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CCEF Minibooks
Sex Before Marriage: How Far is Too Far?
"If we're in love, what's wrong with having sex before marriage? And even if we're not, isn't everyone else doing it? Why should we be the only ones who wait?" Have you ever thought or said things like this? If your answer is yes, you have a lot of company. Most people in our world agree with you that, at least in some circumstances, premarital sex is okay. But do you know what God says about this issue?
Timothy S. Lane clearly explains God's perspective on your sexuality and how it should be expressed. Many people think God says in the Bible that sex is inherently bad and sinful, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is not a killjoy; his guidelines for your sexuality are for your help and protection. This booklet's forthright and honest look at sexuality, including a discussion of "How far is too far?" will be an invaluable resource for young adults and those who minister to them.
Timothy S. Lane clearly explains God's perspective on your sexuality and how it should be expressed. Many people think God says in the Bible that sex is inherently bad and sinful, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is not a killjoy; his guidelines for your sexuality are for your help and protection. This booklet's forthright and honest look at sexuality, including a discussion of "How far is too far?" will be an invaluable resource for young adults and those who minister to them.
24 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1905
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Timothy S. Lane
33 books46 followersTimothy S. Lane, M. Div., D. Min.
Born in Sylvania, Georgia, Tim enjoyed a good relationship with his parents in his formative years, but he did not become involved in church until his later teens. Just before his senior year in high school, Tim became aware of his sin and his need for Jesus. God used simple salvation sermons at a local church, as well as a group of friends, to bring him to Christ at the age of seventeen.
In 1984, Tim graduated with a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Georgia. Before going to seminary in 1987, Tim served 3 years as a staff person at an evangelical ministry where he met Barbara, whom he later married in 1989. In 1991, Tim graduated from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia.
In 1991, Tim and Barbara also moved to South Carolina where Tim served as assistant pastor and then pastor at Clemson Presbyterian Church until 2001. It was during these 10 years that Tim truly began to understand and apply the gospel to his life and ministry. He learned that the blessings and difficulties of marriage, family and ministry were just the things God used to draw him into a deeper relationship with Him. He also learned how to apply God’s truth to everyday life and ministry, pointing others to Christ and his gospel of grace.
Tim, Barbara and their four children moved to Philadelphia in 2001 where they both serve at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Tim is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF and a lecturer in practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is also a speaker, the author of CONFLICT and the co-author of HOW PEOPLE CHANGE and RELATIONSHIPS: A Mess Worth Making.
- http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/t...
Born in Sylvania, Georgia, Tim enjoyed a good relationship with his parents in his formative years, but he did not become involved in church until his later teens. Just before his senior year in high school, Tim became aware of his sin and his need for Jesus. God used simple salvation sermons at a local church, as well as a group of friends, to bring him to Christ at the age of seventeen.
In 1984, Tim graduated with a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Georgia. Before going to seminary in 1987, Tim served 3 years as a staff person at an evangelical ministry where he met Barbara, whom he later married in 1989. In 1991, Tim graduated from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia.
In 1991, Tim and Barbara also moved to South Carolina where Tim served as assistant pastor and then pastor at Clemson Presbyterian Church until 2001. It was during these 10 years that Tim truly began to understand and apply the gospel to his life and ministry. He learned that the blessings and difficulties of marriage, family and ministry were just the things God used to draw him into a deeper relationship with Him. He also learned how to apply God’s truth to everyday life and ministry, pointing others to Christ and his gospel of grace.
Tim, Barbara and their four children moved to Philadelphia in 2001 where they both serve at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Tim is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF and a lecturer in practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is also a speaker, the author of CONFLICT and the co-author of HOW PEOPLE CHANGE and RELATIONSHIPS: A Mess Worth Making.
- http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/t...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 4, 2018
These mini-books (or pamphlets) are outstanding.
I am in the process of reading all of them. Concise. Biblical. Practical.
==============
God intends married couples to celebrate and enjoy sex.
Sex is rightfully enjoyed within the context of an exclusive, heterosexual marriage.
Why does it seem like the Bible is so narrow and how you practice and enjoy sex? The answer is that God knows how powerful sex is.
The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside of marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there's anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you want to try to get the pleasure of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again. (C.S. Lewis, p.11)
We need to base our decisions on a standard outside of ourselves.
I am in the process of reading all of them. Concise. Biblical. Practical.
==============
God intends married couples to celebrate and enjoy sex.
Sex is rightfully enjoyed within the context of an exclusive, heterosexual marriage.
Why does it seem like the Bible is so narrow and how you practice and enjoy sex? The answer is that God knows how powerful sex is.
The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside of marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there's anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you want to try to get the pleasure of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again. (C.S. Lewis, p.11)
We need to base our decisions on a standard outside of ourselves.
February 18, 2020
I love it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Short, clear, and helpful booklet on this sensitive topic.
January 21, 2026
Helpful for Pastoral Ministry
I have read this book and give it out as a resource as part of my counseling ministry. Firm but rooted in the Gospel.
I have read this book and give it out as a resource as part of my counseling ministry. Firm but rooted in the Gospel.
February 17, 2017
The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation is an excellent resource for a Scriptural-based approach to life’s problems. Their motto is “Restoring Christ to counseling, and counseling to the Church.” I have found their materials to be gospel-centered and grace-oriented. They are an incredible help to the church.
CCEF through its publishing arm, New Growth Press, makes available a wide range of booklets that address a host of common problems. I am going to highlight a few of these booklets in this post.
The booklets are sensitive to the life-situation they address, yet also apply the Bible and particularly the Gospel to the problem. I highly recommend them.
Sex Before Marriage: How Far is Too Far? by Timothy Lane -- a counseling booklet with that title would scare me. But that’s the kind of question on many people’s mind. The booklet begins by rooting advice in a biblical view of sex. It’s wonderful and its a big deal, not something flippant or light. It goes on not so much as to prescribe boundaries but to expose heart issues and motivations. It admits chastity will look different in different cultures and times, but it gives an overarching principle: “Don’t act like you are married when you are not!” It draws a line and recommends no romantic or involved physical touching, let alone other questionable acts. It shifts the focus to marriage and will lead the conscientious reader right in this difficult arena.
CCEF through its publishing arm, New Growth Press, makes available a wide range of booklets that address a host of common problems. I am going to highlight a few of these booklets in this post.
The booklets are sensitive to the life-situation they address, yet also apply the Bible and particularly the Gospel to the problem. I highly recommend them.
Sex Before Marriage: How Far is Too Far? by Timothy Lane -- a counseling booklet with that title would scare me. But that’s the kind of question on many people’s mind. The booklet begins by rooting advice in a biblical view of sex. It’s wonderful and its a big deal, not something flippant or light. It goes on not so much as to prescribe boundaries but to expose heart issues and motivations. It admits chastity will look different in different cultures and times, but it gives an overarching principle: “Don’t act like you are married when you are not!” It draws a line and recommends no romantic or involved physical touching, let alone other questionable acts. It shifts the focus to marriage and will lead the conscientious reader right in this difficult arena.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews