The topic of same-sex attraction and homosexuality can be difficult for some of us to discuss. With so many voices on the topic, terms like side A or B, mixed with changing definitions of words, make you wonder, have we lost touch with holiness?

In this episode, Dr. Christopher Yuan joins us as we seek to understand what it really means to live in holy sexuality from a Biblical perspective. He shares his powerful testimony of how he came to Christ and experienced a radical transformation.

We talk about:

• The Gospel’s effect on our sexuality

• The proper process for Biblical interpretation

• Biblical anthropology and homosexuality

• Jesus never mentioned homosexuality…right?

• …and more!

Dr. Christopher Yuan is a highly sought-after expert whose book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, was named 2020 book of the year for social issues by Outreach Magazine. Dr. Yuan casts a compelling vision of not identifying with our sexuality, but embracing Christ and living out Holy Sexuality, which shatters the secular paradigms of gay and straight. 

Dr. Yuan graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 and received a master’s degree in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. He taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for 12 years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. 

Christopher has also produced The Holy Sexuality Project video series for parents and their teens. It is a first-of-its-kind resource to help parents and grandparents to empower their teens to understand, embrace, and celebrate biblical sexuality.

For more from Dr. Yuan:

Dr. Yuans Books

Holy Sexuality Teen Curriculum

Jessica Harris has first-hand experience of what it is like as a woman to face the shame of porn addiction when it was assumed to be a man’s issue. Statistics show that there is a rising number of women who have sought out sexual content to view; this isn’t a fringe topic and ignoring it won’t make it go away.

That’s why Jessica Harris is committed to breaking the silence, and we are glad to be able to share this conversation with you.

If you were not aware, Canada is one of the few countries in the world with no laws around abortion. That means that a baby's life can be taken at any stage up until complete birth, even at 38 weeks. This is exactly what happened at a Montreal hospital in early February of 2023.

In this podcast, Bonnie and Bryan discuss the heartbreaking realities of abortion and its effects on the nations of the earth.

We cover topics of:

• Human beings are created in the image of God

• Objective vs subjective moral reasoning & a two-tiered worldview

• Abortions connection to sexual immorality

• The Biblical history of human sacrifice in false god worship practices

• Innocent bloodshed & demonic empowerment

• A gospel response to the injustice of abortion.

There are few more tragic realities of our generation than abortion, not only for the innocent life that is taken but also the dynamics that leave women feeling like they have no other option.

Often the pro-life community is unjustly criticized for only being against abortion and not for supporting women and children out of the womb. Of course, this is not the majority of those who stand for human life, but the question remains: How do we live with an everyday pro-life ethic that goes beyond holding a sign at a peaceful protest? We sit down with Joanna Hyatt in search of the answer.

Joanna is wife to Andrew, a professional film director and screenwriter, and mom to four beautiful children. She is a self-professed nerd who loves to talk about controversial issues like sex, Jesus and in this episode abortion. Joanna has been the director of a national STD and Teen Pregnancy prevention program based in Los Angeles and also spent several years working with Live Action as a content director, fundraiser and spokesperson. She also has travelled all over the United States, helping thousands of teens and parents tackle these very same *thorny* issues that are essential to raising our kids to be rebels in a culture going off the rails. Several of Joanna’s teaching series can also be found on Right Now Media.

You can stay up to speed with all of Joanna’s amazing content on her website- www.joannahyatt.com and follow her on IG & FB- @joannahyatt

There are lots of things that can keep leaders from talking about sexuality. Whether it’s intimidation from the masses or shame from their past, wading into these waters can seem daunting.

Here is Episode 72, Bryan finishes our two-part series on the 7 ways leaders can start talking about sexuality, by looking at some of the reasons why leaders don’t.

Covered in this episode:

4) Fear Of The Mob

5) Not Wanting To Cause Damage

6)Living A Double Life

7) Not Sure Where To Start

Start Your Free Sexual Health Evaluation

There are lots of things that can keep leaders from talking about sexuality. Whether it’s intimidation from the masses or shame from their past, wading into these waters can seem daunting.

Here is Episode 71, Bryan kicks off our two-part series on the 7 ways leaders can start talking about sexuality, by looking at some of the reasons why leaders don’t.

Covered in this Episode:

1) Dodging The Need

2)Feeling Under-equipped

3)Shadows from the past.

How do you navigate sexual desires that are contrary to your faith? That is what we seek to discover here in Episode 70.

We were honoured to have Jonathan Bryden join us to share his story of same-sex attraction and how Jesus showed Him that trusting His design for sexuality was going to make all the difference.

Jonathan Bryden works in Vancouver Canada as a documentary filmmaker in the independent film industry. A Christian from a young age, Jonathan also has struggled with reconciling his same-sex attraction with his faith and is currently living a celibate life in pursuit of Jesus. Passionate to share the Gospel through film, Jonathan is producing a documentary series that aims to ask the question, “How does the church, in light of the Gospel, face homosexuality?”

