Is it possible to love your LGBTQ friends without compromising biblical truth?
Sexuality & Culture
#423: How to “Rethink” Issues in Our Church Culture Around Sexuality & Abuse
We need to be asking some hard questions. In the wake of the SBC investigation, along with the growing tsunami of fallen pastors,...
#488 What Does the Bible Really Say About Same-Sex Marriage?
What is the Biblical essence of marriage and who is it for? Preston Sprinkle discusses his new book “Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?”
Q&A: How Can I Overcome the Shame I Experienced as a Result of Purity Culture?
How do you overcome any shame you’ve experienced from purity culture?
Q&A: What Is the Difference Between Sexual Integrity and Purity?
What is the difference between sexual integrity and purity?
#426: How To Better Understand the Complexity Beneath Gender Dysphoria
What’s the difference between sexual identity and gender identity? Should parents use preferred pronouns? Or allow kids to dress in...
#403: How Do I Reconcile God’s Goodness with Sexual Pain & Injustice?
How can we reconcile the pain of sexual abuse with faith in a loving God?
#401: Why “Love Is Love” Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means
Black Lives Matter. Love is love. Hate has no home here. A thread of truth—truth deeply rooted in Christianity—runs through these...
#399: Why Questions About Sex Cause You to Question God
Juli and Hannah kick off the "Making Sense of God & Sex" series with a conversation about how questions around sex always lead...
#378: How One Church Learned To Embrace the Beauty of Broken
Imagine there is a sign on the door of your church that says, “Please leave your sexual brokenness on the steps...
#348: What You Need To Know About the “T” in LGBT, Pt 2
In this episode, Juli continues her conversation with Preston Sprinkle as they dive into biblical questions around...
#347: What You Need To Know About the “T” in LGBT, Pt 1
What was once a rare psychological diagnosis has quickly become an accepted cultural movement. While it's critical...
#508 What Does Healthy Masculinity Actually Look Like?
What can we learn from the lives of the heroes of the faith?
#507 What You Need To Know About The Gender Conversation
John and Sarah Stonestreet explore some of the underlying beliefs surrounding sexuality in our culture.
Q&A: Can Sexual Sin be Forgiven?
Are some sins less forgivable than others?
Q&A: How Do I Love My LGBTQ Friends Without Compromising Biblical Truth? (Part 2)
Is it possible to love your LGBTQ friends without compromising biblical truth?
Q&A: Is It OK to Call a Transgender Friend by Their Preferred Pronouns?
Is It OK to call a transgender friend by their preferred pronouns?
How The American Church Reinforces Isolation and Why That Needs to Change
What if one of the most important things about church is not what happens at meetings but what happens between them?
#448: When Did Sexual Identity Become a Thing? (and Why Are We Obsessed With It?)
Sexual identity has become a common phrase, a personal choice, a political cause and, for many, the way we introduce ourselves to others (used even by tweens and teens who’ve never had a sexual experience)—and it feels like it all happened overnight. Do you ever wonder how we got here?
#440: Why Don’t Christians Like to Talk About the Real, Hard Stuff in Life?
Are Christians a prickly audience when it comes to sharing our brokenness and pain? Let's change that. Join Juli and...
#436: Friendship Trends Gone Wrong? (How to Keep Your Friendships Healthy)
Boundaries are a tricky part of friendship. Friends help us meet legitimate needs for companionship, spiritual growth,...
#435: What’s the Most Important Thing the Bible Says About Your Identity?
"The journey of the Christian life is that God has increasingly more of me." - Dr. Juli Slattery Juli and Hannah talk about sexual...
#433: Can You Be Gay and Follow Jesus? with Greg Coles
Greg Coles shares why he doesn't love the controversy surrounding the title of his book Single, Gay, Christian, yet why he's...
#432: Unraveling the Threads of Racism & “Love Addiction” in My Story
Why did I have sex with him again? Why can't I stop this masturbation addiction? Why can't I get this fantasy out of my head? Are...
#425: Bonus! How To Build Community & Friendships with Intention and Grace
Feeling stuck in your friendships? You're not alone! As the seasons of life change, our friendships don't always keep up. If you're...
#424: A 54-Year Friendship That Broke Through Cross-Cultural Barriers
Their friendship defied the odds. In the late 60s, in the South, these men weren’t supposed to become friends. Yet, with Jesus as...
#422: How to Care for Both Women and Children in the Wake of the Dobbs Decision
Do you know that God’s heart is for both women and their unborn children, and don’t know where you fit in the pro-life/pro-choice...
