Transparency requires intentionally making time and space for vulnerable conversations. Leaders must go first in setting this tone.

In this podcast episode, Bryan and Bonnie talk about:

• the connection between Gospel Centred perspective and transparency

• how wholehearted devotion to Christ’s purposes for our lives requires transparency

• the essential reality of vulnerability in order to have depth in relationships.

• how living a life with no secrets can defeat shame and destroy a performance-based relationship with God.

This podcast episode is part 3 of our 5 part mini-series entitled The Keys for Sexual Health in a Faith Community. Be sure to listen to them all, and get access to our free Sexual Health Evaluation tool that can help your church or area of ministry grow in sustainable sexual health.

Download Sexual Health Evaluation

If the church reduces healthy sexuality to a list of "do's" and "don’ts”, the people in that community are not set up to walk in sustainable freedom.

In this podcast episode, Bryan and Bonnie talk about:

• how we need an integrated view of the body, soul, and spirit

• how to recognize the part of our flesh that is to be nurtured and the part that is to be crucified

• How an understanding of Gnosticism can help us understand the issue of gender today

• How our sexual ethic can not just be about rules or behaviour modification, but about surrender and worship

• How leaders must remember the role of trauma, and bring messages of hope for increasing levels of freedom

  This podcast episode is part 2 of our 5 part mini-series entitled The Keys for Sexual Health in a Faith Community. Be sure to listen to them all, and get access to our free Sexual Health Evaluation tool that can help your church or area of ministry grow in sustainable sexual health.

Download Sexual Health Evaluation

The gospel of Jesus and sexuality are NOT mutually exclusive.

It’s easy to relegate gospel preaching to only be about the initial introduction to Jesus that leads someone to faith in Him. This, unfortunately, leaves a large space in between the moment of that decision and the moment of someone’s death. So, what happens in between?

This space is where the gospel continues to work as our lives are healed by the good news of Jesus. As Christian leaders, we cant talk about this work without talking about sexuality.

In Episode 56, Bryan and Bonnie share some key points on how we can develop a gospel-centred perspective towards sexuality in our churches and ministries.

They thought that it was all over. They had been high school sweethearts, married for multiple years, but Chris had begun to live a double-life.

Though he was leading worship on Sunday mornings at his church, doubts and questions about his faith were nagging at him. It was a battle in his mind, but also in his soul as he began to live without restraint.

The foundation of their marriage was eroding, and Steph was shocked the day that Chris told her it was over. Shortly after, the divorce papers were signed. But, it wasn’t as over as they thought.

We are grateful to be able to share our conversation with this remarried couple from Out of the Dust music over on The Union Podcast today.

This conversation will help you:

• See the value of transparency, starting right now, today

• Understand the processes of forgiveness and learning to trust again

• Realize the need to put your hope in a God who will not fail you

• Find hope that restoration for your soul is always possible through Jesus

You can find this episode over on our website, on Apple, Spotify, or Google Play. We welcome you to subscribe, rate, and share so that these messages of hope can be found by many more listeners who are at a vulnerable spot and need some love!

And be sure to follow along with Chris & Steph to listen to the beautiful music they have released and to see them live!

Out Of The Dust Music Website

IG: @outofthedustmusic

Pornography addiction rules your life—but porn isn’t the problem.

Internet filters, accountability partners, and even spiritual disciplines stop slipups, but they don’t resolve the root of your addiction. You need more than prayer and quick fixes to free yourself from pornography.

Sathiya Sam is the Founder of DeepClean, an organization that helps professional men find freedom from porn addiction, has written an incredible book titled, “The Last Relapse”. It may be hard to believe that you could walk away from porn and never look back but you’ll see that real freedom is possible.

Full of Bible-based principles and research-backed strategies, this easy-to-follow guide provides powerful tools of science and scripture to help you recover your integrity, purity, and freedom from the silent struggle of porn addiction.

You don’t have to face this struggle alone—because God is already on your side. Read The Last Relapse to break free from porn addiction and become the man He made you to be!

Get your copy today.

https://www.sathiyasam.com/books

Uncertain. Overwhelmed. Trying their best. This is how father’s today are feeling about raising their sons, according to research by the Barna Group.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Jon Tyson to discuss:

- The impact that can be made in the life of the next generation by the presence of a father.

- What hangs in the balance when fatherhood continues to disintegrate.

- The need for a purposeful plan of discipleship in order to raise sons that impact their community.

And more!

In his book, The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character, author and pastor of Church of the City in New York City, Jon Tyson, has the antidote to that. He walks dads through practical steps to mentor young men who know what they believe, know who they are, and will stand up against the negative cultural trends of our day.

Follow Jon on IG: @jontyson

Get Your Copy Of “The Intentional Father”

Leaders face a cost when they raise their voices on the topics of sexuality and morality. But never forget that the cost of silence is far higher.

And the young generation desperately needs us to pay that price and give them some kind of bearing. Give them some guidance through the minefields of moral relativism, identity crisis, and walking your way back from heartache and shame.

