In this six-session video-based small group bible study, Love is an Orientation, Andrew Marin leads you in peaceful and productive ways to engage the theological, political and social disconnects between the Christian community and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. This pack includes one softcover Participant Guide and one DVD. Today’s culture often defines ‘bridge building’ and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of religious and cultural engagement to establish his kingdom here on earth. In light of such countercultural principles, the Christian community needs a new view on the issues that divide conservative believers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Andrew Marin uses practical applications he’s learned over the last decade of living and working in the LGBT neighborhood of Chicago (Boystown), as well as his international speaking and consulting ministry, to offer a variety of practical teaching, insights, and life-lessons on reaching the LGBT community. Rather than avoiding the topic of homosexuality, Love Is an Orientation aims to equip the Christian community to bridge the gap between LGBT and religious communities. Rather than learning how to “fix” gay people, this small group bible study is all about getting to know them, engage them, and love them like Jesus does. After this study, you, your small group and your church will know what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with the LGBT community. This Participant Guide is designed for use with the companion Love is an Orientation DVD (both are included in this pack). It’s filled with insights, questions for discussion, and applications that will equip you with tools to reach out to the LGBT community in love and understanding. Sessions include: 1. Love Is Our Orientation 2. Building Bridges 3. Theology of Bridge Builders4. Answering Tough Questions5. Adolescents and Sexuality 6. Living in the Tension

Love Is an Orientation Participant's Guide with DVD: Practical Ways to Build Bridges with the Gay Community

Marin, Andrew

Religion & Spirituality

Zondervan

In this six-session small group Bible study DVD, Love is an Orientation, Andrew Marin leads you in peaceful and productive ways to engage the theological, political and social disconnects between the Christian community and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Today’s culture often defines ‘bridge building’ and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of religious and cultural engagement to establish his kingdom here on earth. In light of such countercultural principles, the Christian community needs a new view on the issues that divide conservative believers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Andrew Marin uses practical applications he’s learned over the last decade of living and working in the LGBT neighborhood of Chicago (Boystown), as well as his international speaking and consulting ministry, to offer a variety of practical teaching, insights, and life-lessons on reaching the LGBT community. Rather than avoiding the topic of homosexuality, Love Is an Orientation aims to equip the Christian community to bridge the gap between LGBT and religious communities. Instead of discussing how to “fix” gay people, this small group bible study is all about getting to know them, engage them, and love them like Jesus does. After this study, you, your small group and your church will know what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with the LGBT community. This DVD is designed for use with the companion Love is an Orientation Participant Guide (sold separately). It features six 10 to 15-minute video sessions with Andrew Marin and other real-life stories that will spark discussion and equip you with tools to reach out to the LGBT community in love and understanding. Sessions include: 1. Love Is Our Orientation 2. Building Bridges 3. Theology of Bridge Builders 4. Answering Tough Questions 5. Adolescents and Sexuality 6. Living in the Tension

Love Is an Orientation: Practical Ways to Build Bridges with the Gay Community

In this six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Andrew Marin leads you in peaceful and productive ways to engage the theological, political and social disconnects between the Christian community and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Today’s culture often defines ‘bridge building’ and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of religious and cultural engagement to establish his kingdom here on earth.
In light of such countercultural principles, the Christian community needs a new view on the issues that divide conservative believers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
Andrew Marin uses practical applications he’s learned over the last decade of living and working in the LGBT neighborhood of Chicago (Boystown), as well as his international speaking and consulting ministry, to offer a variety of practical teaching, insights, and life-lessons on reaching the LGBT community.
Rather than avoiding the topic of homosexuality, Love Is an Orientation aims to equip the Christian community to bridge the gap between LGBT and religious communities. Instead of discussing how to “fix” gay people, this small group Bible study is all about getting to know them, engage them, and love them like Jesus does. After this study, you, your small group and your church will know what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with the LGBT community.
This Participant Guide is filled with insights, questions for discussion, and applications that will equip you with tools to reach out to the LGBT community in love and understanding.
Sessions include:
<ol>
<li>Love Is Our Orientation</li>
<li>Building Bridges</li>
<li>Theology of Bridge Builders</li>
<li>Answering Tough Questions</li>
<li>Adolescents and Sexuality</li>
<li>Living in the Tension</li>
</ol>
Designed for use with the Love Is an Orientation Video Study (sold separately).

Love Is an Orientation Participant's Guide: Practical Ways to Build Bridges with the Gay Community

<ul>
<li>2010 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Award winner: culture category</li>
<li>2010 Golden Canon Leadership Book Award winner</li>
<li>Relevant Magazine: Top 20 Best Overall Books of 2009 winner</li>
<li>Englewood Review of Books: Top 20 Best Overall Books of 2009 winner</li>
<li>Christian Manifesto 2009 Lime Award winner</li>
</ul> Andrew Marin's life changed forever when his three best friends came out to him in three consecutive months. Suddenly he was confronted with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (GLBT) firsthand. And he was compelled to understand how he could reconcile his friends to his faith. In an attempt to answer that question, he and his wife relocated to Boystown, a predominantly GLBT community in Chicago. And from his experience and wrestling has come his book, Love Is an Orientation, a work which elevates the conversation between Christianity and the GLBT community, moving the focus from genetics to gospel, where it really belongs. Why are so many people who are gay wary of people who are Christians? Do GLBT people need to change who they are? Do Christians need to change what they believe? Love Is an Orientation is changing the conversation about sexuality and spirituality, and building bridges from the GLBT community to the Christian community and, more importantly, to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community

Politics & Social Sciences

McLaren, Brian

Social Sciences

Would you believe that 86 percent of LGBT people―from the proud marcher at the Pride Parade to the quiet, closeted teen―spent their childhood in church? More than half of them left those religious communities as adults; three out of four would be happy to come back. For decades now we have found our-selves caught up in a culture war: us versus them. Good news: there is no them. Our culture war has been a civil war: Us versus Us. And there is a path toward meaningful peace. Andrew Marin brings the startling findings of his largest-ever scientific survey of the religious history, practices, and beliefs of the LGBT community. Marin's findings offer clear direction for both sides of a long cultural battle to meet in the middle, sacrificing neither conviction nor integrity as they rediscover the things they have in common and the hope found in Christ alone. Original, groundbreaking research into the religious lives and beliefs of the LGBT community.

Us versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community

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