Helpful Tools for Having "That Talk"

Helpful Tools that Discuss Marriage and Sex

The sermons from Hebrews 13:4 have given opportunity for many conversations about God’s design for marriage and sex.  The subject is critically important for husbands and wives, as well as for parents and their kids.  I realize these matters are sensitive and sometimes difficult to address.  Several helpful resources have been ordered and will be available in our bookstore by Sunday.  I encourage you to take a look at them and see if they will help you.  

SEX (Part of the series of Little Black Books) by Scott Petty  ($5.00)

What’s the deal with sex anyway? Is it basically just a physical need that we should satisfy whenever and however we please? Or is it something dirty and sinful that a good Christian person should have nothing to do with?

According to Scott Petty, God has a design for sexuality that is much better than both of these options. Scott also deals with some of the common questions young people have about sex:

How far can I go physically with my girlfriend or boyfriend?  Is the Bible anti-homosexual?  What about pornography?

This is a helpful tool for you as a parent, and a great resource to share with your older child/teen.  We have a whole series of Little Black Books in our bookstore.  They are all great resources on various topics.  All of them are fun to read and get straight to the point.

How to Talk to Your Kid about Sex: Honesty and Openness for a Sensitive Subject   ($4.00)

We don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but isn’t everyone else already talking about sex? Yes, they are talking, and their words are shaping our children’s understanding right now. In a culture that glorifies casual sex, kids will only learn to think biblically about it when parents speak up.

Dr. William P. Smith shares a practical, non-threatening model that will connect your child to God’s perspective on sex and intimacy. As you initiate intentional conversations, you will create a safe and God-honoring space for your child to ask questions about sex and receive biblical answers.   CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) is an outstanding ministry organization and I highly recommend any of their resources.  

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know, by C.J. Mahaney  ($11.00)

Beginning from the Biblical basis of the Song of Solomon, C. J. Mahaney explores the Bible's teaching on sex, first setting the topic within its appropriate context: seeking God's glory in all of life, and particularly in the marriage relationship.

This is a great little book that overflows with insightful advice and encouragement to Christian husbands, providing concrete examples of how to love one's wife as Christ loved the church. The call to husbands is one of joyful and sacrificial love in all aspects of marriage.

Time for the Talk: Leading Your Son Into True Manhood, by Steve Zollos   ($12.00)

I’ve not read this book, but here is what the publisher says: 

Time for The Talk will help fathers walk their sons through one of the most important conversations of their lives. “The Talk” is much broader than just a talk about sexuality; it’s a conversation about manhood, about right decisions, about Christ.

Time for The Talk will assist you in giving your son what he needs to steer through the moral and spiritual confusion of this world and make wise, godly, character-forming decisions. You will be equipping him to enter true manhood — a passage that many young men today never make.

This book not only provides a complete framework for discussing the key areas of manhood that every boy should learn from his father; it also guides you into developing a relationship based on truth and love that will endure for life.

Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood  ($11.00)

Again, I’ve not read this, but it comes highly recommended.  Here’s what the publisher says about the book:    Mothers and daughters have a lot to talk about. That’s how God designed it. A mother is her daughter’s first role model, teacher, and friend, and she carries the responsibility of passing on to her daughter a legacy of biblical womanhood.

Mother-daughter team Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre give you insights and suggestions on how to talk—really talk—to each other about what it means to become a godly woman. Tips and study questions make it easy for moms and their pre-teen and teenage daughters to read, share, discuss, and grow.