Purposeful Sexuality: A Short Christian Introduction

By Ed Shaw

If God means for us to save sex for marriage, why doesn't he just zap us with sexuality on our wedding night? Why do most of us experience sexual feelings throughout our adult lives, not just in the safe confines of marriage? Is limiting marriage to the union of a man and a woman anything but outdated prejudice? What is our sexuality actually for?

Today's culture overwhelmingly tells us that sex is essential for human flourishing. Far too often the church perpetuates the same message - as long as you are married. But far from being liberating, this idolising of sex leaves us even more sexually broken than before.

With refreshing honesty and clarity, Ed Shaw calls on the church to rediscover its confidence in the Bible's teaching about our ability to experience or express sexual feelings. He points us to how God's word reveals that sexuality's ultimate purpose is to help us better know God and the full power of his passionate love. He shows us how this is surprisingly good news for all our joys and struggles with sexuality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IVP
• Release date: Jan 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781789743111

Ed Shaw

Ed Shaw was educated at Durham University, the Cornhill Training Course and Oak Hill Theological College. He is the pastor of Emmanuel City Centre in Bristol, England, and part of the editorial team at livingout.org. He has worked for churches in Durham and London and was the student minister at Christ Church Clifton for six years before joining Emmanuel in 2009. He loves his family and friends, church and city, music and books.

Book preview

‘Compassionate, hopeful and biblical. This is a must-read for all Christians and a great help as we navigate the vital issues around sexuality.’

Gavin Calver, CEO, Evangelical Alliance

‘Whether you are confused or frustrated, scared or scarred, Ed Shaw’s latest book will help you to find a renewed sense of joy and purpose for your God-given sexuality. Armed with a better understanding of God’s purpose for our sexuality, Ed shows how we will be better equipped to navigate the trials and temptations of our sex-obsessed world. It’s a book I will be recommending to people in all kinds of different situations.’

Ros Clarke, Associate Director, Church Society

‘In this compelling short read, Ed Shaw poses the question, What is the purpose of our sexuality? With courageous honesty, he mines deep into Scripture and brings some incredible gems to light. He unearths how our sexuality is the most graphic imagery for the passion and potency of God’s love. Sheer dynamite!’

The Rt Revd Dr Jill Duff, Anglican Bishop of Lancaster

‘How can such a short book pack such a punch? With humanity and great humility, Ed Shaw shows us why our sexuality is such a good thing. That God in his kindness has given us a way to feel the passion of his love for us and yearn for more of him. And that this is for all of us, in all our mess, whether or not we’re married.’

Mark Ellis, Director of Christian Unions Ireland

‘This wise, sensitive book has a great deal to offer all of us as we attend to the desires, questions and struggles arising from our nature as sexual beings. Its contemporary frame of reference, combined with careful reading of relevant biblical texts, makes it all the more valuable.’

Julian Hardyman, Senior Pastor, Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, and author of Jesus, Lover of my Soul

‘We live in times when things we know and values we hold are changing and in flux. From our humanity to our identity, everything seems up for redefinition. Perhaps it’s at the point of our sexuality that this is most vivid and complex. With brilliant clarity, grace-filled empathy and biblical truth, Ed Shaw helps us to understand the plan and purpose of our sexuality and wisely draws us back to the place of healing and redemption we all truly need.’

Tope Koleoso, Lead Pastor, Jubilee Church, London

‘I am so thankful that I am a sexual being! Ed’s book is a much needed hurricane of fresh air on the purpose of sexuality. As a single heterosexual woman, I am once more staggered by God’s kindness in crafting me with sexual desire so that I may more tangibly appreciate his love for me. Ed’s short book is beautifully biblical, richly pastoral and deeply evocative. A glorious vision of human flourishing is to be found within these pages. I am more for having read this.’

Kristi Mair, Research Fellow in Philosophy, Ethics and Apologetics at Oak Hill Theological College, author and speaker

‘Sex is life advertising slogans hit us constantly. But what kind of sex really is life? A colossal crisis in relationships and a profound loneliness seem to be the outcomes of this pansexual society. The so-called sexual revolution has not brought the flourishing life it promised, but rather the opposite. In this concise and clear book, Ed Shaw shows how the biblical vision for sexuality is indeed a source of life and fulfilment. The book provides a lucid and solid framework on sexuality for everyone, but especially for those who are frustrated, confused and tired of the paradise promised by secular views.’

Dr Pablo Martinez, psychiatrist, author and Bible teacher

‘For a contentedly single heterosexual woman, I seem to be reading a lot of books about sex and sexuality these days. It is a vital topic, and something I need to have a clear, biblical understanding of as someone involved in pastoral work – and indeed as someone involved in human life! Purposeful Sexuality is a brief but vital addition to the genre. In this excellent little book, Ed reveals a deep understanding both of the questions surrounding sexuality and of the Bible’s glorious, hopeful, life-giving answers. How is God’s gift of sexuality good news for all of us, whatever our circumstances? Read this book to find out.

Jennie Pollock, Associate Head of Public Policy, Christian Medical Fellowship, and author of If Only

‘A short, clear and often profound book on one of our generation’s most pressing subjects. Ed Shaw has served us superbly with Purposeful Sexuality.’

Andrew Wilson, Teaching Pastor, King’s Church London, and author of If God, Then What?

titlepage_ebk

INTER-VARSITY PRESS

36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4ST, England

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.ivpbooks.com

© Ed Shaw, 2021

Ed Shaw has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.

The author and publisher have made every

Reviews for Purposeful Sexuality

[Malina Gitahi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple to understand and Biblical, while helpfully practical. I appreciated Ed's openness about his own sexuality and the struggles, but also the joys he has and is going through.