Comments on: Teaching Junior Highers About Sex

By: Erik w/a "k"

Erik w/a "k" — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:06:46 +0000

Kurt,

Love that you are doing this and not in the traditional February format. It is such a HUGE deal for our students every day that I am a fan of infusing moral purity stuff in as often as possible. Where did you land on the specifics this past weekend? I know that I have been thinking wayyyy more how I approach this subject as I have have a 7th grader myself.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:50:40 +0000

Natalie and Aaron. shoot me an email at kurtj@saddleback.com and copy Jasonp@saddleback.com and we will give you what we’ve got! You can also go to http://www.simplyyouthministry.com and purchase last year’s JH sex series called “EXPOSED” The series Arc of Exposed is:

Week 1: Sex…What Was God Thinking?
Week 2: Sex…What Went Wrong?
Week 3: Sex…What Is A Junior Higher Supposed To Do?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:03:51 +0000

Kurt, I’m with Natalie — any more info on your series?

I know this wouldn’t work exactly this way in your context, but I’m thinking about teaching to the youth on this (sometime this spring) early in the worship time, and then gathering the parents for their own “take-home” session down the hall. My hope is that they would talk about it at home more after both hearing about it.

By: Ben Denen

Ben Denen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:54:05 +0000

I am a fan of your approach. In my experience there is a huge disconnect between what parents of junior highers feel their level of exposure to these topics are and what their actual exposure is. My only suggestion would be to have a follow-up at home to keep the discussion going.

I definitely think your on the right track keeping a tight focus on this series. Avoid overwhelming them. I find it is far more effective to start the conversation rather than bury them with it.

Ben Denen
Director of Fuse Student Ministries
McHenry, IL

By: KJ

KJ — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:32:21 +0000

Natalie,
We would be happy to! Send me an email at Kurt@saddleback.com and copy Jasonp@saddleback.com and we will send you everything we’ve got!

You can also purchase last years series called “Exposed” at http://www.simplyyouthministry.com The arc of that series is:
Week 1: Sex…What was God Thinking?
Week 2: Sex…What went wrong?
Week 3: Sex…What’s a junior higher supposed to do?

By: Natalie Farthing

Natalie Farthing — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:12:07 +0000

Kurt,

I work on student ministry staff at a church. I shared this post with my director and he liked your series idea and was wondering if you would be willing to share any more content from it? We always do our relationship series in February so we are starting to think ahead to it. Do y’all have a Series identity?? Any parent information you sent out? We would be grateful for anything you are willing to share!
Thanks!
Natalie Farthing
Student Ministry Associate at Spring Branch Community Church
Virginia Beach, VA

By: KJ

KJ — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:14:02 +0000

Great insights! Thanks.
Charlie, our ministry does not include 6th grade…only 7-8. Several weeks before the series, we sent a letter home to parents letting them know the series was coming up, what the series would cover as well as some of the “answers” we were going to give regarding the more common questions students ask. We specifically told parents that it was not a sex education/nuts and bolts talk about sex, but rather a look at God’s plan for it.

By: David Malouf

David Malouf — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:57:41 +0000

From my position/experience (Jr/Sr High pastor, father of 14 and 12 year olds), I like what you’re doing. Well thought out, relevant.

I’d vote for explaining God’s plans for sex and then letting them know that anything else is a deviation from that plan (not that I’d use those exact words). In that, then, you can lump-together porn, masturbation, same-sex, even lust – that these are all not only Not in God’s plans, but are also against God’s plans/intent: choosing them means choosing not God’s desires & not God’s outcomes.

That is, with the well-crafted plan you have, I think you have brilliantly set yourself up for being able to give the students a target to go towards (cf. Week 1) and not just “don’t do _______”.

My 1 cent,
David

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:23:55 +0000

I think the series you’re doing is great! I really like the progression of the series. It makes a lot of sense and it applies to everyone.

Your 3rd week is all about sex. Are you going to be teaching to 6th-8th graders? And if so, are you going to tell them what sex is and how it works? I just know that in our Jr. High ministry there are some 6th graders who have no clue what sex is and some 8th graders who are having sex. I know you see the difficulty in teaching on the subject, but just wanted to hear your opinion on it. Thanks Kurt!!

– Young (and getting married in 10 days so maybe I should come hear the sex talk) Jr. High Pastor