Some Trusted Voices on Biblical Sexuality
Juli Slattery https://www.authenticintimacy.com/
Christopher Yuan https://christopheryuan.com/
Jackie Hill Perry https://jackiehillperry.com/
Rosaria Butterfield https://rosariabutterfield.com/
Preston Sprinkle https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/
Sam Allberry https://samallberry.com/
Resources
CVCYouth Leaders Resource Page
CVCYouth Leaders Resources – Dating
CVCYouth Leaders Resources – Pornography
CVCYouth Leaders Resources – Gender Issues
CVCYouth Leaders Resources – Homosexuality
Sex Education Resource for Approximately Ages 2-5 (EARLY CHILDHOOD)
Overall theme: God made your body special and it’s amazing!
When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner – Ages 3-7. Beautiful book affirming the amazing and unique way God created your child and introducing the idea of the image of God to children.
God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell – Ages 4-8. Delightful book on the way God created people uniquely and in all different colors and with different gifts. Discusses the idea of the image of God in us as well as explains the gospel.
Colorful: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us by Dorena Williamson– Ages 4-8. Wonderful book celebrating God’s creativity in all the colors he used in his creation in nature and us!
The Story of Me by Stan & Brenna Jones – Ages 4-6. First book in the series “God’s Design for Sex.” Developmentally appropriate introduction to sex ed covering babies, body parts, good touches – includes a helpful parent guide.
God Made Your Body by Jim Burns – Ages 3-5. Great book to use when you want to explain what sexual intercourse is and where babies come from. Provides the basic foundation that God created our bodies and wants us to honor him with them. Good diversity represented in pictures.
God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies by Justin S. & Lindsay A. Holcomb – Ages 2-8. Helpful book to talk through secrets vs. surprises, when it’s ok for someone to touch their private areas, choosing to show physical affection – includes a helpful parent guide.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. by Kristen A. Jenson – Ages 3-7. Introduces the topic of pornography to very young children in a developmentally appropriate way – includes a parent guide.
Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect: Teach Children About Body Ownership, Respect, Feelings, Choices, and Recognizing Bullying Behaviors by Jayneen Sanders – Ages 4-10. Simple language and pictures to address the issue of boundaries with their body and respecting other people’s boundaries.
Sex Education Resource for Approximately Ages 6-8 (MIDDLE CHILDHOOD)
Overall theme: We can talk about everything in our family and I’m the one you should come to with questions.
When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner – Ages 3-7. Beautiful book affirming the amazing and unique way God created your child and introducing the idea of the image of God to children.
God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell – Ages 4-8. Delightful book on the way God created people uniquely and in all different colors and with different gifts. Discusses the idea of the image of God in us as well as explains the gospel.
Colorfull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us by Dorena Williamson– Ages 4-8. Wonderful book celebrating God’s creativity in all the colors he used in his creation in nature and us!
Creative God, Colorful Us by Trillia Newbell – Ages 6-12. Building on God’s Very Good Idea, this book goes through how God made us different, we all sinned, how God rescued us and how we can now love others.
How God Made Babies by Jim Burns – Ages 6-9. Great book to use when you want to explain what sexual intercourse is and where babies come from. Emphasizes that God is a part of each family from conception to death. Good diversity represented in pictures.
The Story of Me by Stan & Brenna Jones – Ages 4-6. First book in the series “God’s Design for Sex.” Developmentally appropriate introduction to sex ed covering babies, body parts, good touches – includes a helpful parent guide.
Before I was Born by Stan & Brenna Jones – Ages 6-10. Second book in the series “God’s Design for Sex.” Great book to use when you want to explain what sexual intercourse is and where babies come from.
The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality by Luke Gilkerson – Ages 6-10. Seven short lessons to be read with your child discussing anatomy, sex and values around sex. Each lesson has a short opening, scripture passage, points of learning, questions to discuss and a prayer.
God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies by Justin S. & Lindsay A. Holcomb – Ages 2-8. Great book to talk through secrets vs. surprises, when it’s ok for someone to touch their private areas, choosing to show physical affection – includes a helpful parent guide.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. by Kristen A. Jenson – Ages 3-7. Introduces the topic of pornography to very young children in a developmentally appropriate way – includes a parent guide.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen A. Jenson – Ages 8-10.
Sex Education Resource for Approximately Ages 9-12 (LATE CHILDHOOD)
Overall theme: God made our bodies to work in amazing ways. It’s important to treat everyone with kindness and respect.
Christian Sexuality – Excellent online Christian sex education program created by Preston Sprinkle (professor at Wheaton college). Very compassionate and empathetic tone while holding to traditional Biblical values. Series of 12 videos (about 20 minutes each) on topics from dating to masturbation to homosexuality to transgender and more. Our church can send you a link to access the series for free. Please email Mandy DuPar (mandy@sbcommunity.org) if you would like the free link. https://christian-sexuality.com/
The Whole Story – Online excellent comprehensive Christian sex education program with units on a wide range of subjects including short topical videos that you can watch with your child. There is a section of videos aimed at children ages 10-12 and another section aimed at children ages 13-15. $35 for access to all videos for one gender or $59 for both genders. https://thewholestory.thinkific.com/
Before I was Born by Stan & Brenna Jones – Ages 6-10. Second book in the series “God’s Design for Sex.” Perfect book to use when you want to explain what sexual intercourse is and where babies come from.
What’s the Big Deal by Stan & Brenna Jones – Ages 9-13. Third book in the series “God’s Design for Sex.” Chapter book that is intended to be read by parent and child together. Written in a question and answer format.