5 Ways the Church Must “Step Up” in Response to Sexual Abuse Within Its Walls
A few weeks ago, the Christian world was rocked by a bombshell revelation. An independent report of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) documented a pattern of ignoring and silencing victims of sexual abuse within the denomination. While there were rumblings of...
Webinar: Making Sense of God & Sex, Live Q&A
How do I bring God my heartache over the fact that my daughter is living in a same-sex relationship? Why does God care if my husband and I are having sex or not? Does God really expect me to give up sex, even if I never marry? When you wrestle with sexual pain or...
#382: Why We’re Not Afraid to Ask Hard Questions About Sex & Christianity
If you feel the pressure to believe that Christians are close-minded and a growing minority, you’re in for an encouraging surprise....
#375: Juli & Jackie on How To Pursue Unity While Standing on Truth
The mics stayed on for more with Jackie Hill Perry. In this unique after-the-show episode, Juli and Jackie share how they’ve...
#352: How Purity Culture and Ravi Zacharias’ Abuse of Power Challenge Our Faith
Juli Slattery and Asheritah Ciuciu sit down for a conversation about the shortcomings of purity culture, the recent...
#351: Why Our Churches Need To Do Better at Valuing the Voices of Women
The women of the Bible have a lot to teach us. Their voices often give us the story behind the story—take Ruth for example, or the...
#329: Addressing Tough Questions About Identity and Sexuality
Theology meets real life in this episode of Java with Juli! We’re asking the difficult questions about identity and sexuality: Why...
#313: The Greatest Love Story
From beginning to end the Bible tells a story about marriage. Woven through chapter and verse is a story of covenant...
#312: Born Again This Way: Rachel’s Story
This may sound like a conversation about being a gay Christian, and it is. But more importantly, it's a...
#295: We All “Desconstruct,” It’s Reconstructing that Matters
Questions about sexuality, sexual abuse, and gender have sent a new wave of “deconstructing” throughout the...
#289: How to Choose Unity (Even When You Disagree)
Juli and her guests discuss their reactions to John MacArthur's recent comments about women teaching the Bible. Join us for a...
#285: Loving Without Compromise
Yes, you can love a gay or lesbian friend without trying to change them. Sadly, many in the LGBT+ community feel shamed by...
How Do We Tell Good From Evil?
Is it wrong to live together before marriage? Does gender really matter? Is it wrong to support gay marriage? These are the types of questions that we often get asked at Authentic Intimacy. Perhaps more than ever, many Christians are confused about right and wrong....
#240: Birth Control & Family Planning
Is it okay to use birth control? Can the pill cause an early abortion? Juli and her guest discuss the ethical issues that surround...
#232: When Sexual Abuse Happens At Church
When sexual abuse happens in the church our leaders are (historically) more likely to defend the powerful than to...
Should I Go to a Gay Wedding?
Few topics in today’s world are more divisive in the Christian Church than sexuality.
Q&A: What Does God Say About Divorce?
What does God say about divorce? Juli unpacks this layered topic.
#363: Why Are Christians Afraid Of the LGBT+ Conversation?
Rachel Gilson discusses why it’s more important than ever to maintain a high view of scripture and know what the Bible says about our sexuality.
3 Subconscious Beliefs You May Hold About Living With Same-Sex Attraction
Scripture reveals that the way we think shapes our actions, but have you given thought to what and how you think about our sexuality?
#483 Why You Need a New Theology of Singleness, Even if You’re Married
Join Juli and guest Dr. Danielle Treweek as we kick off week two of our 7-week series exploring various themes around God, sex and intimacy.
#469 Porn, Rape Culture, and Why The Battle Against Sexual Assault Starts at Home
Did you know that on average, each year, around 463,634 Americans are victims of sexual assault? That’s a heartbreaking statistic, and it reveals a very real source of pain and trauma in contemporary American culture. What causes people to commit sexual assault? Is there a way to stop it? Dr. John Foubert joins Juli to discuss some of the reasons these numbers are so high, and what can and needs to be done to prevent sexual assault from happening.
#381: “Show It Off” or “Cover It Up”: Messages That Shape Our Body Image
What messages have you been told about your body and your sexuality? At the coffee shop with Juli are two...
#359: How To Help Women Speak Out Against Sexual Harassment
Tiffany Bluhm wishes this wasn’t her story to tell. Like most victims or bystanders of sexual harassment, she had everything to lose...
#358: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Why We Settle For Counterfeit Intimacy
Have you ever turned to Netflix instead of pursuing sex with your spouse? Have you turned to Instagram instead ending your day by...
