Page 9 - Youth Discipleship Student Textbook

Youth need guidance from God’s Word to answer these and other questions about their future. A wise
youth minister will carefully consider the topics of his lessons to include answers to these questions.

Marriage and Sexuality

It seems that never in the history of societies has there been such confusion and misinformation being
promulgated about sexuality than today. I read an article about a history book for students in
Minnesota that has been rewritten to exclude most of the significant events in American history, but
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include gender equality/equity, systemic racism, and “progressive“ political agendas. Mattel, toy
manufacturer of the Barbie dolls, is now making a new doll called Kira Bailey. Accompanying the doll is
book that shares how Kira Bailey visits her two aunts in Australia who are married to each other as
lesbians. This doll was announced with a LGBTQ theme in a press release that also said their dolls where
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designed to “inspire children.” Disney Corporation release a new short movie for children entitled,
“Out.” It tells of a young man who informed his parents that he was living as a homosexual with his
boyfriend. His parents were very accepting of the relationship and endorsed his life decision. This
movie targets kids from four years old up. What the Bible considers evil, the culture endorses as
wholesome.

In the Western world, transgenders can now participate in most any sport. Men with slightly modified
bodies can now participate in women’s sports, mostly taking all the medals. We have stores who
advertise that you can use any bathroom you feel like using, based on the gender you consider yourself
to be, regardless of your anatomy. We have colleges that have a one-hour orientation session when
school starts about how to use gender neutral pronouns. Teachers stand and share with the incoming
freshmen the pronoun by which they are to be referenced. Recently a teacher was fired because a
young girl in his class wanted to be a boy, so she changed her name. The teacher accidentally called her
the wrong pronoun, the parents filed a lawsuit and the teacher was fired. Our youth live in a culture that
has seemed to have lost its mind when it comes to gender and sexuality.

Biblical information about dating, marriage, and sex is extremely important for youth to receive. A wise
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youth minister should also consider sharing God’s thoughts about these topics.

The great desires of adolescence

Most teenagers have powerful desires for autonomy, a strong connection with their peers, feeling
important and respected, and the need to develop their own personal identity separate from their
parents. Parents and youth workers who understand these basic needs will shape their instruction to
encourage teenagers to fulfill these desires in some form or fashion.

9 afaJournal, American Family Association, April 2021, p. 11.
10 Ibid., p. 4.
11 For an excellent five-session course for teen and sex, check out this link:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/t/teens-sex--discussion-for-teens-5-session-study.html

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