Real Love

Real Love A Sermon By Rev. Brenna Kate Simonds, Director of Alive in Christ, a ministry offering hope to individuals, families, and churches impacted by same sex attractions and gender dysphoria. INTRODUCTORY EXHORTATION Pastor Richard Sfameni sets the tone with a short exhortation focused on spiritual brokenness and the need for healing in Jesus: Message theme: God redeems human brokenness and transforms lives through Christ. Illustrative anecdote: People delay coming to church until they “get their life right,” likened to trying to fix a car before seeing a mechanic. Critique of religious pretense: Church attendees often “fake it,” pretending to have life figured out rather than seeking healing. Call to honesty and humility: Acknowledges that all are “in the process” of healing and need grace. Concludes by introducing guest speaker Brenna Kate Simonds, inviting her to speak. BRENNA KATE SIMONDS – TESTIMONY AND TEACHING Brenna is a missionary working with the LGBT community and directs the Alive in Christ ministry. She shares her personal testimony and views on sexuality, sanctification, and the church’s role in discipling people dealing with same-sex attraction. Alive in Christ Ministry Overview Mission: Christ-centered, interdenominational discipleship and mentoring for individuals dealing with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, including their families and churches. Methods: Zoom-based support groups for: Men with unwanted same-sex attraction Women with same-sex attraction Friends and family of LGBT-identified individuals Philosophy: Freedom is found in obedience to Christ, not necessarily the absence of temptation. Emphasizes discipleship over instant transformation, inspired by the Great Commission. Ministry Beliefs Includes a brief theology of sexuality rooted in a conservative Evangelical worldview: Sexual intimacy reserved for marriage between a man and woman. Transformation is a lifelong process guided by Romans 12:2 (“be transformed by the renewing of your mind”). Same-sex attraction is not chosen, but acting on it is considered sin — temptation itself is not sin. Comparison to other temptations: Parallels drawn with addiction (e.g., Teen Challenge), emphasizing obedience amid ongoing struggles. PERSONAL TESTIMONY Brenna shares her life story with vulnerability and detail: Childhood trauma: Born premature; alcoholic mother; relational neglect from parents. Bullying in junior high, leading to internalized lies of being “flawed” and “unlovable.” At age 15, fell in love for the first time—with a female best friend, leading to a romantic relationship. During that period, lacked support or guidance; identified herself as "homosexual" based on available information at the time. Built her identity around being gay for ten years, believing the message: “You were born this way, embrace it or you'll never be happy.” SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION – MARK 10:17–22 (Rich Young Ruler) Uses the story of the rich young ruler to highlight how individuals can: Base life decisions on prior experiences and external messages. Struggle to surrender things they believe define them. Message: Christ calls everyone to surrender what they cling to—whether wealth, identity markers, or cultural acceptance—for sake of full devotion to Him. ENGAGEMENT WITH LGBT COMMUNITY AND FAITH Simonds introduces data from the book Us Versus Us (by Andrew Marin) outlining how the LGBT community experiences faith and religion: Majority of LGBT individuals were raised in communities of faith. Highlights disconnect between how churches treat people who struggle with drugs/addiction (with grace and redemption paths) vs. those dealing with same-sex attraction (often judged based on whether they still experience temptation). OTHER DETAILS Brenna is an author of two books: Learning to Walk in Freedom – a discipleship resource. Lessons from Joshua – a devotional book. She has a speaking ministry and engages audiences often interactively with storytelling and questions. CENTRAL THEMES (Summarized) Healing and transformation require honesty, discipleship, and time. Jesus invites all people, including those with complex pasts and identities, into full relationship with Him. Same-sex attraction is viewed as a temptation, not sin, and transformation involves spiritual rather than sexual orientation change. The church must improve its witness and compassion to the LGBT community.