#356: Sex & the City of God (What Life Looks Like When We Love God First)
That longing you have to be fully known? God put it there. It’s meant to draw you into intimacy with Him....
#345: What You Need to Know About Progressive Christianity
Compassionate. Inclusive. Nonjudgmental. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a church like this? It’s why...
#333: Is God Good …Even if You’re LGBT?
“We are being shaped by a culture that idolizes romantic and sexual fulfillment. And I just think—Jesus was...
#318: Why Are We Afraid to Touch?
Let’s face it: As Christians, we’re kind of afraid to touch. Touch feels unsafe and sexual—even...
#310: Is God Sexist?
Is God sexist? Does he value men more than he values women? If you've ever wrestled with this question, a...
#304: Stop Caring What Others Think
Are you constantly preoccupied with what others think about you? With how you look, how much money you make, or how many Instagram...
When Christians Disagree About Sex
When the Nashville statement was released, it brought conservative Christianity’s relationship with sexual issues front and center into the mainstream media. USA Today described the Nashville statement this way, “A coalition of conservative evangelical leaders laid...
A Hopeless New Year?
Turning my calendar to January 1 is usually refreshing for me. It represents a new year with a clean slate and excitement ahead. So why does ushering in 2020 feel so heavy and discouraging? There are many indications that our culture is quickly moving in a dangerous...
The World Has a Lot To Say About Sex
If you haven’t noticed, our views on sexuality have changed quite a bit over the past 20 years. Americans are far more accepting of behaviors they once considered to be sexually immoral. Cohabitation, having sex outside of marriage, no-fault divorce, viewing...
Why Promise Rings and Purity Talks Fall Short
True Love Waits. I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Promise rings. These are the touchstones of predominant teaching on sexual purity promoted by the Christian community throughout the past several decades. Yet, the word purity among today’s Christian adults can elicit feelings...
#278: Aging with Enthusiasm & Grace
Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. How can we be grateful, joyful, and love others well whatever season we're in? Today...
Joshua Harris, Sexuality, and “Deconstructing” Christianity
Recently, the evangelical world has been rocked by the news of Joshua Harris’s decision to leave his marriage and Christian beliefs. Joshua is the bestselling author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and was a well-known spokesperson for the purity movement of the 1990s. A...
How to Have Tough Conversations
(Presione aquí para leer en español) If you listen to our podcast, Java with Juli, you know that I don’t like small talk. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been able to acutely sense unspoken tension in a room. I’m anxious when I have a conflict with a friend or...
#264: You (Too) Can Help #MeToo
What can you do to make sure the voices of sexual abuse victims continue to be heard following the #MeToo movement? How...
#260: BONUS! Confused About Sexuality? We Understand
Why is there so much confusion in the Church about sex? If God's word is clear on this issue, why do so many great...
#256: Who Is Jesus to You?
Every sexual question is a spiritual question. Every sexual opinion you hold comes from a foundation of who Jesus is to you. In the...
#161: Beyond Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice
Take the politics out of conversations about abortion. You don't have to choose between valuing the rights of a...
#242: Worried About the Future? Find Hope Here
We naturally fear what we don't understand or can't control -- like the messages and confusion surrounding...
#238: Josh Harris is Rethinking “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”
What if you gave millions of people the wrong advice? Two decades ago Josh Harris turned the Christian dating world...
#235: How the Purity Movement Hurt Us
"I always thought that if I did everything the way God told us to, then I would be blessed, I would be happy, and I would have a...
#218: Rethinking Sexuality in Your Life
Do I really need to save sex for marriage? What’s wrong with porn if I’m not hurting anyone...
Webinar: Loving Your LGBT Neighbor
Ever feel like we're just fumbling through the LGBT conversation, always asking but never really finding Biblical answers to questions like: What does it look like to be friends with my lesbian neighbors? How should I love my gay child and his partner? What if I'm...
#196: Public Me vs. Private Me
What things in your life do you try really hard to hide? If my friends knew that I’m struggling with big temptations If people ever...
How We Love Each Other
I grew up in a family of six kids, all very close in age. My position as “number five” out of six is probably a huge part of why I became a psychologist. My earliest pictures are often of me in a playpen observing family life. As teenagers, my sisters and I became...
#180: Broken Women, Prostitutes and Your Part
Do you have the courage to reach out to someone who is hurting? We often feel fearful or ill-equipped when God calls...
Dealing With Friendly Fire in the Church
Juli Slattery and Mary DeMuth talk about how to deal with hurtful people and situations within the Body of Christ.