Watch the first episode of his documentary and consider partnering with him through prayer and financial support to see this project come to light and minister to those in the church who are personally facing this struggle.

Happy New Year from The Union!

It seems the word “obedience” has become a swear word today in Christian culture. We know that we are saved by grace and not works, so we assume that obedience is optional. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It is not optional but, it is also not a burden. It’s a joy to obey God’s instruction and His leadership in our everyday life.

In Episode 69, Bryan sits down with Rachelle Starr and discusses her new book, “Outrageous Obedience” and how we can grow in radical obedience that shows the amazing love of God in some dark and challenging areas of humanity.

Rachelle Starr (www.scarlethope.org) founded Scarlet Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing the hope of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. In 2015, Rachelle launched a social enterprise called Scarlet's Bakery, where women can receive employment and valuable job skills while producing and selling delicious baked goods. Rachelle and her husband, Josh, have two boys through adoption and reside in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more at scarlethope.org and by following @rachellestarr.co on Instagram.

Get Your Copy Of Outrageous Obedience

Scarlethope.org

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the hyper-sexualization of our society. Often, we see what is happening as new when in actuality it is just re-packaged. Modern-day transgenderism and gender theory are actually ancient Gnosticism just wearing a new shirt.

The hope we have is that Jesus used His church of the first century to rescue lost people out of the folly of these ideas. If we are willing to do what they did we can see what they saw.

In this episode, we are highlighting a message Bryan preached at a recent MFI Canada Conference.

He covers:

-The template of Satan’s strategy found in the garden of Eden

-The re-occurring cycle of God’s judgment towards idolatry.

-The hope of the Gospel to bring people out of brokenness into wholeness.

Government and media have become two of the greatest influencers over culture, and they seem to be pushing a strong message of moral relativism. As followers of Christ, will we let our lives be formed by Scripture and pass our values on to our children? Or will we throw up our hands and give in to ideologies that seek to blur all lines of gender design?

In this podcast episode we talk about:

⁃ How we must always remember that these struggles are not actually against fellow humans, but against spiritual enemies and strategies

⁃ How the church can become a place that celebrates the unique nature of being male and female, understanding not just biological differences, but also physiological differences

⁃ How parents can teach their children a biblical view on gender, while also encouraging compassionate interactions with kids who identify as non-binary

⁃ Practical ways that parents can support their children’s God-given gender design

Download The “Five Ways To Support Your Childs God-Given Gender Identity” Infographic

If you are a Christ-follower, wondering how to raise gender-confident kids - this conversation will be a good place to start. You can find and follow The Union Podcast over on Apple, Spotify, and Google Play.

While you’re at it, if you find this content helpful, would you:

⁃ Send the episode to a friend who you think would appreciate it?

⁃ Write us a quick review in your favourite podcast app? (It helps more people find our content)

⁃ Leave us a comment below and tell us what stood out to you? (It means a lot to us to get to connect with listeners!)

What defines being a man? Is it lifting heavy weights or driving a big truck? Is it the amount of money you make or how fast you can chug a beer? What if it’s none of those things?

We are living in a time of cultural confusion when it comes to genuine manhood. History would show that when men lack true identity and purpose, everyone suffers. That’s why Brant Hansen’s new book, “The Men We Need” is so important. In it, he outlines the everyday choices that men can make to cultivate healthy atmospheres around them and not toxic ones.

In this episode, Bryan and Brant discuss some of the cultural lies we are having to navigate as men and how we can find a perfect example of authentic manhood in the character of Jesus.

Brant Hansen is an author, radio host, and advocate for healing children with correctible disabilities through CURE International. He's won multiple awards for "Personality of the Year" for his radio show, which airs on more than 200 stations nationwide. His podcast with his friend and radio producer, The Brant and Sherri Oddcast, has been downloaded more than 10 million times. The author of The Truth About Us, Unoffendable, and Blessed Are the Misfits, Hansen has written for CNN.com, the Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Relevant, and numerous other outlets on matters as varied as public policy, culture, sports, Asperger's syndrome, and faith. He and his wife, Carolyn, live in South Florida.

Get Your Copy Of “The Men We Need”.

Brants Website

Learn More About Cure International

Follow Brant on Social Media- @branthansen

In Episode 65, we sit down with Ruth Erickson as she unpacks some of the keys to finding healing after a marriage experiences adultery even when the marriage doesn’t survive. Ruth is a mama and step-mama in a beautiful blended family. Ruth has a heart for worship and for helping women, who are recovering from infidelity trauma, find hope & healing and to equip the church to love these women well. God has rewritten the most painful parts of her story to prove His promises.

