Recommended: Human Identity & Sexuality
The question of who we are—our bodies, our relationships, our longings—is not abstract. It is personal, often sensitive, and sometimes even painful. For those who follow Christ, these questions are not ultimately answered by looking inside ourselves but by listening to the God who made us and redeemed us.
The resources below are written for Christians who want to live faithfully in light of Scripture’s teaching. They aim to help believers see God’s design for human identity and sexuality as both true and good, and to walk with compassion and conviction in a world full of competing stories. This is not a slight against those who do not share that commitment; rather, it is a gathering of guides for those who do.
Getting Started
Accessible introductions for individuals, families, or small groups who need clear, trustworthy guidance.
God and the Transgender Debate – Andrew T. Walker
Written with pastoral clarity, Walker explains what the Bible says about gender identity, how Christians can respond with compassion, and why truth and love must go together.
Holy Sexuality and the Gospel – Christopher Yuan
Yuan tells his own story while unpacking a biblical vision of sexuality, singleness, and marriage. A winsome, gospel-centered alternative to both secular and legalistic views of sexuality.
Gender: A Conversation Guide for Parents and Pastors – Brian Seagraves & Hunter Leavine
A short, accessible resource for parents and church leaders who need simple, faithful ways to guide children and teens.
What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? – Kevin DeYoung
Brief but powerful, this book walks carefully through Scripture and answers common objections. Clear, pastoral, and widely used in churches.
Going Deeper
More substantial works for pastors, teachers, and serious students who want to explore Scripture, theology, and culture at greater depth.
Love Thy Body – Nancy Pearcey
A sweeping cultural critique that shows how secular views of the body undermine human dignity, sexuality, and identity. Pearcey makes a strong case for the coherence and beauty of a biblical worldview.
Male and Female He Created Them: A Study on Gender, Sexuality, & Marriage – Denny Burk, Colin Smothers, & David Closson
Biblical exposition and theological clarity on contested issues, with application for church and pastoral care.
Transforming Homosexuality: What the Bible Says about Sexual Orientation and Change – Denny Burk & Heath Lambert
A concise work that explains how the gospel speaks to same-sex desire and why repentance and new life in Christ are good news.
Gender Ideology: What Do Christians Need to Know? – Sharon James
A short but substantive introduction to the rise of gender ideology, written from a biblical worldview and useful for church leaders.
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self – Carl Trueman
A landmark work tracing how Western culture came to define identity by feelings and self-expression. While not limited to sexuality, it provides the intellectual background for today’s debates.
Strange New World – Carl Trueman
A shorter, more accessible version of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, ideal for lay readers and small groups.
At the heart of the Christian faith is not a code of ethics but a Savior. Our identity is not secured by flawless obedience but by union with Christ, who forgives, restores, and makes all things new. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1). In Him, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As we grow in holiness, we do so not to earn God’s love but because we already have it in Christ. Every resource on this list is meant to point us back to that central truth: our deepest identity is as children of God, redeemed and beloved in Jesus.
Disclaimer: The resources listed here have been selected because they offer particular value for Christian growth and understanding. Their inclusion does not imply full agreement with every statement or position taken by the authors. As with any book outside of Scripture, readers should exercise discernment, testing all things by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).
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