Living Out Podcast

In this series we're looking at how churches can be more biblically inclusive, working through our 10-point Living Out Church Audit.In this episode, we discuss statements eight and nine:God's gifts of either singleness or marriage are equally promoted, valued and practically supported in your church's family life together.Church family members instinctively share meals, homes, holidays, festivals, money and family life with others from different backgrounds and life situations to them.Resources mentioned and relatedThe Living Out Church AuditPower in the Mundane Andrew BuntSecure in Singleness Anne WittonSingles Need Family Time Too Andrew BuntAnne and Abby on Their Community House Anne WittonWhat Does Jesus Teach About Nuclear Family? Andrew BuntSingleness resources The Living Out TeamSingle-Minded Kate Wharton

In the next instalment of our series looking at how churches can be more biblically inclusive, working through our 10-point Living Out Church Audit, we discuss statements seven and ten:A godly Christian's sexual orientation would never prevent them from exercising their spiritual gifts or serving in leadership in your church.No one would be pressurised into expecting or seeking any 'healing' or change that God has not promised any of us until the renewal of all things.Resources mentioned and relatedThe Living Out Church AuditShould Conversion Therapy Be Banned? (Questions No One Wants To Answer #1) The Living Out TeamConversion therapy resources The Living Out TeamWhat's Good About Struggling with Same-Sex Attraction? Anne Witton

We're continuing our series looking at how churches can be more biblically inclusive, working through our 10-point Living Out Church Audit.In this episode, we discuss statements five and six:All in your church are hearing the same call to radical self-sacrifice of themselves in response to God’s giving of himself in Jesus.All in your church are encouraged to develop an identity founded first and foremost on their union with Christ.Resources mentioned and relatedThe Living Out Church AuditChurch resourcesIs My Sexuality Who I Am? Andrew BuntGentle and Lowly Dane OrtlundUnion With Christ Rankin Wilbourne

We're continuing our series looking at how churches can be more biblically inclusive, working through our 10-point Living Out Church Audit.In this episode, we discuss statements three and four:All in your church know that we all experience sexual brokenness and all are being encouraged to confess their own sexual sins.Same-sex sexual relationships are never mentioned in isolation from other sinful patterns of behaviour, or from the forgiveness offered to all through faith in Christ crucified.Resources mentioned and relatedThe Living Out Church AuditChurch resources

We're starting a new series looking at how churches can be more biblically inclusive, working through our 10-point Living Out Church Audit.In this episode, we discuss the first two statements:Your church meetings include peoplw who could be labelled LGBTQI+ / same-sex attracted.Derogatory language or stereotyping attitudes to anyone would not be tolerated either upfront or in conversations between church family members.Resources mentioned and relatedThe Living Out Church AuditWhat Should We Do With Gender Stereotypes? Andrew BuntWhat Should We Look for from a Church? Andrew BuntChurch resources

A trailer for the fourth series of the Living Out podcast where we'll be exploring how churches can become more biblically inclusive and support same-sex attracted Christians in their walk with God.

How helpful is it to ask the question "Why Am I Gay?" and what are some of the pitfalls in answering it? The team analyse various attempts to explain why some people are same-sex attracted and point to more helpful ways to think about the question in the light of a Christian perspective on God's sovereignty and our humanity.Resources mentioned and relatedWhy Are Some People Same-sex Attracted? Ed ShawWhat's Good About Struggling With Same-sex Attraction? Anne WittonSingle Gay Christian Greg Coles

Christians who hold to traditional teaching on biblical sexuality are sometimes accused of harming the mental health of LGBT people. In this episode the team explore whether biblical sexuality really does harm LGBT people, expose some of the assumptions and missteps behind that claim and look at how churches can be better at supporting everyone with mental health difficulties.Resources mentioned and relatedLGBT and Mental Health: What’s the Link? Andrew BuntIsn’t the Christian Sexual Ethic Harmful and Repressive? The Living Out TeamThe Mental Health and Well-Being of Celibate Gay Christians Mark Yarhouse and Olya ZaporozhetsWhat Does Good Pastoral Support Look Like? (Part 1) Andy RobinsonWhat Does Good Pastoral Support Look Like? (Part 2) Andy RobinsonWhat Does Good Pastoral Support Look Like? (Part 3) Andy RobinsonTake Your Time Ed ShawHow Biblically Inclusive Is Your Church? The Living Out Church Audit The Living Out TeamEngaging with LGBT Mental Health Andrew BuntA Christian Perspective on LGBTQ+ Mental Health Andrew BuntLGBTQ+ Suicide Andrew BuntIt’s Time to Stop Weaponising Suicide Andrew BuntMind.org.ukStraight Jacket Matthew Todd 

Is the mere experience of same-sex attraction sinful, or is it morally neutral? When does temptation turn into sinful desire?Working out whether same-sex attraction is inherently sinful is important as we want to take sin seriously and repent of it on the one hand, whilst not feeling shame and guilt over something that isn't sinful. Join us as we explore this potentially divisive issue.Resources mentioned and relatedHow Do You Cope With Ongoing Same-sex Attraction? Ed ShawGay Shame and Jesus Greg JohnsonHow Can I Find Freedom from Shame? Rob WoodDon't Look for a Prince Andy RobinsonPurposeful Sexuality Ed ShawIs Same-Sex Attraction Sinful? Preston SprinkleIs Same-Sex Attraction (or Being Gay) a Sin? Dr. Nate Collins and Greg ColesThe Expulsive Power of a New Affection Thomas Chalmers

The team discuss how we should we respond when we get invited to a gay wedding and whether it makes a difference if the couple are Christians. They also ponder whether this is something that Christians can agree to disagree on, how we can communicate our decision to the couple, and some of the missional considerations.Resources mentioned and relatedShould I Go to a Gay Wedding? Anne WittonWhat's Wrong With a Permanent, Faithful, Stable Same-Sex Sexual Relationship? Ed ShawShould a Christian Wear a Rainbow Lanyard? Ed ShawShould I attend a Gay Wedding? Phil BarnettShould I Attend the Wedding of a Gay Friend or Family Member? Peter Ould, Eve Tushnet, Lisa Severine Nolland and Sherif Girgis