Turning Awkward Into Empowering: Equipping Our Kids with a Biblical Understanding of Sexuality and Gender

Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowitz to discuss how we can equip our children with a biblical understanding of sexuality and gender. Discover the tools you need to disciple your child with purpose and grace! Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design is a thoughtful, timely, and practical resource that will coach you through some of the most foundational conversations you can have with your children.

Listen here: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/387875/link/ 

Watch the conversation (including a funny part where Stephanie cannot hold the book down :) ) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

It’s more crucial than ever to talk with our children about God’s design for sexuality and gender. As our culture’s understanding of human identity shifts, Christian parents, grandparents, and mentors are called to be the primary voices shaping the next generation’s worldview on these sensitive topics.

Ten years ago, few would have imagined discussing sexuality or gender identity with young children. However, today’s culture often defines people by their desires and feelings, leading to confusion over what it means to be human. The Christian response is to provide clarity rooted in God’s Word—especially around key biblical themes such as being made in God’s image (Psalm 139) and understanding redemption through Christ.

Elizabeth Urbanowitz emphasizes starting conversations on sexuality and gender with children as young as four or five years old. The earlier parents introduce these topics, the more their children see them as trustworthy “experts” (she calls this the “Founder’s Effect”). Just as a child memorizes basic math facts before tackling algebra, simple biblical truths learned early become anchors for discerning truth from cultural messages later in life.

Children encounter issues like sexual abuse, pornography, and gender confusion younger than ever. Even adults without children are likely to influence young people as teachers, mentors, or relatives. It’s essential to have clear, simple language to explain:

• Bodies are valuable and designed by God.
• Private parts deserve protection and privacy.
• If children disclose uncomfortable experiences, adults should listen, seek understanding, and reinforce these truths with compassion.

Elizabeth draws everything back to scripture. The Bible presents God as our Designer, and His design (for our bodies, marriage, sexuality) is the wise and loving blueprint for human flourishing. When addressing hard questions—like same-sex marriage, gender identity, or masturbation—parents are encouraged to reference what God has revealed, not just their opinions.

To help children remember key truths, parents can teach simple catechism-like phrases. For example, “Marriage is one man and one woman becoming one flesh for life,” or “God designed us as male or female—God’s design is good.” These become invaluable tools when children are confronted with cultural lies.

A major point is that kindness doesn’t mean agreement. Being compassionate means loving others and telling the truth (not just making them feel good). Children should be taught to respect and care for everyone, including those living differently, without affirming what’s unbiblical.

For parents of older children or teens, start with prayer, then listen to what they’ve already learned. Acknowledge any shortcomings, gently offer biblical truths, and focus on building a trusting, ongoing dialogue.

God’s Word is sufficient for every generation. Parents, family members, and the faith community play vital roles in helping kids navigate a confusing world. Start early, speak simply, root everything in scripture, and model truth with kindness and courage.

Take time this week to consider what “building a biblical foundation” practically looks like for the children in your life. What is one conversation you can start, or one phrase you can teach, to prepare them for these challenging but crucial topics?

MORE ABOUT “HELPING YOUR KIDS KNOW GOD’S GOOD DESIGN”

Discipling Your Child One Conversation at a Time

In today’s pervasively secular culture, it’s more essential than ever to guide your children toward a biblical worldview on all issues―including the complex topics of sexuality and gender. But as a parent, how do you have these discussions in an informed, age-appropriate, and Christ-centered way? 

This how-to handbook equips you to talk about sex, gender, and the Bible with children between the ages of 4 and 12 with confidence and nuance. Inside you’ll find biblically grounded answers to some of Christian parents’ most common questions, including

• When should I first have the sex talk with my child?
• How do I explain sexual sin to my child?
• How do I teach my child to love others without affirming another person’s sin?
• How do I talk with my child about what the Bible teaches about same-sex relationships?
• How do I handle the fear that I’ll have these conversations the wrong way?

Discover the tools you need to disciple your child with purpose and grace! Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design is a thoughtful, timely, and practical resource that will coach you through some of the most foundational conversations you can have with your children.

MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH URBANOWITZ

Elizabeth Urbanowicz is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.

She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.

Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.

Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.

Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

https://foundationworldview.com/about/meet-the-founder