intercourse and all that leads up
to the act is extremely enjoyable
and sanctioned by God for married
couples to enjoy. Equipping your teen
to understand how God made their
bodies to enjoy sex (within the safety
of His plan) will keep them from one
day being surprised by how much
they long for physical intimacy with a
person they come to have feelings for.
•Pornography is sex. Jesus said it’s as
much a sin to engage in premarital
sex as lusting over it. Help your teens
realize how porn will bring long term
consequences that will steal their
sexual enjoyment in the marriage
bed. In Real Life Romance, I share one
man’s story. Chuck was raised in a
Christian home, but he fooled himself
to think looking at pornography would
keep him from having sex until he
got married. What Chuck failed to
realize was viewing porn became an
addiction that would not let go of him
once he married.
•You can be pure again. God promises,
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they’ll
be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). If your
child has been sexually active hold
out the hope of Jesus, and the purity
He offers to all who cry out to Him in
repentance and turn from their sin.
28 • Solutions
•It is possible to wait although culture
says everyone is having sex. God’s
remnant is remaining pure until
marriage and He is blessing a whole
new generation for their obedience.
Exposing your kids to godly young
adults who are waiting until marriage
will speak more to them than your
words.
3. Expose them to real romance.
Beginning with your own marriage,
show your kids how rom ance in
marriage is the norm, rather than the
exception. Expose your kids to couples
in your church who are courting in a
way that honors Christ. This helps
them believe purity really is possible,
contrary to what the world would have
them think.
If you’re a divorced or single parent,
don’t point out all the ways your ex-
spouse/their other parent failed you in
the relationship. Instead, expose your
kids to marriages that have grown more
deeply in love over the years. The best
place to find these godly examples of
happy marriages is when you become
a part of a church family. This requires
regularly attending church – not just
popping in on Sundays from time to
time.
4. Celebrate true love. Telling your kids
stories of how God sovereignly brought
two people together to fall in love in a
Christ honoring way gives them hope
that God is also interested in their
happily-ever-after. When they believe
that letting God write their love story will
guide them to romance with no regrets,
they’ll be more likely to trust Him and
wait on His timing when looking for a
spouse.