Verse by verse

I preach through the Bible expositionaly; which simply means I expound upon each verse as it comes in the text. Some of the topics I preach upon are a pleasure to address. Others can be awkward and difficult within a public setting. The upcoming verses in Proverbs 5 through 8 will be a challenge to some. Throughout these chapters, Solomon addresses the subject of marriage and sexuality with his son. We are invited to listen in to this instruction. This is not so difficult when we are reading through this passage within the privacy of our own homes. But from the pulpit- in a public setting- it can feel awkward. It does so particularly when young children attend the service.

So what does one do? Do we allow our children to be exposed to such teaching knowing that we will most likely have to answer a barrage of questions afterwards? My answer to this is a resounding ‘yes!’ Right now, our children are being exposed to a world that celebrates sexuality in ways contrary to the Bible. They will want to know why does the woman on the billboard and in the commercial choose not to wear their clothing? Why does the television program show people who are not married in the same bed? Why does my friend’s mother stay over at her boyfriend’s house? So it is important for children to be saturated with a biblical understanding of sex early on. It’s important that they know that the Bible has the answers to all their questions regarding modesty and sexuality. It’s important for you to create an environment that fosters questions. Because if they cannot get their questions answered from trustworthy sources, they will seek them from unreliable places.

To that end, let me offer you a resource that Lisa and I have discovered to be very helpful. John Younts, a Christian counselor, has written an excellent guide to aid parents who struggle to talk about sex with their children. It is called Everyday Talk about Sex and Marriage: A Biblical Handbook for Parents.  He builds upon the principles from his previous book, Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children.  A few of the case studies that he uses as examples can seem forced, but never-the-less he has done an outstanding job with helping parents overcome their fears in talking about a difficult study.

This Sunday, I will need to speak about the ‘forbidden woman’ in Proverbs 5. Be prepared to answer the questions from your children whether they are five or teenagers. In fact, I would encourage you to talk through some of the kgroup questions. Form a bond that shows a willing availability to your children.