ.

An Organic Man does not see sexuality as something dirty to be repressed or as something ultimate to be idolized. Instead, he sees it as a gift to be integrated into every dimension of his life under God’s lordship:

• Integrated in Body and Spirit: Sexuality is not compartmentalized away from faith. The same Spirit who fills your soul also claims your body as His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). How you handle your sexual life reflects the condition of your soul.
• Faithful in Covenant: Sexuality finds its God-given expression in covenantal union. For married men, this means honoring their wives with faithfulness, tenderness, and sacrificial love. For single men, this means honoring God and others through purity, self-control, and integrity. Both callings require faithfulness to God’s design.
• Holy in Desire: Desire is not eliminated in discipleship—it is redeemed. Lust twists desire inward for selfish consumption. Stewardship reorients desire outward, toward love, intimacy, and covenant faithfulness. Holiness means training desires to serve God’s purposes rather than the impulses of the flesh.

When sexuality is stewarded in this way, it becomes a powerful testimony. The Organic Man shows that manhood is not enslaved to lust or shame but is transformed by Christ. His sexuality reflects God’s glory: strengthening marriages, honoring women, protecting families, and offering the world a picture of covenantal faithfulness.

Put simply: Stewarding sexuality as an Organic Man means living as a whole man—body and spirit integrated, desires sanctified, and relationships marked by covenantal love—so that every part of your life, even the most intimate, glorifies God.

Discussion Questions

1. How have cultural messages shaped the way men think about sexuality? Where do you see distortions most clearly?
• Culture often idolizes sex (as identity and entertainment) or trivializes it (as appetite). How does this distort men’s view of their own sexuality?
• How does Scripture reframe sexuality as covenantal, holy, and Spirit-filled?
2. What struggles with sexuality are most common for men today—lust, pornography, promiscuity, repression, silence, or masturbation? Which of these have you personally experienced?
• Why is masturbation often surrounded by more shame and secrecy than other sexual struggles?
• How can talking openly about it reduce guilt and allow men to think about it through a biblical lens rather than just cultural or church silence?
3. How does seeing your body as God’s temple change the way you think about sexual purity, discipline, and private practices like masturbation?
• Paul calls the body a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20). If that’s true, what does it mean to bring even private practices before God in honesty and prayer?
• How might masturbation, when done apart from pornography or objectification, be understood as a form of stewardship—acknowledging your embodied design rather than despising it?
4. How can married men steward sexuality within covenant, and how can single men steward it through holiness and self-control?
• Married men express their sexuality through covenantal intimacy with their wives.
• Single men often wrestle with unmet sexual tension. For some, masturbation in moderation—without lust or fantasy—may be a way of stewarding desire while waiting for or living outside of marriage. How might this be a freedom under Christian liberty rather than a source of shame?
5. How does secrecy feed shame in the area of sexuality—including masturbation—and how can brotherhood break the cycle?
• Why do so many men hide in isolation when it comes to this topic?
• How could accountability and honest discussion create freedom, helping men distinguish between healthy expressions of sexuality and destructive distortions like pornography or compulsive use?
6. What is one step you can take this week to honor God with your sexuality—body, mind, and habits?
• This might mean practicing discipline in thought life, turning away from pornography, bringing hidden habits into the light, or reframing masturbation without lust as a practice of moderation and self-care rather than guilt.
• How can this group support you as you pursue holiness and freedom in your sexuality?

Leader’s Note for Balance

Encourage men to reflect on Paul’s teaching about Christian liberty (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 6:12):

• Not everything is beneficial, but some things are permitted.
• The question is: Does this practice enslave me, or does it serve my wholeness in Christ?
• Masturbation, in moderation and apart from lust or pornography, can be approached as a form of freedom and stewardship, not as a source of shame.

The goal is not legalism or license but integration—living as an Organic Man, bringing even sexuality into God’s presence with honesty, self-control, and covenantal faithfulness.

1. What’s one step you can take this week to honor God with your sexuality—body, mind, and habits?

Closing & Application

Prayer Focus:
Thank God for the gift of sexuality. Confess distortions honestly. Ask for the Spirit’s power to pursue holiness and wholeness.

Sample Prayer:

“Father, thank You for making us sexual beings in Your image. Forgive us for the ways we have distorted Your gift or lived in secrecy and shame. Help us to see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, bought at a price. Teach us to live in holiness, faithfulness, and freedom. Give us courage to walk in light and integrity as men who glorify You with our bodies. Amen.”

Personal Commitment:
Invite each man to name one concrete step of stewardship this week:

• For married men: an act of covenantal love and intimacy.
• For single men: a step toward purity and accountability.
• For all men: breaking secrecy by talking honestly with a brother.

Group Accountability:
Encourage partners to check in midweek with one question: “How did you honor God with your body and desires this week?”

Leader’s Wrap-Up:

“Sexuality is a powerful gift from God. Don’t idolize it, don’t bury it in shame—steward it in holiness. You are not a slave to lust or culture. You are a son of God, a living soul, and your body is His temple. Go live this truth in faithfulness and freedom.”