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Our amazing church library has a number of new books we wanted to bring to your attention for your summer reading! Some of these books are resources coming out of our June series on gender, and one is from our most recent Faith Formation experience. 

1. The Genesis of Gender - Abigail Favale 

The question of gender--who we are as men and women--has never been more pressing, or more misunderstood.

Weaving personal experience with expert knowledge, Dr. Abigail Favale provides an in-depth yet accessible account of the gender paradigm: a framework for understanding reality and identity that has recently risen to prominence. Favale traces the genealogy of gender to its origins in feminism and postmodern thought, describing how gender has come to eclipse sex, and how that shift is reshaping language, law, medicine, sexuality, and our own self-perceptions.

With substance, clarity, and compassion, Favale teases out the hidden assumptions of the gender paradigm and exposes its effects. Yet this book is not merely an exposé--it is also a powerful, moving articulation of a Christian understanding of reality: a holistic paradigm that proclaims the dignity of the body, the sacramental meaning of sexual difference, and the interconnectedness of all creation. The Genesis of Gender is a vital, timely resource for anyone seeking to better understand the gender paradigm--and how to live beyond it.

2. Embodied - Preston Sprinkle 
Compassionate, biblical, and thought-provoking, Embodied is an accessible guide for Christians who want help navigating issues related to the transgender conversation. Preston Sprinkle draws on Scripture as well as real-life stories of individuals struggling with gender dysphoria to help readers understand the complexities and emotions of this highly relevant topic. With careful research and an engaging style, Embodied explores:
  • What it means to be transgender, nonbinary, and gender-queer, and how these identities relate to being male or female
  • Why most stereotypes about what it means to be a man and woman come from the culture and not the Bible
  • What the Bible says about humans created in God&;s image as male and female, and how this relates to transgender experiences
  • Moral questions surrounding medical interventions such as sex reassignment surgery
  • Which pronouns to use and how to navigate the bathroom debate
  • Why more and more teens are questioning their gender
 
Written for Christian leaders, pastors, and parents, Embodied fills the great need for Christians to speak into the confusing and emotionally charged questions surrounding the transgender conversation.
3. Love thy Body - Nancy Pearcey
In Love Thy Body, bestselling author Nancy Pearcey goes beyond politically correct slogans with a riveting exposé of the dehumanizing worldview that shapes current watershed moral issues, arguing that a holistic Christian view sustains the dignity of the body and biology. Throughout the book, Pearcey entrances readers with compassionate stories of people wrestling with hard questions in their own lives--their pain, their struggles, their triumphs.
4. Talking to your Kids about Gender Identity - Mark Yarhouse
The Wisdom You Need on One of the Hardest Issues of Our Day

As gender identity, transgender experiences, and emerging gender identities continue to be normalized and celebrated, many parents are left struggling with what to think about these issues--let alone how to talk to their children about them. The leading Christian expert on LGBTQ+ concerns, Dr. Mark Yarhouse has spent years counseling and teaching on these issues.

In this biblical, practical guide, he offers parents wisdom and answers to their biggest questions about gender, equipping you to

· critically engage gender theory from a Christian view
· initiate honest, informative dialogues with your kids
· model biblical conviction with civility and compassion
· recognize early signs of gender dysphoria
· navigate relationships with those who identify differently

Gender identity is a defining issue in our children's generation. This practical guide is your go-to resource for reliable, kingdom responses on these critical topics.
5. Invitation to Silence & Solitude - Ruth Haley Barton

In Invitation to Solitude and Silence, you'll find

  • chapters on topics like finding rest for the body, mind, and soul;
  • an expanded edition that includes a discussion guide for groups; and
  • spiritual practices to help you learn to practice silence as an individual or in groups.

Invitation to Solitude and Silence gives you an opportunity to slow down, listen, and open your heart to God's still, small voice. Will you say yes to creating space for meaningful encounters with God?