Living Out Podcast

As a gay teenager, David felt rejected by the Church and couldn’t see a plausible way for him to be a Christian. He became an activist set on destroying Christianity and opposing it at every turn. But his time at university found him looking for something deeper, eventually leading to an unlikely encounter with Jesus and the love of God. Now a theologian, David shares how his research has helped him see that living a single and celibate life can not only be a way to flourish, but also to subvert and challenge the ideas of the society around us, pointing people to Jesus, our subversive saviour.  Resources mentioned and related: A War of Loves David Bennett A War of Loves: A Review Stuart Ferguson David’s Story Video Kaleidoscope

Looking for purpose and meaning at medical school, Laura spoke to a Christian friend who invited her to church. She decided to put her trust in Jesus, and it was only several years later she realised she was same-sex attracted. We chat with Laura about how she’s found trusting that God’s ways are good since then, and why good friendships are so important as she seeks to follow Jesus. She shares how her friendships have sometimes been complicated by attraction or emotional dependency, and some of the things God has taught her about friendship along the way.  Resources mentioned and related Simon: Intimacy and Emotional Dependency (Different Stories #4) Adopt An Aunt Ed Shaw Transforming Friendship: A Review Ed Shaw True Friendship Vaughan Roberts Made for Friendship Drew Hunter 

Paul tells us how he came to faith as a teenager, and how a combination of clear teaching and sharing with good friends has helped him navigate same-sex attraction and stay faithful to Jesus. Paul also shares how he unexpectedly fell in love with his now wife, and his advice for any same-sex attracted Christians considering an opposite-sex marriage.We also chat about how we respond to our desires. Is it harmful to deny ourselves things we desire? How do we know which desires are good to act on and which aren’t? What are the different lenses we might look at those questions through and how do they influence our approach? Resources mentioned and relatedStrong Desires and Deep Desires Andrew BuntWhat Are Your Desires Telling You? Amy RiordanYou Are Being Lied To Andrew BuntHandling Sexual Urges (Part 1) Jo Johnson

We chat to Simon about how understanding God’s bigger purposes for his people has helped fuel his excitement for living God’s way when it comes to sexuality. Simon tells us how getting involved in True Freedom Trust helped him find a supportive community where he could be more open about his sexuality, having not come out to anyone until his early 20s. Simon also shares his experience of emotional dependency and what God has taught him about healthy relationships and intimacy. We talk about loneliness, singleness and forming friendships with deeper commitment. Resources mentioned and relatedTrue Freedom Trust   Body Matters in Genesis Andrew Bunt Relationships: A Mess Worth Making Paul David Tripp 

Katherine shares her story of dating a girl as a teenager, and noticing how Jesus genuinely transformed the lives of Christians she knew. As she opened up the Bible for herself and got to know and love Jesus, Katherine tells us how she accepted the invitation to follow him in all areas of her life, including with her sexuality. We also chat to Katherine about how she ended up marrying a man, and why she thinks it's so important that we share our stories, particularly as we seek to connect with the younger generation and reach them with the good news. Resources mentioned and relatedEvangelical Alliance The Power of Stories for a Post-Truth Generation Katherine Three or More: Reflections on Polyamory and Consensual Non-Monogamy Andrew Bunt 

Ryan shares his story of coming out as a teenager, coming to faith at university, and the gradual, ongoing process of reconciling his faith and sexuality. He unpacks some of the key things God has taught him along the way, including why following Jesus means gaining so much more than you lose, and why living a single and celibate life isn't a waste of your sexuality.

Simon shares his story of coming to faith and coming to terms with his sexuality. We ask him about his experience of sharing with friends about his sexuality having kept it quiet for 10 years, and some of the benefits and challenges of being same-sex attracted in ministry. Simon also shares what he would tell his younger self now, and some reflections on how much our sexuality is part of our identity. Resources mentioned and related:Living Faith website  Simon’s Substack

For our next podcast series, we're going back to our roots - hearing stories from same-sex attracted Christians about the goodness and faithfulness of God in their lives. We hope you'll join us and be encouraged! First episode coming 4th July.

What are your legal freedoms to speak on sexuality and gender at church and in the workplace? Andy and Andrew are joined by Danny Webster from the Evangelical Alliance to think through our legal freedoms when it comes to what we say and what we do on issues of sexuality and gender, both at church and in the secular workplace. The team discuss what the law says about all this, the implications for who we employ or admit as members in our churches, the need to be clear and consistent in what we say and do, and what the future might hold. Resources mentioned and relatedLiving for Jesus at Work Evangelical Alliance Speak Up Evangelical Alliance Should a Christian Wear a Rainbow Lanyard? Ed Shaw Resources for Pride Month Andrew Bunt Church Membership and Discipline (Church Leaders #5) 

How do we engage with a culture which holds such different views to us on sexuality and gender? It’s easy to feel hopeless or fearful as we engage in conversations with those around us on these sensitive issues, but in this episode Ed, Adam and Andrew help us to think about how we can do it well. In particular, what sort of mindset or attitude should you and your church family adopt as you approach these topics? How can you equip your church family to engage with and understand our culture? How can we communicate lovingly, and how do we respond to pushback or pressure to engage with things which seem to contradict our faith? Resources mentioned and relatedThe Culture Translator Podcast Axis Being the Bad Guys Stephen McAlpine The Ultimate Heartstopper Andrew Bunt  What Young People Are Hearing Andrew Bunt  Do We Have To? Ashleigh Hull Questioning Evangelism Randy Newman Listening Carefully and in Full Andrew Bunt  The Righteous Mind Jonathan Haidt Should a Christian Wear a Rainbow Lanyard? Ed Shaw  Humility in Pride Andrew Bunt  Living Out Webinar for Church Leaders (13 June 2024)