God never shied away from the topics around sexuality that can make us blush and squirm in church auditoriums or Bible study classrooms.

In this episode, Bryan and Bonnie talk about:

- the pressures that church leaders are facing

- the topics that the next generation desperately need some wisdom on

- the link between spiritual awakening and sexual wholeness

- how you can take one step forward this year for the sake of your church community

No matter what you might have heard, there isn't a cookie-cutter way for a romantic relationship to develop. God has, however, laid out clear principles and practices that will lead to healthy relational living.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Eric Demeter and discusses his recent book, "How Should A Christian Date".

They discuss:

- Why it is important that Christians get dating right?

- Things that Christian daters get wrong.

-How to take dating one stage at a time.

- How dating done well is tied to having a good marriage.

ERIC DEMETER (B.S., Purdue University; M.A., Bethel University) is a relationship and conflict resolution specialist with advanced studies in mediation, peacemaking and negotiation from the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and Peacemaker Ministries. He is currently a missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) based in Athens, Greece where he disciples young people from the Middle East, and teaches conflict resolution and healthy relationships to YWAM staff and missionary students. His experiences growing up listening to heavy metal, working alongside ex-convicts, and being raised in the Roman Catholic tradition give him the ability to connect well with people of diverse belief systems. He considers every reader a friend and challenges everyone to become more like Christ in everything they do.

Stay in Touch with Eric!

IG-@ericjdemeter

Get Your Copy Of “How Should A Christian Date”

Is every marriage doomed to experience one conflict after another? Certainly not, says Dr. Ron Welch. In this practical and encouraging book, he outlines the ten specific choices you can make to minimize conflict and increase joy in your marriage.

Recently, Bryan sat down with Dr. Ron to discuss the principles of his new book “10 Choices Successful Couples Make”.

We covered questions like:
Where does a couple start the restoration process if they both feel hurt, tired, and have little hope?

How do you help a couple recognize that winning the argument isn’t the goal; loving and respecting their spouse is?

What are important strategies to practice in order to have healthy conflict in a marriage? Is there a right way to treat your spouse in an argument and a wrong way?

Whether you are engaged, newly married, or have been married for decades, you'll find that this conversation and his book will transform your relationship.

Get Your Copy Here

Dr. Ron Welch (PsyD, Central Michigan University) is the author of The Controlling Husband and serves on the faculty of Denver Seminary. With 25 years of experience in clinical psychology, Welch has developed the Transformational Marriage™ approach, which helps couples through counselling, seminars, and publications. He and his wife, Jan, live in Colorado.

In this episode, Bryan & Bonnie continue on in the theme of identity and the complexities of the current discussion around gender.

In this episode we cover:

• Seeing the topic of gender confusion, with a Biblical and historical lens. Seeing that this topic is not really new.

• Recognizing that rigid, cultural stereotypes aren’t placed there by God. There are differences between men and women, and there are unique assignments entrusted to men and women, but there is so much space for individual expression within those assignments.

• Knowing the love of God for the “eunuch” , the one who has had surgical alteration to their body in order to resist their biological gender, and that God has a place of belonging prepared for those who would surrender these decisions to Him.

• For those who are wrestling - God is coming to you. Just like the account of Jacob in the Book of Genesis, God came looking for a lost confused young man who longed to be blessed in who he was.

Many people today feel a huge disconnect from who they are as people and their body. It can feel overwhelming and hopeless. Today we want you to know that there is hope and His name is Jesus.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Carissa Shockley as she shares her story of how God met her on the road of gender dysphoria and LGBTQ lifestyle , and led her to a place of healing and identity in Him.

Carissa is a songwriter, worship leader, communicator and passionate follower of Jesus, who has a powerful message of hope for all who are caught in the confusion of identity and past shame.

For more from Carissa:

https://www.carissashockley.com/

IG & TikTok: @cls1727

Transformed Life Podcast

Youtube Channel

The landscape around gender and identity has changed significantly in the last 20 years. And with this change, new language has developed to express it. But, it leaves many feel like they are falling behind or that they are at risk of being cancelled if they say something wrong.

If you feel like you’re falling behind, you’re certainly not alone. (And the idea of just doing a broad Google search seems like an exercise in futility.) When I recently picked up the book written by Dr. Mark Yarhouse and Dr. Julia Sadusky, I realized that they had compiled so much of the information we are needing today, while maintaining both a compassionate and logical tone.

We are so glad to be able to bring this conversation with Dr. Sadusky to you today. We talked about:

⁃ Why it is so imperative for church leaders to learn about and approach the topic for the sake of people who are looking for guidance and support

⁃ Some key terms and definitions (like even the difference between gender dysphasia and transgenderism)

⁃ key theories about WHY there has been such a steep incline in the number of young people who are identifying themselves in non-binary terms

⁃ the damaging affect of rigid gender stereotypes that have not originated from God, but from culture

I hope you take the opportunity to learn with us today, for your sake, but also for the sake of growing as a compassionate, truthful witness for Christ in your place to influence.

As you listen, we encourage you to share the episode with anyone that is looking for some answers today on these complex issues.

