Whether we’re ready for it or not, our world is changing in ways that significantly affect the way that we preach and “do ministry.” To an extent, the world is always changing, of course, but some are suggesting that this is more of a tectonic-like shift in the assumptions of our culture. One of those shifts—a symptom, certainly, and not the underlying cause—is in our society’s views on same-sex relationships.

To that end here are a couple of recommendations:

If you need a primer on what the Bible teaches on the practice of homosexuality, you should read Kevin DeYoung’s What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? DeYoung is an excellent writer, and he handles the relevant texts capably and skillfully. He also responds to some of the arguments from evangelicals who are defending same-sex marriage. It might also be a good text for a class at church.

If you’re like me, though, you don’t really understand much about the LGBTQ community. Consequently, I found this next book fascinating, though it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield was a tenured English professor at Syracuse University and as a lesbian was heavily involved in Queer causes (her words) and radical feminism. Through a series of events, she came to believe in Jesus Christ, left lesbianism and academia, and is now a homeschooling Mom. Quite a shift, huh?

Her book is The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey Into Christian Faith, and I found it to be fascinating. If you read it, it’ll help you understand the LGBTQ world, and it’ll help you know better how to share the gospel with the people in your community who are gay.

Good stuff worth looking at:

“The Bithynian Option” by Paul Carter.

The title doesn’t sound exciting, but it would be worth your time. I think a lot of us are trying to figure out how to navigate our changing world. Biblically, we can’t support same-sex marriage—and so we couldn’t officiate at one—but is it wrong for our members to photograph one? Is it wrong to make the wedding cake, provide flowers, rent out a limo to the couple, rent them tuxes? Some of it is clear, but much of it isn’t. I decided to take our congregation through 1 Peter on Wednesday nights in order to help us wrestle with some of these issues, and this article discusses the different ways Christians can engage a hostile culture.

“Thoughts on Note-Taking During Sermons” by Jared C. Wilson

This article really made me think about preaching differently. Like some of you, I provide an outline (usually with blanks) to our congregation to encourage them to take notes. Wilson encourages us to rethink the effectiveness of that, and also just really how we view the purpose of our preaching.

“Why Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris was baptized in his baseball uniform” by Bobby Ross Jr.

It’s always neat to see a Christian doing well at sports’ highest levels.