There’s a fascinating sentence in the Old Testament book of Chronicles, describing a group of “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel ought to do” (I Chron. 12:32, NASB).
If ever we needed that kind of understanding and wisdom, it’s today. Just think about some of what’s happening in our schools, courts, media and families:
- A third grade teacher reads a book to his classroom about two princes who fall in love.
- News and entertainment outlets celebrate gender-confused individuals who believe they are the opposite sex.
- A daughter calls and says, “Mom, dad, I’ve found someone special. I really want you to meet her.”
What do you do when these issues come up? And how do you respond when your children encounter situations like these? Do you understand the times and know what to do?
With the demands and fast pace of life, few people have time to research current social issues – much less to know how to respond.
Focus on the Family’s team of issue experts have dedicated decades to researching the “hot-button” social topics of the day. Here is a list of eight free, helpful downloadable resources they’ve prepared addressing the subject of homosexuality– to help you understand and know what to do.
- Understanding Male Homosexuality: God’s Power to Change Lives
We strive to help you understand: God’s design for marriage and sexuality; the need for boys to develop healthy masculinity; sin’s effect on sexuality; and the distinctions we make about homosexuality as attractions, behavior or identity. To read stories about men and women who’ve left homosexuality, check out: Do People Change from Homosexuality? Hundreds of Stories of Hope and Transformation. - When a Loved One Says “I’m Gay”: A guide for parents
Many Christian parents feel devastated when their child says, “I’m gay.” We hear from hundreds of them every year. With more and more young people experimenting with sexuality and identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual, we suspect this number will increase. For those of you facing this situation, we’ve produced this free, helpful downloadable resource. For more parenting helps on this, see Understanding Homosexuality. - How to Talk to Your Children About Homosexuality: A guide for parents
With the increasing visibility of homosexuality in our culture, your children are likely to encounter this difficult issue. This resource answers frequently asked questions and give guidance to parents from a biblical, compassionate perspective. To dig deeper, see all our Focus on the Family broadcasts, books, articles and resources on the subject, listed here: Homosexuality Resources. - Talking to Your Children About Transgender Issues
Transgenderism is tough enough for adults to understand. So when our children encounter these gender-confusing messages, what do we say? This article gives parents guidelines and suggestions for dealing with this difficult topic. For parents and teens who want to learn more about sexual identity confusion, we’ve also prepared a page with all our Focus on the Family broadcasts, books, articles and resources on the subject, listed here: Transgender Resources. - How Should We Respond? An exhortation to the church on loving homosexuals
If Christians are to respond to homosexuality with real moral authority, we must first repent of our own sins and then recommit ourselves to obedience, honesty, vulnerability and accountability. As you read this resource, you’ll be challenged and gain more insight about reaching out to gay-identified men and women with courage, truth and love! - Talking to Your Church About Homosexuality: A guide for pastors and church leaders
Many in the church are changing their beliefs about marriage, sexuality and homosexuality. Is our church — or home group or Sunday school class — equipped to think biblically about this topic? This resource gives practical guidance about content and tone, as well as information about various groups you are likely to find in your congregation. To understand why pastors should address this issue, look at Three Reasons Why Pastors—and Other Church Leaders—Should Talk about Homosexuality in the Church. - What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? Answering revisionist gay theology
This useful, downloadable resource begins by describing Christian sexual ethics. It moves from there to examining some possible reasons people may struggle with homosexuality and goes on to look at specific Bible passages and responses to “revisionist gay theology.” More discussion is available at Focus’ online series: Homosexuality, Theology and the Church. - Are People Born Gay? A look at what the research shows and what it means for you
For three decades now, researchers have tried to prove that people are “born gay.” They’ve used twin, brain and genetic studies to try and demonstrate that homosexuality is inborn. But does the research really show that? This resource demonstrates that we are more than our genes – and that people can make choices about their sexual behavior, identity and thoughts.
For more helpful books, articles, broadcasts and FAQs, see Focus on the Family’s Homosexuality Resources and our Get Help page, Understanding Homosexuality.
To request a conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time), or complete our Counseling Consultation Request Form. Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. The consultation is available at no cost to you due to generous donor support and will be with one of our licensed or pastoral counseling specialists.
