Q: Why did you write this study guide?
A: In the aftermath of the sexual revolution, and in the midst of a successive LGBT wave, our world today is more confused than ever when it comes to gender, sexuality, and marriage. This reality explains why one of the most frequent requests we get at the offices of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) is for a curriculum that helps the church think biblically about these issues. Until today, we did not have a resource to recommend, which is why we are glad this study is available now. It is our prayer that the church will be edified through it to the glory of God and the good of our neighbors.
Q: What cultural changes have made this study guide necessary?
A: CBMW was founded in 1986 in response to the rapid rise of feminism in the evangelical church. Christian teaching established on Scripture and tradition over more than a thousand years was being challenged and overturned by a powerful cultural force. CBMW stood against this force by reasserting what the Bible teaches: that men and women are created equal yet different from the very beginning — equal in dignity and worth, yet different in crucial ways that impact the order of the home and the church. The question in that day was about the roles of men and women. But today, we’ve seen a drastic shift, and the very foundations of human knowledge are being shaken. Now the fundamental questions surround what exactly a man and woman even are. In 1987 we were able to assume everyone knew what a man and a woman were. Today, we must teach the world what is a man, what is a woman, and to do that we want to take our readers back to the foundation of all human knowledge: God and His Word.
This study begins by providing the biblical rationale for why we should look to the beginning, in Genesis 1 and 2, for answers to the most basic questions regarding gender, sexuality, and marriage. The chapters are foundational not only for our study, but for a Christian understanding of the world.
Q: Who is it primarily intended for?
A: This study is primarily intended for Christians who want to be grounded in the truth of God’s Word on issues related to gender, sexuality, and marriage. These are some of the most pressing issues facing the church today, and we want Christians of all ages and all walks of life to be equipped to give an answer when their neighbor, or maybe even they themselves, have questions about God’s revelation or the world’s folly.
Q: How would you recommend this study be used?
A: We recommend this study be used in a group setting, perhaps in a small group, or Sunday School class, or Bible study fellowship. Each book contains resources for leaders and participants to access, including discussion questions and answers to these questions. Each week is also accompanied by a video from faithful evangelical teachers such as Albert Mohler, Denny Burk, Heath Lambert, H. B. Charles, Christopher Yuan, and Rosaria Butterfield. Below is an introductory video from Denny Burk.
Q: After a person has read this book, what additional resources would you point them to?
A: There are a number of helpful, book-length resources that we would point believers to for extra study on these topics, including:
- Denny Burk, What is the Meaning of Sex?
- Heath Lambert and Denny Burk, Transforming Homosexuality
- Christopher Yuan, Holy Sexuality
- Albert Mohler, We Cannot Be Silent
- Carl Trueman, Strange New World
- Rosaria Butterfield, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
Q: What is the format of each chapter?
Here is a sample chapter that illustrates the flow and layout of each chapter.
Q: Of all the studies on Biblical topics that are out there, why should Christians prioritize this study?
A: It is no secret that LGBT ideology is ascendant in today’s culture. But this ideology stands in direct contradiction with God’s Word, which means the church is faced with a choice. Will we compromise the Bible’s infallible, inerrant, life-giving revelation to accommodate godless, soul-destroying ideology, or will we stand firm in the faith once for all delivered to the saints? We hope this study not only equips believers to make the obvious choice—stand firm on the Word of God—but also to grow in holiness as we are submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