Ruth’s new book, (Un)Faithful, is a guide through the firestorm of infidelity. Ruth Erickson’s story of heartbreak and healing is an invitation for all women who have suffered the betrayal of an affair to discover the depths of the faithfulness of God. Ruth offers wisdom, perspective and hope, standing years beyond her own fire, yet the book also journeys back in time to include riveting and honest poetry and journal entries from her real-time experience.

Wrapped in forgiveness and faith, (Un)Faithful is a raw and reverent journey to healing, whether the marriage survives or not. While every story is unique, this book offers timeless, biblical principles by which any woman can walk into safety and dignity under the covering of a gracious God.

Follow Ruth on IG- @ruthaerickson

VISIT RUTH’S WEBSITE

FIND YOUR COPY OF UNFAITHFUL HERE

AFFAIR RECOVERY COACHING

The numbers don’t lie, porn usage within marriage is a key factor in why many marriages end in divorce. For a long time, porn was viewed as only a man's problem, but the stats show a major increase in women accessing porn. No matter whether it’s the husband or wife, porn in a marriage is destructive. In this episode, Bryan speaks with Sam Thielemans about how change can be possible in a marriage where porn is present and the boundaries needed to be set to make that change.

Sam Tielemans is a licensed marriage and family therapist that specializes in helping couples overcome the effect of unhealthy porn use in their relationship. He has a private practice in Las Vegas, and after working with couples for over a decade, he has developed an approach to help couples restore their marriage, rebuild trust, and improve their sexual intimacy after betrayal.

https://healingcouples.org

Healing Couples Facebook

Couples Healing From Porn Addiction Podcast

What happens when words that have meant something for thousands of years, now mean something completely different? What happens when they are words like “man” and “woman”? Whats happens when there are criminal charges applied to those who dont think “correctly"? …In many ways, we are about to find out.

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Dr. Iain Provan to discuss the current challenges that face the church regarding gender identity and free speech. Dr. Provan even uses analogies connected to the book, you probably read in high school. 1984 written by George Orwell. The similiarites to our cultural moment are shocking.

Dr. Provan was born and educated in the UK, ultimately completing a PhD at the University of Cambridge. His academic teaching career began in the university world of the UK, prior to his family’s emigration to Canada in 1997. He is the author of many books, essays, and articles, with a particular focus in the last decade on the intersection of Christian Scripture and theology and contemporary culture. He is a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge and the recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship in Germany. He is also a qualified Provincial B Licence soccer coach and a keen fly fisherman.

For more from Dr. Provan visit-https://iainprovan.ca

There is so much power available when we bring our pain and shame into the light of God’s love. Whether it be heterosexual, homosexual or transexual sin, God isn’t intimidated by our brokenness. When we are willing to let Him into the mix, healing begins. This is Stephen Thomas’s story and Bryan recently sat down with him as he shared so vulnerably about the reality of his emotional brokenness that was fueling a same-sex attracted lifestyle.

Stephen Thomas is a husband and father who has had sobriety from porn for over 13 years. In his personal battle, he has overcome same-sex attraction, low self-esteem, anxiety & a broken marriage. He's passionate about seeing men who feel hopelessly buried by their addictions come alive and realize the strength God has placed in them. Stephen is a Certified Husband Material Coach, Certified Inner Child Recovery Coach and recently launched his own business so he can focus his efforts on helping men overcome unwanted sexual behaviours & helping couples repair their marriages.

StephenThomasConsulting.com

Facebook.com/stephenthomasconsulting.com

IG-@wstephenthomas

Is quitting porn even possible?

We believe it is and we’ve seen it happen time and time again. It can be your reality!

Bryan sits down with Matt Cline from Restored Ministries and discuss the work he does in helping people escape sexual sin and overcome shame patterns. Matt also shares candidly his own story of porn addiction and how God lead him to freedom.

For more info on Restored Ministries visit- www.restoredministries.ca

In a culture of division, judgment, and disrespect, the church is called to be a place where EVERYONE is honoured.

Followers of Jesus should be representing HIS heart on earth, inviting men and women, (of all ages, all backgrounds, and all relational statuses) to stand side-by-side, inviting God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

In this latest podcast episode, Bryan and Bonnie talk practically about the dangers of gender stereotypes, the reality of misandry and misogyny in the world, and a flawed view that would devalue singleness, whether subtly or overtly.

This podcast episode is the final 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.

In order for our churches and ministries to thrive, we must have a vision for legacy and generational transference. This requires an intentional investment into the young generation to help them be established in their identity. If we as leaders don’t work to pass the torch, the fallout will be devastating.

In this episode, Bryan and Bonnie discuss:

• Why this vision for legacy is so important

• The value of children and the maturity of the next generation

• How it plays out in the structures of the local church.

• How to pass on values that may be counter-cultural but are key to thriving.

Check out The Sexual Health Evaluation

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