Sunday Service on June 15, 2025

Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on June 15, 2025 

Music Offering

Sermon 

It is a reflective and spiritually-charged sermon delivered on Father’s Day, focusing on the themes of the Fall of Humankind, deception, sexual abuse (both physical and spiritual), repentance, and resurrection. The speaker draws upon religious scripture, particularly the Bible and the Divine Principle, as well as psychological insights from working in betrayal trauma therapy involving men struggling with compulsive sexual behavior and women grappling with the heartbreak of deception. The sermon opens by reframing the Fall of Man story not only in biblical terms but also through the lens of contemporary trauma, suggesting that the Fall represents a cycle of sexual abuse and deception perpetuated through generations. The speaker elaborates on the concept that sexual behavior and trauma often reenact deeper wounds experienced in early life, emphasizing the destructive cycle of abuse and shame.

Beyond physical abuse, the sermon introduces the concept of “spiritual sexual abuse,” a subtle but pervasive relational dynamic resembling abuse on a more intangible plane. This concept challenges conventional understandings of abuse, broadening it to include manipulative spiritual interactions. The message progresses toward resurrection and renewal, drawing on biblical narratives such as the Prodigal Son, illustrating God’s unconditional love and grace for repentant sinners. The sermon critiques denial, minimization, and self-righteousness (exemplified by the Pharisees and the elder brother in the prodigal son story), urging listeners to confront and name abuses in their lives and to embrace God’s invitation to new life and celebration.

The speaker acknowledges the difficulties in admitting abuse—highlighting their own journey of realizing voyeurism as sexual abuse. Ultimately, the sermon calls for discernment, honesty, and openness to God’s healing, urging participants to be aware of two key pitfalls: minimizing evil or holding contempt. It encourages an honest reckoning for healing and connection with divine grace.

Key Insights:

• Reinterpreting the Fall of Man as Sexual Abuse: The speaker insightfully interprets the Fall not just as a mythological concept but as a literal and ongoing cycle of sexual abuse and deception. This links ancient spiritual narratives with present-day trauma, highlighting the lasting impact of wounding passed down through generations. It invites listeners to see how original sin could be understood through the psychological and spiritual consequences of abused innocence.
• The Role of Deception and Betrayal Trauma: The sermon illuminates the profound heartbreak that comes from deception in intimate relationships, especially regarding compulsive sexual behavior. Betrayal trauma creates a unique psychological pain that is often more devastating than the act itself, underscoring the complexity of healing and the need for compassionate collaboration between therapists and coaches.
• Spiritual Sexual Abuse - Expanding the Definition of Abuse: By introducing the term “spiritual sexual abuse,” the sermon breaks new ground in understanding abuse beyond physical contact. Spiritual abuse often manifests through manipulative, coercive relational dynamics in religious or intimate settings, revealing an invisible but potent form of harm that requires recognition and healing.
• Sexual Behavior as a Reenactment of Wounds: Drawing from Christian psychotherapy perspectives, sexual arousal and behaviors are often reenactments of past trauma, suggesting that healing sexual dysfunction or compulsive behaviors requires addressing the original wounds. This cyclical pattern reflects the “spiritual fall” reenacting physically in lives, stressing the importance of therapeutic interventions that recognize deep-rooted trauma.
• Minimization vs. Contempt - Two Barriers to Redemption: The speaker identifies two psychological pitfalls that hinder spiritual and personal growth: minimization (denying or downplaying harm) and contempt (harboring hatred or disdain). Both maintain a form of “deadness” in spiritual life, keeping individuals from embracing God’s grace and restoration. Understanding where one falls on this spectrum allows for deeper self-awareness and healing.
• Grace and Restoration in the Prodigal Son Narrative: The sermon draws on Luke’s parables to illustrate God’s readiness to welcome sinners back with joy. The tension between the prodigal son and the older brother highlights issues of self-righteousness versus grace. This story invites reflection on how resentment and judgment can prevent one from participating in the full joy of God’s celebration and forgiveness.
• Personal Vulnerability as a Path to Truth: The speaker’s candid admission of struggling to label voyeurism as sexual abuse demonstrates the complexity of naming and claiming one’s truth. This vulnerability enriches the message and encourages others to confront uncomfortable realities honestly as a necessary step toward healing and genuine restoration.