Comments on: POLL: How often to you teach about sex?

By: Stavro

Stavro — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:55:55 +0000

We do it once a year. This is our second year. Last year, we brought someone in to talk about it. This year we’re playing a video, and it’s actually coming up in a few weeks. Last year we sent letters home for the parents telling them what was happening, and we got no complaints. This year we’re having a bonfire for the teens outside, and inside the video will be played for any parents interested in seeing it.

Of course, the point is not so they can preview it and decide if little Suzy can go see it, it’s so that they can know what we’re teaching, because they need to follow through at home or it’s pointless. Christian parents that don’t get involved in the children’s spiritual lives really do them a disservice and run the greatest risk of losing them from the body of Christ when they hit 20.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:22:51 +0000

ack… wrong button… I have more!

All of the posters are right on in that if parents don’t think their kids are dealing with it, they need to remove their heads from someplace dark and sandy. Youth groups that have an open and supportive dialog about sex leads to groups who support each other in the decisions to remain abstinent. This type of group also helps their own (girls AND boys) to step up and take responsibility when things happen against what we all would like to be the normal course of events.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:17:36 +0000

I think it’s a great topic to talk about, especially when you let the kids direct the conversation where they need it to go.

We’ve had years where the “sex series” has been the leaders talking at the kids about the normal topics, and when the kids leave? They look bored. They have a “whatever” attitude on it.

When we’ve left it open and let the kids ask the questions, and we do our best to have a dialog? Yeah.. it’s powerful. We can explain to them the good (and bad) choices we’ve made, and more importantly why those were good and bad choices, both from a scriptural level, but also explain the intent behind why God’s created sex and marriage the way it was created, and not the way “The World” wants us to believe.

By: Andy Lawrenson

Andy Lawrenson — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:37:28 +0000

Oh Pink Bellied One,
My previous comment was tongue in cheek.
As to parents thinking students aren’t having sex. . .
I don’t get it?
How about the parents that think their little johnny and his girlfriend little susie are just watching movies in his bedroom with the door shut? Surely they wouldn’t have sex with their parents in the house? 9 months later. . .

By: Bradley

Bradley — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:50:37 +0000

We just did the Power of Sex series and saw our teen attendance grow and saw a lot of 1st time visitors. I didn’t really like having the Jr. High in with the Sr. High, but it worked. Not that I don’t think Jr. High needs it, but some were a little immature with the subject. I enjoyed the curriculum and enjoyed the six weeks on the topic. I’d check it out!

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:24:10 +0000

@Andy … yeah, I was thinking youth ministry, but whatever will probably do.

By: JonRobinson7707

JonRobinson7707 — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:11:17 +0000

ok so I dont know about those who dont teach about sex but sex needs to be taught at least once a year. If the church isnt teaching about sex who are they going to learn it from…. “The World??” we need to teach them about the great thing that sex can be. Push the sex topic. Cus ive found that those who dont talk about sex are the ones who get teen mommas, but then dont know how to deal with them with love and compassion. Just my experience. Talk about sex, be willing to be uncomforable.

By: sam

sam — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:36:15 +0000

we teach on sex (a series) once a year. This year… we actually had parents of 5-6 graders (not in our ministry) ask if they could have their students come in to hear the talks. The parents stayed too. there was some intense conversations (good intense) with those parents afterward about where they should go from here talking to their kids about sex.

By: Michael F

Michael F — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:38:16 +0000

We teach it once a year, and we are pretty direct. I always send a letter out to parents to explain what we are about to teach on. We have the occasional family that chooses to keep their kids out of service during that series, but to be honest, our senior pastor teaches sex more explicitly in “big church” than we do to the youth.

By: chad

chad — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:11:37 +0000

We bring it up often, but only teach specifically on that subject a couple times a year. We too get the upset parents that think their students don’t deal with this. Frustrating.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:40 +0000

I have to be honest I was not sure how to answer this question…I have been at this Youth Minister Position for less than a year…at my previous church where I was an intern/Interim Youth Minister I got in trouble for wanting to teach a sex series…On top of that I am single so I am not sure if it is wise for me to be teaching about sex….I am not sure when I will do it here at my latest church.

By: Andy Lawrenson

Andy Lawrenson — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:46:56 +0000

I’m assuming you mean in youth ministry?

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:34:07 +0000

Not enough. We Just started a series today, and we have had so many complaints from parents, how we shouldn’t be teaching about it. Its ridiculous that parents think that there 15 16 17 18 year olds dont know anything about it.
But its been good so far.