————————————

Dr. Julia Sadusky is the co-author of “Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today’s Youth” along with Dr. Mark Yarhouse.

Dr. Sadusky is currently a research fellow of the Sexual & Gender Identity Institute in Wheaton, IL. and an advisor to the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender. She is a licensed psychologist based in Colorado, where she offers individual, family, couples, and group therapy in addition to consultations for individuals and families around sexuality and gender.

It’s been said that “one’s identity will determine their destiny”. So true right!

We believe that this is one of the main reasons why the Biblical authors are very purposeful to remind us of who we are in Jesus and what He has done, on our behalf, because we are called to model who He is. This understanding will empower us to live free, holy, and whole, while also being set to communicate it to others around us.

In this episode, Bryan and Bonnie share from their hearts on the importance of identity, holiness, and what to do with brokenness.

The term “covenant” isn’t a word that is used very often in todays society. We are familiar with words like contract or agreement. Covenant means something so much deeper than just these words.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Dr Daniel Block to discuss his new book “Covenants”and discover the reality of Gods plan of redemption. Get your copy here.

Leading scholar Daniel Block helps students of the Bible understand the big picture of God’s covenants with humanity as they play out in both the Old and New Testaments.

After fifty years of teaching and preaching experience around the globe, Block brings a lifetime of study and reflection on the Old Testament and relationship with God to this comprehensive volume. The book focuses on God’s covenants as the means by which God has reached out to a fallen humanity. It examines the heart and history of God’s redemptive plan and shows why the covenants are essential for our understanding of the Bible.

Daniel I. Block (DPhil, University of Liverpool) is Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He lectures and preaches around the world and is the author of numerous books, including For the Glory of God and commentaries on Deuteronomy, Judges–Ruth, and Ezekiel. Block has also been involved in the production of the New Living Translation of the Bible.

In this episode Bryan sits down with Brent Henderson to discuss his new book, The Roar Within. Here we discuss one of his chapters, looking at the "5 Man Killers".

Brent Henderson is a nationwide speaker, published author, professional outdoorsman, John Maxwell certified life coach, ordained pastor, national recording artist, and the Executive Director of MenMinistry.org. He’s toured with Dove and Grammy Award winning artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi Patti, Avalon, and Crystal Lewis. Brent is an in demand speaker and has been featured at hundreds of outreach events including the Billy Graham Crusade and Promise Keepers.

No one walks down the aisle with the hope that their marriage will die, but how can you find hope for healing if things happen beyond your control?

Ruth Erickson is the guest on our podcast this week, and she vulnerably shares about her journey of healing after her husband had an affair.

We talk about:

⁃ the value of laying strong foundations of personal identity and connection to the heart of God so that the choices of others do not shipwreck us

⁃ how to make space for the most painful of emotions, without getting stuck there

⁃ how reconciliation after adultery is possible but not inevitable

⁃ the critical steps of forgiveness in order to be free

You can find this episode over on our website, or subscribe to The Union Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

Do you ever wonder if you should go back to an ex? Were they your best chance for love?

Or maybe you are wrestling with the fear that your standards are too high, but you’re not sure what to negotiate on.

Perhaps you are even sensing the need to take a hiatus from dating in general because you feel like you are losing confidence along the way.

Mandy Hale, the amazing 40 year old single woman and best-selling author of the newly released book, “Don’t Believe the Swipe” has some strong encouragement (and challenges) for you in today’s podcast episode.

We talk about:

• How your value is not connected to your relational status

• The changing landscape of dating in a digital world

• Not being afraid to define your deal-breakers and non-negotiables

• How to include a support network into your relationship decisions

You can follow Mandy online @thesinglewoman, and find more of her content at www.mandyhale.com.

Have you ever gone through a break up?

They aren’t easy. There can be so much pain and emotional anguish connected to them, especially if there have been lines crossed emotionally and sexually.

In this episode Bryan and Bonnie discuss key elements of how to respond and re-focus after a breakup, as well as fight the real lies that will try to speak to you about who you are and what is in your future.

We cover these topics:

-confronting your past

-handling memories

-walking out of shame and regret

-finding identity and purpose as a single person

-identifying true compatibility

Have you ever felt disconnected from your body?

The truth is you aren’t alone. Many people feel a strong separation between who they are as a person and their body.

In this episode, Bryan sits down to talk with Dr. Gregg Allison to discuss his new book Embodied: Living As Whole People In A Fractured World.

In this conversation we discuss:

-How scripture affirms the belief that we are our bodies.

-What the centuries old worldview of Gnosticism means in relation to our bodies.

-How the message of Embodied and the scriptures speak to the topic of gender.

-How Christians can respond in this conversation, around the notion that there are more than 2 genders.

-How the gospel of Jesus gives hope for those who legitimately struggle with gender dysphoria.

One of the major challenges as a parent, who follows Christ, is to raise your children in such a way that they grow to genuinely love Him too.

In this episode we sit down for part 2 of our conversation with our friend Jim Anderson, to hear wisdom and practical tips on how Jim and his wife Lisa have raised 8 children to love Jesus.