Love Is an Orientation Bible Study Participant's Guide: Practical Ways to Build Bridges with the Gay Community
By Andrew Marin and Ginny Olson
()
About this ebook
In this six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Andrew Marin leads you in peaceful and productive ways to engage the theological, political and social disconnects between the Christian community and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Today’s culture often defines ‘bridge building’ and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of religious and cultural engagement to establish his kingdom here on earth.
In light of such countercultural principles, the Christian community needs a new view on the issues that divide conservative believers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
Andrew Marin uses practical applications he’s learned over the last decade of living and working in the LGBT neighborhood of Chicago (Boystown), as well as his international speaking and consulting ministry, to offer a variety of practical teaching, insights, and life-lessons on reaching the LGBT community.
Rather than avoiding the topic of homosexuality, Love Is an Orientation aims to equip the Christian community to bridge the gap between LGBT and religious communities. Instead of discussing how to “fix” gay people, this small group Bible study is all about getting to know them, engage them, and love them like Jesus does. After this study, you, your small group and your church will know what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with the LGBT community.
This Participant Guide is filled with insights, questions for discussion, and applications that will equip you with tools to reach out to the LGBT community in love and understanding.
Sessions include:
- Love Is Our Orientation
- Building Bridges
- Theology of Bridge Builders
- Answering Tough Questions
- Adolescents and Sexuality
- Living in the Tension
Designed for use with the Love Is an Orientation Video Study (sold separately).
Andrew Marin
Andrew Marin is president and founder of The Marin Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to build bridges between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and religious communities. He is the author of Love Is an Orientation.
Related to Love Is an Orientation Bible Study Participant's Guide
Related ebooks
Jesus Doesn't Condemn The Gay Believer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOpenly Gay, Openly Christian: How the Bible Really Is Gay Friendly Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coming Out Book, the Story of a Gay Christian Youth Pastor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBought with a Price: A Gay Christian's Memoir from Porn Sets to Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bible and Homosex: Sexual Truths for a Modern Society Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Gay Gospels: Good News for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"Mom, I'm Gay," Revised and Expanded Edition: Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Triumph of Love: Same-Sex Marriage and the Christian Love Ethic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdam and Steve: My Flesh, My Desire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll But Invisible: Exploring Identity Questions at the Intersection of Faith, Gender, and Sexuality Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Straight to Jesus: Sexual and Christian Conversions in the Ex-Gay Movement Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"Same-Sex Marriage” Is an Oxymoron Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhatever Commandment There May Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Respectful LGBT Conversations: Seeking Truth, Giving Love, and Modeling Christian Unity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Place at His Table: A Biblical Exploration of Faith, Sexuality, and the Kingdom of God Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Sexuality in the New Testament: Understanding the Key Texts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAffirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality, and Staying in the Church Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Costly Obedience: What We Can Learn from the Celibate Gay Christian Community Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Going Gay: My Journey From Evangelical Christian Minister to Self-Acceptance, Love, Life, and Meaning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPressing Matters (Vol 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHelp Is on the Way: And Love Is Already Here Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsArguing with God: A Dialogue: Fundamentalist Christianity Versus the Gays Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Time to Embrace: Same-Sex Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics, 2nd edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bible's Yes to Same-Sex Marriage, New Edition with Study Guide: An Evangelical's Change of Heart Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5
Christianity For You
Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Love Is an Orientation Bible Study Participant's Guide
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Love Is an Orientation Bible Study Participant's Guide - Andrew Marin
Participant’s Guide
Love Is an Orientation
Practical Ways to
Build Bridges with
the Gay Community
SIX SESSIONS
Andrew Marin
with Ginny Olson
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Introduction
How to Use This Study
Glossary
SESSION 1 Love Is Our Orientation
SESSION 2 Building Bridges
SESSION 3 Theology of Bridge Builders
SESSION 4 Answering Tough Questions
SESSION 5 Adolescents and Sexuality
SESSION 6 Living in the Tension
Appendix A: Website Resources
Appendix B: Living in the Tension Guide
Appendix C: Leader Tips
Follow-Up
About the Author
Copyright
About the Publisher
Introduction
Welcome to the participant’s guide for the Love Is an Orientation video curriculum. Learning to be a bridge builder, by seeking productive dialogue through relationship and reconciliation between two separated communities, will be one of the most difficult commitments of your life. It’s so hard because in many situations it’s just not satisfying. Your time might be filled with discomfort, pressure, confusion, and heavy burdens you don’t know how you’ll carry; and yet, you will simultaneously know the ultimate joy of what it means to invest into a kingdom that the Lord so longs to bring to our world here and now.
Rooted at or near the center of the constant social unrest and political culture wars that cover our landscape today seems to be the disconnect between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, evangelicals, and conservatives in general. Each group has become subhuman to the other; a mere voting bloc that is preyed on and pressured by extreme activism tearing the fabric of our churches and government apart. It’s our time, right now, to step up and lead our culture forward by practicing what it means to build bridges among division, letting our surrounding world know that impact and authority are earned through those who know what it means to have love as their orientation.
I humbly pray that as you engage this curriculum, the Spirit of the Lord might permeate each session and discussion time; that you might feel empowered to do what so many others will never have the courage to do—intentionally immerse yourself in the most theologically and politically divisive topic in our culture today and be known by your love.
Andrew Marin
Boystown, Chicago
September 2011
How to Use This Study
Homosexuality is one of the most divisive issues in the global church today and people usually are firmly planted on one side of the rift or the other. The result is two diverse communities, often at odds. The Love Is an Orientation video curriculum is designed to assist churches, universities, seminaries, nonprofits, government agencies, and discussion groups discover how to build bridges across this rift with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Increasing numbers have expressed a desire to understand and love their LGBT neighbors, but have lacked either the knowledge or the experience to engage in the bridge-building process.
Love Is an Orientation is based on Andrew Marin’s award-winning book of the same name (InterVarsity Press, 2009), as well as the work of The Marin Foundation, a nonprofit organization that since 2005 has sought to build bridges between the LGBT community and the church through scientific research, biblical and social education, and diverse community gatherings
(www.themarinfoundation.org).
As a participant in this curriculum, there may be times when you will be challenged to go beyond your comfort level and other times when you may or may not agree with everything said on the video. The hope is that you will continue to move through places of discomfort and become a bridge builder for the sake of Christ.
Format of the Love Is an Orientation Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into six hour-long sessions. Each session includes:
Starter Question
The starter question is intended to orient your thinking toward the session topic. You may decide to answer the question as a group at the beginning of the discussion time or you may wish to reflect on the question prior to the group gathering.