Living Out Podcast

Andrew talks about the relevance of 1 Corinthians to our contemporary culture and the importance of grounding sexual ethics in the bigger picture of marriage, the gospel and God's creation plan for human flourishing. We also discuss how to engage with people who disagree with us on sexual ethics and how to teach well on sexuality as a church leader, with the need for it to be rooted in honour...

Community paediatrician Julie Maxwell shares her experience of working with youth and navigating the transgender conversation. She gives some helpful advice, practical tips and resources for parents, youth leaders and others who are trying to support young people questionning their gender identity. Resources mentioned Parenting a Child Questioning Their Gender Identity Lovewise Online The Cass Rev...

In this show we talk to Andrew Bunt about his new book, Finding Your Best Identity: A Short Christian Introduction to Identity, Sexuality and Gender. He shows how his own personal experience of wrestling with these questions has helped him understand what's at the heart of the struggle for identity. We discuss the ways that culture encourages us to form our sense of who we are and explore som...

Today we're chatting to Ed Shaw about his experiences of coming to terms with his sexuality as a young Christian and how, as an adult, he became more open about his same-sex attraction. We also find out how Living Out was born. In the second half we discuss why permanent, faithful, stable sexual same-sex relationships aren't God's best for us, but what we can learn about intimacy in...

In this interview with Dan, he shares about how friends have supported him when he came out about his same-sex attraction. In the second half, he talks about how God brought him back from a period of sexual experimentation and freed him from shame and regret. Dan also gives helpful insight into his experience of singleness and how the church can support those of us who are unmarried. Resources men...

Jo and Anne talk about their friendship and how Jo has supported Anne with her same-sex attraction over the years, as well as how they've encouraged each other to press on with Jesus. Jo also talks about her experience of engaging with LGBT issues in the secular world, particularly at her boys' school. She also shares about how she talks to her children about sexuality. Resources mention...

Stuart is the Director of True Freedom Trust (TfT), a ministry that supports same-sex attracted Christians. In this interview we talk with him about his work and the help that TfT offers. We also discuss Stuart's own story of becoming a Christian and experiencing same-sex attraction and find out what it is that enables him to press on with Jesus. Resources mentioned True Freedom Trust website...

Ashleigh shares her story of being a Christian teenager with same-sex attraction. We discuss how she shared that with friends and family, the support she received and how she now supports young people in their own struggles with sexuality. We also talk about how following Jesus has shaped Ashleigh's identity and why she trusts God's pattern for sexuality in a world that increasingly reje...

In this fascinating interview with Greg, we learn more of his story of reconciling his faith and sexuality. We also talk about how Jesus releases us from shame. In the second half, we discuss Greg's book, Still time to Care, which explains the history of the ex-gay movement, how terminology has changed and how we can move from a paradigm of cure to a paradigm of care for sexual minorities. Re...

Church leader Jez Field shares why he found Glynn Harrison's book 'A Better Story' so helpful in understanding and critiquing our culture's take on sexuality. He also explains how he seeks to better understand our culture in order to be more effective in communicating faith, building relationship and making disciples. Resources mentioned A Better Story: God, Sex & Human Flo...

Today we're joined by writer, editor and speaker Jennie Pollock, author of the book If Only: Finding Contentment in the Face of Lack and Longing . We discuss how to face the reality of disappointments in life when it doesn't turn out as hoped. Jennie shares her thoughts on singleness and sexuality, how to critique the culture more effectively and how to find a real joy in following Jesus...

We kick off a new Meet The Authors podcast series by interviewing Greg Coles. Greg is a writer, blogger, speaker and Senior Research Fellow at the Center For Faith, Sexuality and Gender. In the show he shares his experience of growing up gay and Christian, how he wrestled with biblical teaching and came to appreciate many of the blessings of singleness. We also discuss his books, how he went publi...

For the last show in this current series, we're joined by Tom Putt who is the vicar at St John the Baptist, Burford. Tom shares about what he learned at a Living Out course and how he's been navigating the sexuality conversation in his own church. We also talk about the points of the church audit that are most challenging for him and how he hopes to embed biblical inclusion at the heart...

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, ho...

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 'he...

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 fir...

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 othe...

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...

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 related Why Are Some People Same-s...

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...

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. Reso...

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 related Should I Go to a Gay Wedding? Anne Witton What&...

How should Christians who are attracted to the same sex describe themselves? In this episode, the team talk about the pros and cons of labelling ourselves as 'celibate gay Christians' or 'same-sex attracted Christians.' We talk about the importance of clarity in communication, how what we say about ourselves plays into our identity and give some words of wisdom for young people...

In this series, the team tackle some of the most difficult questions that we get asked and in this first episode Ed, Andy, Anne and Andrew discuss whether conversion therapy should be banned. They talk about definitions of conversion therapy, its effects, how prevalent it is and what needs to be taken into consideration as legislation is being drafted. Resources mentioned and related Does Living O...