The Things We Carry: How Jesus Heals Relationship Baggage (1 Corinthians 6)
A few weeks ago, we talked about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea—an undeniable miracle where God made a way through what should have been impossible. But only three days later, they were desperate for water… and they drank from a bitter well. That moment hits close to home, especially when we think about love, sex, dating, and the deep human desire to be known and wanted.
In New England—where independence is valued and “keep it moving” can be the default—it’s easy to carry pain quietly. But bitterness doesn’t stay contained. When we look to the wrong sources to satisfy our thirst (pornography, unhealthy relationships, serial hookups, emotional dependency, or even staying in something harmful just to avoid being alone), it doesn’t heal us. It compounds the ache.
This week’s message is about the things we carry, and the good news that Jesus heals what we carry.
When Thirst Points Us To The Wrong Source
The pull toward intimacy isn’t evil—it’s human. We’re made for connection. But desperation has a way of lowering our standards and speeding up our decisions. Like Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew “because it seemed like a good idea at the time,” we can trade long-term wholeness for short-term relief. Hurry hurts. And what feels harmless in a moment can leave lasting weight.
That’s why this sermon doesn’t just talk about behavior—it talks about what comes after behavior: baggage, wounds, and the lies that follow. The enemy loves to whisper, “You’re damaged goods.” “No one would want you if they knew.” “It’s too late for you.”
Jesus tells a different story.
Paul’s Loving Correction To A Messy Church
In 1 Corinthians 6:12–20, Paul addresses a church struggling with sexual immorality in Corinth—a city full of wealth, diversity, and strong cultural pressure against a biblical sexual ethic. Paul’s tone is direct, but it isn’t cruel. He calls sin what it is, while still calling people toward healing.
He writes:
“Not everything is beneficial.”
“I will not be mastered by anything.”
“Flee from sexual immorality.”
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… you were bought with a price.”
Why Intimacy Leaves A Mark
Paul quotes Genesis 2:24: “The two will become one flesh.” Sex is never “just physical.” It bonds. It forms. It shapes memory, identity, expectations, and attachment. That’s why breakups can feel like losing a piece of yourself—because something real was joined.
The sermon used everyday pictures that make this plain:
Super glue: it sticks fast, and pulling apart hurts.
Old gaff tape: after years, it leaves residue and damage.
Command strips: even “designed not to leave a mark” can still take paint with them.
Some relationships end, but they don’t end cleanly. And that residue can turn into bitterness, comparison, fear, distrust, triggers, or shame.
Hidden Weight Shows Up Later
One of the most relatable moments in this message was the “filing cabinet” story: something that looked movable—manageable—turned out to be far heavier than expected once the moment came to actually shift it.
That’s how baggage often works. We don’t always know what we’re carrying until life puts pressure on it. Dust settles, reality hits, and suddenly the weight becomes visible.
That’s why wisdom says: slow down. Build a foundation before you rush into emotional or physical closeness. It’s not about fear—it’s about health.
Name What You Carry So You Can Lay It Down
Hebrews says: “Let us throw off everything that hinders…” (Hebrews 12:1). But you can’t throw off what you refuse to name.
Some examples of what people carry into relationships:
porn memories and addiction patterns
past sexual experiences and comparisons
shame from choices you regret
distrust from betrayal
fear of abandonment
lies about identity and worth
trauma from abuse
And if you’ve experienced abuse, it was not your fault. You are not guilty for what someone else chose to do to you. But even when something isn’t your fault, the wound can still be real—and Jesus can still heal it.
Healing often begins with bringing hidden things into the light: trusted friends, pastoral care, counseling, accountability, wise boundaries, and prayer.
Jesus Heals What We Carry
This is the turning point: conviction should never become condemnation. Jesus doesn’t expose sin or pain to shame you—He brings it into the light to save you.
Scripture after scripture reinforces this:
“Forget the former things… I am doing a new thing.” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
“You were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
Your story is not defined by your worst moment. Your future is not cancelled by your past. The cross means the debt is paid—and the resurrection means new life is actually possible.
Practical Next Steps: Wisdom, Boundaries, and Restoration
Healing is spiritual, but it’s not passive. Some wise steps mentioned in the sermon:
Set dating boundaries if you’re constantly tempted (time limits, not being alone late, choose public spaces).
Seek accountability if porn or secrecy is involved.
Remove access points that repeatedly pull you back.
Work with a counselor for trauma and deeper healing.
Confess, repent, and receive forgiveness—then rebuild with wisdom.
Healing may leave a “scar,” but scars are proof the wound isn’t open anymore. They tell the truth: you were hurt… and you were healed.
If you’re carrying shame, fear, memories, regret, or pain into a new season—Jesus isn’t waiting to condemn you. He’s inviting you to hand it over. The bitter wells of this world can’t satisfy, but Christ can. You don’t have to be mastered by what happened to you—or what you did. You were bought with a price, and the Spirit of God can make you new.
If you’re in Massachusetts or anywhere in New England and you’ve been trying to do faith alone, Abundant Life Church is a place where healing doesn’t come through shame—it comes through Jesus.
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