The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality by Luke Gilkerson – Ages 6-10. Seven short lessons to be read with your child discussing anatomy, sex and values around sex. Each lesson has a short opening, scripture passage, points of learning, questions to discuss and a prayer.
Relationships: 11 Lessons to Give Kids a Greater Understanding of Biblical Sexuality by Luke Gilkerson – Ages 11-14. Eleven short lessons to be read with your child helping to equip them for temptations they will face. Each lesson has a short opening, scripture passage, points of learning, questions to discuss and a prayer. Each lesson has a short opening, scripture passage, points of learning, questions to discuss and a prayer.
Changes: 7 Lessons to Make Sense of Puberty by Luke Gilkerson – Ages 8-12. Seven short lessons to be read with your child to help them understand the mental, emotional and physical changes that puberty brings. Each lesson has a short opening, scripture passage, points of learning, questions to discuss and a prayer.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen A. Jenson – Ages 8-10. Discusses the topic of pornography to children in a developmentally appropriate way. Includes discussion questions, a plan for your child of what to do if they encounter pornography and a parent guide.
Consent (for kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian – Ages 6-10. This very kid-friendly book has lots of comic book-type illustrations and goes through lots of different scenarios and what to do in a non-scary way.
The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls (American Girls Library) by Valorie Schaefer – Ages 8-10. Practical and helpful non-Christian book written for children covering topics from hair and skin care to bad breath to periods.
The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls (American Girls Library) by Cara Natterson – Ages 10-12. Practical and helpful non-Christian book written for children with a more in-depth look at the physical and emotional changes girls will go through.
Resources Just for Parents
How and When to Talk with Your Child About Sex: A Lifelong Approach to Shaping Your Child’s Character by Stan and Brenna Jones. Christian book that helps you think through how to handle sex education with your child at every stage.
How to Talk with Your Child About Sex by Linda and Richard Eyre. Very helpful Christian book that gives you sample scripts of ways to talk with your child about a wide range of sex ed topics along with suggested ages to discuss particular topics.
Touchy Subjects by Craig Gross and David Dean. Helps parents think through how to tackle talking to their kids about difficult subjects like sex, technology and social media from a Christian perspective. Very quick read and geared towards parents of teenagers.
Talk to Me First by Deborah Roffman. This is a non-Christian book so you will need to translate it into your values and perspectives. Can be very explicit but has very helpful information and provides an overall framework for talking with your child about sex. Helps you to think through your values and what you want to communicate.
The Tech Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place by Andy Crouch. Very helpful Christian book that helps you think through the best way for your family to engage with technology.
Right Click: Parenting Your Teenager in a Digital Media World by Kara Powell, Brad Griffin & Art Bamford (all from the Fuller Youth Institute). Great Christian book to help you handle tech-related dilemmas with your teenager.
Podcasts
How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex with David Thomas and Sissy Goff
Sex Conversations through the Phases
Articles/Websites
Great Christian website with parent guides and culture translator. They have excellent webinars and their weekly culture translator sends out good articles and resources as well. Worth the money to get a membership ($9.99 a month or $99 a year). https://axis.org/ Section of their blog section specifically on sexuality – https://info.axis.org/blog/tag/sexuality
Non-Christian article with ways you can teach your child about consent at different ages: https://everydayfeminism.com/2013/03/teaching-kids-consent-ages-1-21/.
Christian article to help you address inappropriate lyrics in songs with your child: https://connectedfamilies.org/day-7-year-old-sang-lets-go-way-tonight/.
Atlantic article on fewer sex partners leading to happier marriages: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/10/sexual-partners-and-marital-happiness/573493/
Christianity Today article on Transgender conversation: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/quick-to-listen/transgender-surgery-sports-bill-legislation-podcast.html
Sexetc.org is a non-Christian website that is run by teens and affiliated with Rutgers University and features polls that parents can use to start a dialogue as well as other resources you can use in preparing for sex education discussions with your child.
Resources to help you think through your values surrounding homosexuality and gender identity issues
Great YouTube video discussion between Justin Lee (Christian who is affirming of homosexuality) and Preston Sprinkle (holds to traditional Biblical view). Long, but excellent and respectful discussion – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHs2SHdSz_Q
“Dear Church, I’m Gay” – Really good YouTube video by Preston Sprinkle with vignettes from people who struggled with how their faith and sexuality could co-exist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc6NXB6TP5A
Some Bible passages you should be looking at and wrestling with on this topic are:
- Matthew 19:4-6
- Romans 1:26-27
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- 1 Timothy 1:10
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gay vs. Christians Debate by Justin Lee – Autobiography of a Christian wrestling to reconcile his faith and sexuality.
Blue Babies Pink – blog and podcast by Brett Trapp based on his adolescent and young adult journals as the son of a southern pastor came to understand that he is gay. https://www.bluebabiespink.com/
People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue by Preston Sprinkle – Challenges people on all sides of the homosexuality debate to consider what the Bible says and how we should approach the topic of homosexuality in it. YouTube talk based on his book – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGFiDsQcZCg
Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle – Accessible book for Christians who want help navigating issues related to the transgender conversation. Article based on this book – https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april/preston-sprinkle-embodied-transgender-identity-church-bible.html
Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill – Autobiography of his life in coming to terms with his homosexuality and faith and ultimately choosing a celibate life
Christianity Today article on Transgender conversation – https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/quick-to-listen/transgender-surgery-sports-bill-legislation-podcast.html
