YouthESource

Bible Study: Can We Hold Hands? Thoughts on Teens and Sex

How to Show Your Date that You Really do Care
 
Most observers of American teen culture agree. We are in the midst of a crisis because of a continuing sexual revolution among our youth.
 
The voices of television popular music, ready access to birth control, abortion on demand peer pressure, and the natural longing to love and be loved roar loudly, encouraging sexual promiscuity. The message of Gods will and wisdom for human sexuality seems, by comparison, scarcely heard. A large number of inattentive parents, silent preachers, and uninformed church groups stand idly by. As a result, surveys identify practically no difference in the rates of teen pregnancy sexual activity, and age of first sexual encounter between church youth and other young persons. Our youth, however, are searching for help, answers, and ammunition with which to wage war against this dangerous foe.
 
A frank and thorough discussion is needed between church leaders, parents, and teens on matters of Gods will for human sexuality within marriage (His most beautiful and powerful gift for intimacy in a human relationship). Teens need to explore appropriate levels of physical expressions of affection outside of marriage.
 
Discuss with your pastor or district youth executive the importance and possibility of a more intensive course of study on youth and God’s will for their sexuality.
 
This Bible study is an attempt to open lines of communication among teens and between teens and church leaders on this important topic.
 
Objectives
 Young people will:
  • know and identify God’s established guidelines for our sexual life;
  • discover and understand that these God-given guidelines are for our good;
  • identify displays of physical affection that can lead to sinful behavior; and
  • develop God-pleasing guidelines for displaying physical affection.
  • Materials

    You will need the following:

    • Note cards with these Bible texts printed out and numbered, to be read by youth in this order: (1) 1 Thessalonians 4:3; (2) Hebrews 13:4; (3) Proverbs 6:32; (4) Exodus 20:14; (5) 1 Corinthians 10:8; (6) Matthew 5:28; (7) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; (8) Proverbs 6:27-28.
    • An open, frank, and caring attitude. This topic can make us all nervous (some silliness during the discussion can be expected), but young people will appreciate your willingness to help and to listen.
    • To be prepared to review the stories of Joseph and David.
    • Pencils for everyone.
    • Enough copies of the handout for everyone.

    Download Can We Hold Hands…? (PDF)

     

    Originally published in Youth Ministry Quarterly 90:3.

    © 1994 by the Board for Youth Services, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, 1333 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122.

    Republished and revised in March 2011 for thESource.

Published March 4, 2011

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