Jason Jimenez - Challenging Conversations: A Practical Guide to Discuss Controversial Topics in the Church

2020 by Jason Jimenez

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-2779-6

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

Scripture quotations labeled AMP are from the Amplified Bible (AMP), copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Published in association with The Bindery Agency, www.TheBinderyAgency.com.

Our world is filled with the noise of competing voices shouting about topics that make many Christians uncomfortable: sex addiction and pornography, suicide, gender-confusion, divorce, politics... the list goes on. Challenging Conversations will equip you to speak clearly and confidently about Gods perspective on these issues in a way that honors him and opens doors.

Jim Daly, president, Focus on the Family

Are you afraid or unprepared to talk about taboo topics in the churchtopics that affect people dramatically? Jason Jimenez shows you how to minister to people biblically on divorce, sex, homosexuality, racism, pornography, abortion, politics, and more. I dont know of any other book that covers so many important current issues in such a practical way.

Dr. Frank Turek, founder of Crossexamined.org and coauthor of I Don t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Could it be possible that having challenging conversations instead of avoiding them is actually good for the church, not bad? Could such conversations, if done differently, bring God-pleasing unity rather than division? Could the secret to having such conversations be to care more and not less about the topics so many Christians fear? Jason Jimenez thinks the answer to each of these questions is YES, and after reading both the why and the how in this book, I bet you will agree.

John Stonestreet, president, Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and coauthor of A Practical Guide to Culture

Say goodbye to both culture-war aggression and conflict avoidance. Jason Jimenez shows how to love others while still loving the trutheven when it comes to the tough topics that baffle Christians today. The timing of this book for the church, and for our society, could not be better.

Jeff Myers, PhD, president, Summit Ministries

Somehow in American Christianity it has become Christlike to live and let live and never rock the boat or spark iron-sharpening-iron conversations in any way. But those days are over, and challenging conversations have come back into play. In this amazing book, written by our good friend Jason Jimenez, Christians can once again be equipped to speak the truth in love and have those conversations that are so desperately needed today.

David and Jason Benham, bestselling authors of Whatever the Cost and nationally acclaimed entrepreneurs

Do you want to get better at leading your children and others to truth rather than hitting them over the head with Scripture until they cry uncle!? Good! This book will help. Jasons three tacticsrelate, investigate, and translatewill help you advocate for truth in ways that keep conversations going. Ive already used these to better frame opportunities Ive had to listen, learn, and influence othersand they work. So do Jasons suggestions to end discussions well. Youll love his three questions that honor everyone. They make follow-up more realistic and effective so that discussions do become ongoing conversations. His examples will help you implement the ideas successfully. You can have true give-and-take, listen-and-learn conversations and not one-and-done discussions. Your children will more willingly admit theyre confused and be more open to your ideas. This increases your power!

Kathy Koch, PhD, founder and president, Celebrate Kids, Inc.; cofounder, Ignite the Family; and author of Five to Thrive : How to Determine If Your Core Needs Are Being Met ( and What to Do When They re Not )

My friend Jason Jimenez gets what is lost on so many Christian leaders today: you cant dodge tough issues. You must engage them or become irrelevant. And Jason does engage them, with persuasive content and an artful method. Get this book and master it. Youll learn Jasons knack for asking great questions that invite listeners to consider if maybe, just maybe, the Christian worldview has something to say about the toughest issues of our day.

Scott Klusendorf, president, Life Training Institute

Jason Jimenez knows of what he speaks. He has worked with teens and families for many years, walking with them through good times and bad. His book Challenging Conversations distills that experience into wisdom. The questions he answers are the ones our cynical, skeptical, and secular friends and family members are asking. His answers are short, sharp, and compassionate. This is a book we need.

Warren Cole Smith, president, MinistryWatch, and coauthor of Restoring All Things : God s Audacious Plan to Change the World through Everyday People

I dedicate this book to two dear friends who have long inspired me to serve our Lord and be a champion of the faith.

Norm Geisler ( 19322019 )

You shaped my worldview, loved me as a son, and taught me how to live for Christ. I am forever grateful to God for our friendship and cant wait until we are reunited in heaven. I miss you dearly!

David Florian

Your faithful prayers and generosity have bestowed on me the privilege to teach, write, and minister to families. Your friendship has been a gift that propels me forward.

Contents

We, members of the church, are to fight alongside one another in the trenches and not be so entrenched in our views that we stop fellowshiping with one another. To do this, we need to start hashing out critical issues to regain some clarity andhopefullyunity as well.

To become an advocator of Gods truth, you will need to gain knowledge regarding the controversial issues discussed in this book and learn how to use the three tactics that will help you handle any challenging conversation: relate ( personalize the conversation), investigate (analyze the conversation), and translate (harmonize the conversation).

Not talking about mental illness doesnt make it go away; it only makes it worse. This chapter explores the complexities of depression and mental illness, the misconception that Christians cant be diagnosed with these, the troubling rise in the number of suicides, and some tips on how to help Christians who struggle.