Living Out Podcast

Ed Shaw, an author and speaker focused on faith and sexuality, dives into the concept of the 'intimacy deficit' and its broad implications beyond just sexual relationships. He shares insights on the four categories of intimacy: with God, self, others, and creation, and how they interconnect. Ed candidly discusses his personal struggles with intimacy and the impact of busyness. The conversation also touches on practical steps to restore intimacy and enhance spiritual connections, including the beauty of nature as a pathway to deeper prayer.

Ed's recent book, The Intimacy Deficit, helps us to think about our connection with God, ourselves, others, and creation. In this series we want to expand on the ideas in Ed’s book, involving more voices in the conversation, and hopefully helping all of us to deepen our experiences of intimacy.

Katherine Brown, a representative of the Evangelical Alliance with a personal journey from the LGBT community, and Ben Thomas from OCCA, who shares his conversion story, dive into important questions on evangelism. They affirm the possibility of reaching out to the LGBT community, stressing the importance of listening and understanding individuals. The conversation covers how to support friends in same-sex marriages and navigates the complexities of gay couples with children coming to faith, highlighting grace, discipleship, and hope.

In this engaging discussion, guests Robin Barfield and Jennifer Kvamme share their expertise on parenting teens. Robin, a seasoned family and youth minister, along with Jennifer, a student ministry leader and author, dive into vital topics like how to foster a relationship with Jesus and discuss the gift of singleness. They also explore loving same-sex attracted teens while maintaining biblical truths. Their insights on creative parenting and practical resources empower parents to navigate the complexities of adolescence with grace.

This week, Rachel Gilson, an author and CRU leader, shares her insights from her book, Parenting Without Panic in an LGBT Affirming World. She discusses effective ways to introduce conversations about sex and sexuality with young children. Rachel emphasizes the importance of framing moral tensions through Jesus' teachings and offers practical scripts to guide these discussions. The impact of the internet and social media on children's understanding of sexuality is also examined, along with the roles of parents and churches in education.

In this enlightening conversation, Andrew Bunt, an author and ethicist known for his work on polyamory, dives into the nuances of consensual non-monogamy. He defines these relationships and discusses their increasing visibility and social acceptance. Andrew explores cultural shifts driving interest in polyamory and urges Christians to engage thoughtfully with this trend. He also addresses the relevance of Old Testament polygamy and emphasizes the importance of pastoral care in navigating these modern dynamics.

The hosts tackle navigating same-sex friendships and offer practical tips on establishing healthy boundaries. They discuss the nuances of opposite-sex friendships and the importance of maintaining clear communication. Loving a sibling in a same-sex relationship is addressed with empathy and active listening. They also explore how to maintain relationships with former sexual partners, emphasizing limits and grace. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on these dynamics thoughtfully and compassionately.

In this discussion, Andrew Bunt, a former church pastor, and Andy Robinson, a seasoned church leader, tackle pressing questions about church life. They critique how the idea of marriage as a default can alienate singles and those attracted to the same sex. Both guests offer insight on how to support individuals negatively affected by conversion therapy and promote a biblical sexual ethic with compassion. They also explore ways to live contentedly single in your 40s, emphasizing acceptance and the joys of single life.

In the first of our series answering the questions our listeners have submitted, we’re thinking about experiencing same-sex attraction. How do we handle sexual temptation? How do keep trusting God if we have a deep but unfulfilled desire to be married? What are some of the gifts and blessings of being single and same-sex attracted? And much more! Resources mentioned and related What Is It Teaching You? Ashleigh Hull Unwanted by Jay Stringer Overcoming Unwanted Sexual Behavior featuring Jay Stringer  Hey Single Christian. Your Celibacy is Uniquely Meaningful Dani Treweek True Freedom Trust  Single, Gay, Christian by Greg Coles The Plausibility Problem by Ed Shaw The Intimacy Deficit by Ed Shaw Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry A War of Loves by David Bennett Born Again This Way by Rachel Gilson Living in a Gray World by Preston Sprinkle 

We're back with a new series, and this time we're answering YOUR questions. You submitted so many good questions when we asked for them recently, that they've filled a whole series! We'll be chatting about everything from experiencing same-sex attraction, to evangelism and parenting. We're excited, and hope you are too!