On Sunday, February 24 over 450 people packed Substance Church’s downtown campus to hear world-renown Christian speaker Sy Rogers at the “God, Sex and Culture” evening forum, presented by Transform Minnesota and Substance Church.
Sy Rogers spoke about the sexual struggles of all human beings, and the powerful ways in which submitting to God and seeking God in all matters of sexuality, can redeem our sexual brokenness.
God doesn’t set us up to fail, He sets us up to succeed in mastering mind and body…
“These are conversations many church cultures have never undertaken, and people struggle above all else with a sense of shame and powerlessness; they feel defeated,” said Sy. 
But Sy spoke an assuring message of the hope that God is with us in our struggles: empowering us through the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God and people of God illuminating and encouraging us.
“God doesn’t set us up to fail, He sets us up to succeed in mastering mind and body. So don’t let the struggle be off-putting to you. Who said you won’t struggle? Not God, and that’s alright. God is with us in it. He says ‘I put my Spirit in you to help you.’”
(God) is our great, big, redemptive advocate who has uniquely shared our human experience, tempted in every way.
Sy started the forum out by squelching a common misnomer many Christians have long accepted; that they are bad and God is mad.
“The truth of it is you’re not bad, you are human and vulnerable, and God is not mad, He is our great, big, redemptive advocate who has uniquely shared our human experience, tempted in every way. Yet because He did not sin, He won the victory for us, and therefore He is the perfect mediator and advocate for us,” said Sy Rogers.
Many attendees said they left the “God, Sex and Culture” evening forum feeling freedom from shame and amazed at God’s faithful mercy.
God gives us guidelines and grace, and he’s always there for us!
“Sexuality is something that everyone can struggle with. God doesn’t take away the struggle, he takes away the guilt. Our job is to admit our struggle and submit to God. God gives us guidelines and grace, and he’s always there for us!” said one participant.
“God has the redemptive power to help us flawed human sinners overcome any deception or temptation,” said another participant.
The sanctuary was full of people from all ages and stages. Many youth leaders and youth pastors said they felt more equipped to tackle the subjects of sexuality and God’s design for sex with members of their youth groups.
…you have an empathetic, advocate who loves you, and understands you.
“This event was solid gold. This stuff is so important, especially with middle and high school aged kids who are growing up in or out of the church,” said Cal, Substance Church.
“Our youth group attended the forum, and we have recently started a purity group with a lot of these guys to start seeking accountability, steering them away from pop culture as far as pornography and what their friends consider to be the norm,” said Jason, and youth leaders at Substance Church.
“In a highly opinionated, social media civilization there are still many opinions that surround us. But one that matters above them all. Always seek that opinion, even about these concerns,” said Sy Rogers.
“If you are struggling, you have an empathetic, advocate who loves you, and understands you. Trust that He will be available to help you,” said Sy Rogers.