#119: Talking with Your Kids About Homosexuality and Transgender Issues
Talking to your children about homosexuality and transgender issues are some of the biggest challenges for today’s Christian...
God Says Sex is For Marriage – Here’s Why
More and more Christians having sex outside of marriage, but is this in line with what God’s word says?
#494 Purity Culture, Men and Sexual Entitlement
The purity narrative failed men too. Noah Filipiak unpacks some of the harmful ideas passed on to men in an effort to protect purity.
Why Sexual Maturity Matters More Than Sexual Experience
What if the key to understanding sexual matters begins with knowing God’s word, trusting Him, and growing in self-control?
#492 How Human Trafficking Causes Us to Rethink What We Believe About God
Author Charles Martin unpacks some of the realities of human trafficking, what it means to be broken, and what it takes to find freedom.
#481 Learning, Leading, and Growing: A Reflection on 10 Years of Java with Juli
In this celebratory episode, Hannah and Juli discuss the heart of the podcast, what Juli has learned, and plans for the next decade.
Help! I Know I Need to Talk to My Teenager About Sex, but How Do I Do It?
Want to share the good news about God’s design for sexuality with your teen? Start with creating a strong relational connection.
#476 When God Ran: How God’s Love Found a Woman Lost In Shame
What does it look and feel like to live in the tension of the weakness of your flesh when you have lengthy and ongoing struggles?
#461 Pride, Lust, and Why We Do Things We Don’t Want To Do
Juli Slattery and Jonathan Pokluda tackle tough questions about how to find freedom from the sin that we hate, the difference between regret and self condemnation, and how the gospel is good news for all of us.
#455 How God Changed My Heart (Even After I Changed My Gender) with Laura Smalts
For most of her childhood, Laura wanted to be a boy. In her 20s, she began hormone therapy, had surgery and lived as Jake for nine years. But she could never quite shake the feeling that none of it was real. “I remember looking at the photo on my driver’s license and saying, ‘I’m not as happy as I think I am.'” In this episode, Laura shares her remarkable story of desperation, hope and transformation.
#449 How to Guide Your Kids Through Confusing Messages About Gender
Juli and her guest share wisdom and encouragement to help you give clear answers to your kids’ questions about their gender and the way God created them.
#396: Diverse Gender Identities: How To See the People Behind the Issue
Why are so many teens suddenly coming out as trans or non binary? Juli welcomes Dr. Mark Yarhouse to help you understand the...
#367: Exchange Online Distractions for Real-Life Intimacy
“To be completely honest, the first two or three days, I was shocked by classic symptoms of withdrawal. I found...
#340: We Were Wrong About Modesty
The word “modesty” makes us cringe these days, and it’s easy to understand why: For years it’s...
#339: How to Have Hard Conversations with (Facebook) Friends
If you were standing in front of a crowd of 300 to speak, how carefully would you craft your words? Okay, so you’re actually at home...
#330: Loving the Person Who Isn’t Like You
It’s easy to love the neighbor who looks like us, thinks like us, and believes like us. With those who don't fall into those...
#317: Bonus! Listen, Learn, and Give Grace (A Conversation About Race)
Are you grieved by the pain and brokenness you see in your news feed each day? We are too. God’s Word tells us that when one part of...
#305: Becoming the Right Kind of Strong
The famous Proverbs 31 woman was "clothed in strength and dignity." She was strong! But perhaps not by our...
Webinar: The Art of Asking Good Questions
In an era of emotionally charged politics, #MeToo, and gender identity questions, we've all witnessed, and likely experienced, how engaging with others can quickly lead to heated conversations and hurt feelings. How do we talk about difficult things in a way that BOTH...
#284: Be a Truth Teller
If you're tired of smiling on the outside while you are broken and battered on the inside, Ashley Abercrombie has a message for you...
Webinar: Addressing Tough Topics with Truth & Love
In July 2019, best-selling author Josh Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye) announced that he and his wife are separating. The hundreds of comments to his Instagram post mirror how Christians generally respond to difficult issues and brokenness. One person wrote,...
Drowning in Shallow Christianity
I recently met with a friend who shared openly with me about her struggles in marriage. “It’s like living with a robot! He doesn’t seem to know how to connect emotionally. Am I supposed to live the next thirty years with this man? Does God really want me to be so...
Have You Forgotten Who God Is?
In the process of teaching about biblical sexuality, I have at times taken a critical look at traditions Christians have long held as truth. For example, you may have heard a recent Java with Juli episode exploring the missteps and harmful messages of the conservative...