A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality

A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality addresses contemporary questions about gender, sexuality, and identity from a biblical perspective. Published by Ligonier Ministries, this book provides concise, accessible answers to help Christians think carefully about these topics and engage others with both conviction and compassion.

Organized into four sections—Being Human, Homosexuality and Transgenderism, Events and Associations, and The Gospel and Love—the book takes a question-and-answer format that addresses specific pastoral and ethical concerns. Topics include the image of God and human identity, the nature of same-sex attraction, gender dysphoria and transgenderism, the ethics of attending certain weddings, the use of preferred pronouns, matters of conscience, and the role of church authority in moral discernment.

Throughout, the book grounds its answers in Scripture, emphasizing that human identity is rooted in God’s creative design and that the believer’s primary identity is found in Christ. It also addresses how Christians can share the gospel with those who identify as LGBTQ, navigate relational tensions without compromising biblical teaching, and resist cultural pressure to affirm what Scripture does not. The book encourages readers to rely on the means of grace, the counsel of pastors and elders, and the fellowship of the church as they seek faithfulness in these areas.

Key Themes

• The image of God as the foundation for understanding human identity and gender
• Biblical distinctions between desire, temptation, and behavior in matters of sexual ethics
• The role of the church in guiding believers through matters of conscience and discipline
• Loving others with both truth and compassion in an increasingly contested cultural landscape

Featured Quotes

“We can and should apologize if we have not acted in love when speaking the truth, but we must not apologize for telling the truth.”

“For Christians, our deepest, primary identity relates to our being in Christ. Paul says that it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us.”