The Family Table

Dear LEFC Parents,

Here are some items to set the table for disciple-making in your family in the week ahead:

Six Conversations to Have with Your Teen about Sexuality

Jennifer Kvamme, the author of this week’s dessert recommendation, has published a short guide for parents on six important topics to talk about with your teen: Story, Body, Identity, Desire, Grace, and Treasure at Christian Parenting.

Handout – Family Devotions Workshop

Abe Skacel’s three page handout from the recent workshop is now available for downloading from the church website.

The Gospel Project at Home

Today’s Bible Study is “We Are Part of One Church” (Volume 11: Unit 32: Session 5). Ask your kids what they learned in Kids Bible Class this morning and/or do the family devotional you can find at this link.

Snack and Yack!

When the auditorium empties after worship, girls and boys (grades 3ish-7ish) who listened to the sermon (remember to fill out a handout!) are invited to Pastor Matt’s office for a tasty treat and a brief discussion with an LEFC elder couple about the message.

It’s Not Too Late To Sign Up For Summer Camp

There are still (but very limited) open spots for summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch. There are many weeks of camps for all ages. See Marilynn Kristofits for more information if you are interested in going.

And for dessert…

Our recommendation for family discipleship this week is an excellent new book for teens about sexual attraction, gender identity, and dating relationships.

This week, Pastor Matt published a book review that begins:

“I have been searching for a book like this for a very long time.

As a Christian pastor, I want the young people I care for to have really good answers to the difficult questions they are all asking about sexuality these days. And to be really good answers for today’s teens, they have to be realistic, biblical, confident, joyful, hopeful, comprehensive, concise, and readable. That’s a tall order!

How pleasant it was for me to discover that one of my EFCA friends had written such a book.

Jennifer Kvamme is Student Ministries Catalyst at Centennial Church in Forest Lake, Minnesota. She and I have collaborated on EFCA publications in the past, and when I heard about More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships, I was eager to hear what she had to say.

Jennifer writes as a true friend and wise mentor. She is sensitive to her young readers’ feelings and gentle with past hurts and poor decisions. Life is gritty, confusing, and painful. At the same time, Jennifer is joyful, confident, and unwavering in holding out God’s good design for sexuality. In three opening chapters and then at every turning point across the rest of the book, Jennifer embeds all the biblical teaching on sexuality in the grand storyline of the Scriptures. Sexuality is a grand glimpse of something deeper. There is more to the story. And the ultimate hero of the story gets the credit He deserves for His compassion and redemption. Jesus is fixing what has been broken so that following Him will be worth it all.”

The extremely timely and relevant questions that Kvamme addresses include:

Body: Why Does God Care What I Do with My Body (If I’m Not Hurting Anyone)?
Identity: How Do I Figure Out What Really Makes Me Me?
Desire: What Am I Supposed to Do with Such Strong Feelings?
Gender: Why Does It Matter What Pronouns I Use?
Singleness: What If I Never Get Married?
Intimacy: Why Is Sex “Good” in Marriage but “Bad” Before It? Isn’t Love Love?
Orientation: Is the Bible Really Against Gay Marriage?
Screens: Porn and Virtual Sex Don’t Hurt Anything, Right?
Dating: What Can and Can’t We Do?
Abuse: What about When I Didn’t Have a Choice?

Pastor Matt writes, “Unlike most books on this topic, I never had to wince as I read it. I never wished that Jennifer had said something differently or “not gone there.” Her counsel is sound, balanced, robust, and hope-giving. It’s even humorous at appropriate times! As all other books on this topic, More to the Story will feel dated at some point, probably frustratingly soon. Life is just getting more complicated. But this book is simply excellent and just what the church needs in our day.

I wish we had this book when our own kids were teens, but I’m glad we have it now.”

More from Jennifer Kvamme:

– Radio Interview – Helping youth understand the real questions around sexuality
– Excerpt from Chapter 5 – God Speaks a New Identity Over Your Teens

Pastor Matt has a copy of More to the Story in his library which he’s happy to loan out to your family, but he’s also willing to buy a copy for your teen if they commit to reading it.

We hope your family eats it up.

Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, Family Table Editor

P.S. Jennifer Kvamme is on the team that plans and directs the EFCA Challenge Conference and will be leading one of the Equipping Labs at this summer’s event. Pastor Matt says, “Parents, if your teen is going to Challenge this summer, strongly encourage them to go to Jennifer’s session at the conference and tell her I sent them!”