Many couples feel nervous about their first time coming together as husband and wife on their wedding night. But what if you're also bringing the weight and discouragement of past sexual sins into your wedding night? If you’re feeling the weight of past sexual sin and anxiety about what this means for your wedding night, today’s episode from Mark Sanders offers 5 ways for you to prepare. Confess your sins to the Lord and your future spouse. Meditate on the cleansing blood of Jesus. Renew your mind in Christ. Conform your expectations to God’s design for sex. Prepare beyond your wedding night for a lifetime of growth. Articles mentioned in today’s episode: Ellen Dykas - “Your Dating Relationship and Your Sexual Past” Catherine Krasinski - “Sexual Fantasies: Redeeming Your Imagination” Click to read today’s article on our website.
If you or anyone close to you has struggled with exclusive same-sex attraction, you know that this is a particularly heavy burden to bear. More than ever before, we’re wrestling with questions of identity, sexuality, and what repentance and faithful living looks like for our brothers and sisters with same-sex desires.’ In today’s episode, Harvest USA President Mark Sanders surveys two common approaches to discipleship when it comes to questions about marriage and same-sex desires, and then offers a third way we believe is most helpful and faithful to scripture. You can read the full article on our website.
Rebuilding trust after a sexual betrayal is an essential component for couples seeking to restore their marriage. How can the one who committed the betrayal walk in the light in a way that rebuilds trust and expresses genuine repentance? How can the betrayed spouse honestly share their pain with their spouse and others in order to receive the care and support they need? Today’s episode from Caitlin McCaffrey offers help and practical wisdom for couples navigating these painful situations. - Article Mentioned at 8:48 - “How Confessing Sexual Sin Can Help Save Your Marriage” - https://harvestusa.org/how-confessing-sexual-sin-can-help-save-your-marriage/ - Read the original article on our website.
Do you have a pornographic style of relating? A pornographic style of relating is about seeing other people, even in non-sexual contexts, as objects rather than brothers and sisters who bear God’s image. But where does the habit of objectifying others come from? What’s the root feeding that sickly tree? In today’s episode, Caitlin McCaffrey helps us step back and think about what drives our thoughts and behaviors. You can read the original article at HarvestUSA.org
Leadership. This one word carries an indomitable weight—measuring godly Christian men and women by their inspiring grace, resilient faith, and steadfast wisdom in hoping for things yet unseen. What does it mean to lead in ministry where imperfect people are called to be sexually faithful? In today’s episode, Yohan Huh Prudente speaks to sexually faithful imperfect leaders to offer three key principles that point to a godward path in a darkened world. You can read today’s article on our website.
Battling sexual addictions, unholy desires and relationships, and gender-related pain is truly a war. In this battle, suffering sinners need a band of brothers. In today’s episode, Yohan Huh Prudente calls men in the midst of their fight against sexual sin to pursue meaningful friendship and fellowship with one another. Read today’s article on our website.
A sense of hypocrisy is a major experience for Christian husbands and fathers who struggle with sexual sin. In today’s article, Keith Seary has us consider the following five principles regarding the Christian life that are vital in the process of turning away from hypocrisy. We’re called to be holy. We are dependent and relational. Christ is faithful. We will suffer as Christians. We need to rely on the local church. Read today’s article on our website.
Do your past sexual sins continue to burden you in your marriage? How can you move forward in godly intimacy with your spouse when your sexual history continues to impact your heart with guilt and shame? In today’s episode, Men’s Ministry Director Keith Seary offers hope for those burdened by their premarital sexual sins by unpacking how our new identity in Christ and how the common vows made during the marriage ceremony give us room to grow in hope. Walking through past sexual sin and growing in marital intimacy takes time and care. Harvest USA offers resources to help you with this: https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/marriage-discipleship/ You can read the original article on our website.
If your child has chosen to pursue an LGBTQ+ lifestyle, it may feel like everything suddenly changed. For many Christian parents, a sense of isolation kicks in. You feel isolated from your wandering child. You feel isolated from others. You feel isolated from God. It appears there’s no one to lean on, no one who understands, and no one who cares. In today’s episode, Joan McConnell (Director of Parents and Family Ministry) seeks to help parents understand these experiences with help from the Bible and shows us that even this trial falls under the comforting promise of Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” You can read the original article on our website.
A child choosing an LGBTQ+ lifestyle can bring with it concern and heartbreak for your child and family. But for Pastors and church leaders, it can also bring a swirl of questions about your ministry. In today’s episode, Parents and Family Ministry Director Joan McConnell addresses a series of questions pastors and church leaders may be wrestling with. How could this happen? What did I do to cause this? What can I do to fix this? Do my child’s choices and conduct mean that I have not “managed my household well?” Do my child’s choices and conduct negate my call to ministry? Do my child’s choices and conduct mean that I should consider a ministry hiatus? Will I be defeated by my child’s choices, or will I move on trusting the Lord? You can read the original article on our website. For more resources focused on parenting children struggling with sexual sin check our Struggling Child Resources Page