Liz Jones

Chris Richards

Here are just a few of the messages that young people today are constantly exposed to: - You're missing out if you don't have sex. - Marriage is out of date. - Casual sex is OK. - Sex is the goal of a night-out. - Sex is all about me and my satisfaction. - Sex can be experienced without consequences. - There are no rights and wrongs in relationships, just what we prefer. - Sex is a means of securing love. This book shows these things to be the half-truths and lies that they are, and points young people to what the Bibles teaches. Singleness and marriage are shown to be God's gifts and 'going out' something that can be done in a God-honouring way. The temptations - pornography, masturbation, homosexuality and social networking - are discussed. There is practical pastoral help in a section 'What to do if you have made mistakes.' The authors are the founders of Lovewise, a charity which seeks to help schools and youth groups by providing presentations on the subjects of marriage, sex and relationships from a Christian perspective.

What the Bible Says about Relationships and Marriage

True Love

Chris Jones

Growing up God's way for Boys is a colourful, fully illustrated book available as separate versions for boys and girls. It is intended for children approaching or experiencing puberty, typically represented by the 10-14 years old age range. The artwork haas been specially produced for the book and includes accurate biological drawings as well as 'cartoon' illustrations to keep the young reader interested. Most importantly of all, the Bible is the constant reference point, so that what the Bible has to say about the matters dealt with is always front and centre. The result is that this book conveys essential biblical ethical teaching as well as the facts about puberty. For example, here's an extract from the teaching on the chapter on 'Physical Intimacy' (in this case in the girls version): So special that God has given us rules It might seem attractive to live in a world where there are no laws. (Of course it would mean that your parents would never be able to tell you that you were doing something wrong!) But have you ever thought what would happen if there were no laws about how we should drive a car? The laws of the road make it safe for us to drive. If there were none, many more people on the road would get injured and driving would be a very frightening experience. God has given us a law regarding how we relate to the opposite sex in sexual intimacy. This law is the seventh of the Ten Commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery' (Exodus 20:14). From this verse and other passages in the Bible, we learn that all sexual activity outside marriage is wrong. The word adultery means either being married and experiencing sexual intimacy with someone who is not your husband, or experiencing sexual intimacy with someone else's husband. In the New Testament, God warns us to 'flee from sexual immorality' (1 Corinthians 6:18). The term 'sexual immorality' includes any sexual activity that is not between a husband and his wife. The fact that God has given us a specific command to keep sexual intimacy for marriage shows how important God considers sexual intimacy to be. The husband and wife are important to Him, their marriage is important to Him, and the new life that may result from sexual intimacy is important to Him. God's law about sexual intimacy is for our safety and well-being - it protects us, it protects marriage, and it protects young life.

Growing Up God's Way for Boys

We live in a time when marriage is under attack from many directions and the biblical approach to this God- given institution is forgotten by many. 'Marriage God's Way' was originally written for 10-14 year olds, but the colourful presentation and plain language will be helpful for many people. Anyone with an interest in marriage needs to know God's way! This booklet is Chapter 2 of the book 'Growing Up God's Way' (available in girls and boys versions) by Chris Richards and Liz Jones.

Marriage God's Way

This book explores 'young adult' fictions - stories about being young, staying young and sometimes never wanting to grow up. Looking at controversial novels by Francesca Lia Block, at sex and 'race' in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and at the online world of fans and censors, Chris Richards argues that attempts to classify and regulate what counts as 'young adult' have failed, and shows how youth - as intense, exciting and tormented - draws audiences unconstrained by age. Throughout the book, the narratives of life as lived by the young emerge as the stuff of the 'self' - made and remade in reading, watching and listening. Fascinating and accessible, Forever Young will be of particular interest to students and teachers concerned with contemporary popular culture in cultural, media, literature and education studies courses.

Chris Richards

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