Jessica Thompson - Mom, Dad...Whats Sex?: Giving Your Kids a Gospel-Centered View of Sex and Our Culture

I just read this book, and now I want to go talk with my kids about sex. And heres the best partIm actually looking forward to it, not dreading it. Jessica and Joel talk about hard topics in such an easy way, Im ready to do the same. This book crushes any notion that talking about sex and talking about Jesus dont mix. Jessica and Joel are honest about sex and also persistent about looking at the Saviora rare combination that parents and kids need today.

Jack Klumpenhower

author of Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids

Nobody wants to talk to their kids about sex. When it comes to the big conversations, we often need a field guide to help us navigate the trenches with our kids. In this fun little guidebook, Joel and Jessica give parents the tools to talk about sex in a manner that is productive, useful, and immensely scriptural. Using sound gospel-oriented reasoning, good judgment, personal stories, and helpful conversational tools, Mom, Dad Whats Sex? helps parents to have conversations about sex with their teenage children without slipping into legalism. After reading this helpful book, parents will go from feeling trepidation regarding the big talk to feeling ready and empowered to help their children navigate these confusing times in a manner consistent with the gospel of Christ. In addition, Jessica Thompson and Joel Fitzpatrick are just fun people, and their personalities shine though in this book. Mom, Dad Whats Sex? is a must-have for the shelf and nightstand of parents everywhere.

Scott L. Keith

executive director, 1517 the Legacy Project

Like so many, I never had a conversation about sex with my parents, and in the church, sex was spoken of negativelythat we should abstain from it, or we would be condemned by it. Now that I have two children of my own who are growing up in an increasingly confusing sexual world, Im so grateful for this book. It gives us a solid foundation of the gospel in relation to sex, and it provides practical guidance on starting the conversation with our children. Jessica and Joel remind us our ultimate help comes from the Holy Spirit, but they also show us how we can better navigate the awkward but necessary talks we need to have with our kids.

Grace P. Cho

writer and managing editor of The Mudroom and GraceTable

Mom, Dad Whats Sex? is everything we need to navigate the conversations we might have been avoiding. With a clear understanding of the powerful influence of our culture, Joel and Jessica provide us with gospel-centered guidelines for having open and ongoing dialogue with our kids about sex and sexuality. Your kids may be living in shame because of their sexual sin, or they may be living in pride because of their purity. Or maybe your kids are on the cusp (which is probably younger than you think) of needing to begin the talks. Regardless of where you are in your parenting journey, this book will be a lifeline for you. I cant recommend it highly enough.

Jeannie Cunnion

author of Mom Set Free

A lot of sex talks focus on what not to do. While affirming moral absolutes, Jessica and Joel are convinced that the gospel fills us and our children with a larger story of redemption that includes our sexuality. This is a great book to read together with the whole family.

Michael Horton

professor, Westminster Seminary
author of Core Christianity

Mom, Dad Whats Sex? provides families with a clear vision, a winsome apologetic for the Bibles sexual ethic, and practical guidanceeverything from social media to porn to same-sex attraction, yall! But to just say that would miss the point. Joel and Jessicas goal is to celebrate Christ, who enters the hot mess of our sexual brokenness and brings redemption. Get this book and let it guide your family conversations.

Jared Kennedy

pastor of families, Sojourn Community Church
author of The Beginners Gospel Story Bible

Finallya gospel-saturated book for parents that provides important insight and instruction on how to effectively engage a childs heart on the subject of sexuality. It also offers healing for parents who are still waiting for their parents to have the talk and who had to figure things out on their own. In Mom, Dad Whats Sex? , Jessica Thompson and Joel Fitzpatrick take parents on a bold journey to discover Gods beautiful design for sex and provide much-needed gospel-based perspective and practical advice on how to effectively combat cultures if it feels good, do it narrative. This book needs to be read and reread in every home!

Traylor Lovvorn

speaker, podcaster, and executive director of Undone Redone

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE , OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Cover design by Bryce Williamson

Cover photos ljubaphoto, SKrow / iStockphoto

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates. Inc.

This book contains stories in which peoples names and some details of their situations have been changed to protect their privacy.

Mom, DadWhats Sex?

Copyright 2018 by Jessica Thompson and Joel Fitzpatrick

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7266-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7267-3 (eBook)

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To every single one of my friends and family members who had to endure awkward conversations about sex during the writing of this book. Thank you. Your input helped craft what you hold in your hands.

JESSICA

To my beautiful bride, Ruththank you for encouraging and supporting me. Your love and care were instrumental in the writing of this book.

JOEL

Contents

A wkward.

Thats how most parents describe talking to their children about sex. Ask your friends how their parents told them about sex, and if their parents didnt avoid it completely, you will likely hear hilarious stories of parents stammering, blushing, and sweating.

It is awkward because sex is private and personal. It is awkward because many parents feel guilt for sexual sins they committed or shame and suffering because of sexual sins committed against them.