Really? No one wants to talk about this one? I'll start - Nay, Nay, Nay. I don't have a problem with preachers talking/preaching about sex. It's covered in the Bible. But I do have a problem with preachers creating odd little theories about frequency being the key to marriage survival. That certainly isn't in the Bible. Yes, Paul talks about the frequency of the act, but never as a solve-all issue. Good grief! In fact, he argues more for abstaining for seven days for the sake of the spiritual health of husband and wife!

Ed hints at intimacy being the real issue here, but that's not what he declares emphatically through the name of the series, the website for the series, and even in this interview. When pressed by a CNN anchor who's willing to think there might be better, deeper approaches for a preacher to take, he relents and says, "Well. Yes. I think intimacy is the real issue." Okay! Then do a 7 day intimacy challenge already! Sex is one part of a healthy marriage. But boy, one thing is for sure: This series will preach in America. And that might tell us something about why this series is being done. It's gotten quite a bit of press. And no press is bad press, right?

Nay, nay, nay. I think this is an embarassing treatment of sex, marriage, and relational health!

Yea! Sex is a much needed topic in our churches. Every need should be met at the church you choose. This is where you are trusting God to meet your needs in every area. So in lieu of paying for an additional counselor, listen to what your man/woman of God has to say. The bible says that God gives us Pastors after His own heart. If a pastor preaches by the leading of the Holy Spirit on any topic it will only help you. I'm sure this is only one part of a series ministered by this Pastor. He did not just wake up one Sunday a.m. and decide to challenge couples to have sex. Ok. I love it when churches can deal with all issues that we face in life to make us all become better when we apply what we learn. All things being equal, use your own good sense and only follow what will help you & not hurt you. Things are obviously great at this church and people keep coming back for more!

Nay. In the preaching skills archives on the PT site there is a short but excellent interview with Craig Barnes about preaching sex. He says that he brings up the topic of sex in a series of sermons on a larger theme (loneliness, intimacy, etc.). That way sex is seen as part of the larger picture. Our culture already worships sex as the ultimate act, and by making sex the center of a seven-day challenge of this sort, we may be feeding that kind of thinking. Besides, what is our message to the unmarried people in our congregation? "Sorry, you're losers. You're incomplete because you can't enjoy this ultimate act." It's a shame that a CNN anchor had to point out to a pastor that intimacy is a greater need than sex. By isolating and singling out sex in this way, we run the risk of distorting God's desire for balanced intimacy. We should by no means avoid the topic of sex, but we shouldn't make it the main event either.

Nay.
Flash in the pan for attention is my cynical reaction.

This has been the joke of my congregation since it hit the news. Preaching on sex fine. Our people saw this as a gimmick and joke.

It's so weird that sex is still treated like some alien concept in the church.

Look, you folks in both the pulpit and the pews want to get your groove on too, so stop acting as if you don't.

Geez, people...it's normal. Get over it!

Solo - read carefully. No one so far has downplayed the importance of sex. Sex SHOULD be preached and not ignored. But it SHOULD NOT be elevated to the degree it's being elevated in Ed's preaching. Sure - we all want to get "our groove on." That has nothing to do with the points being raised so far. The point is this - why preach a sexually charged formula for marriage health? Is this truly the best way forward for those broken in their relationships? I say preach intimacy and sex is a nice sermon in the series. Again, don't be unfair in your criticism. We aren't losers here. We're raising valid points.

I have a great deal of respect for Ed Young Jr. and this probably works well in the culture of his church which is fine by me.

We wouldn't use that title/theme next month but I do think that most churches would do well in discussing about family intimacy, including sex, physical, emotional care, etc.
That said, I do get a little weary of these hype driven sermon series because they seem to advertise a type of Christianity that enable the consumer-church culture.

That may be overstating it, and I do not want to hinder creativity, personality, and reaching out beyond our walls. I think the next step would be to see what the next series is on and how it is promoted (not necessarily the church mentioned above). If it's "30 Days of Living the Good Life" which features a family praying out front in the lawn of their beautiful home with the mercedes in the driveway, then I'm standing by the consumer-church comment.

Good post, appreciate the discussion.

When books and magazines talks about sex, hollywwod and the media through movies and advertisement are sexually driven, people don't really care but when preachers make mention of anything that has to do with sex they get almost crucified for it. Now, Ed Young ins't my pastor but I've heard him a few times. He is talking about sex as a topic for now and probably talk about something else in couple of weeks -- he hasn't dedicated months just to talk about sex. The bible may not talk about 7 days of sex, but it talks about a man loving his wife. I'm not saying that the pastor should go on a spree but balancing is essential. The bible talks about ALL things. He's just doing his job, lets cut him some slacks.

For women, sex does not equal intimacy and sex without intimacy is common in many marriages. The result is that the wife often ends up feeling used rather than loved. This kind of "church challenge" then becomes another reason for the man to have sex and the wife to feel obligated to agree and end up feeling used once (or seven times) again. Nay!

Deb,

I've been letting the conversation go on without my butting in, but I did want to pop in and offer you a special word of thanks for offering us a female perspective on this. I wanted so badly for this to be a fruitful conversation, and that was only going to happen if both men and women would be involved. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have raised an important point that I believe the CNN anchor was trying to get at (to not much avail, sadly). Again, thanks so much for offering us a necessary angle! Please stop by in the future, too. This is NOT a mens-only site!!!

What I do not understand is why they make this out to being forcefull on the wife. This is just a goal for married couples to shoot for. Not something that has to be done. No one is forcing couples to do this.