God, Gospel, and Gender: A Queer Bible Study for Teens

by Margie Baker

An introduction to what scripture has to say about the dignity of LGBTQ people. In this bible study, Episcopal priest and former teacher Margie Baker shows teens how the bible affirms and supports all of God’s beloved children. Beginning with an exploration of what it means to be made in God’s image and the ways that God is represented with a variety of male and female images and concluding with an examination of how love for all our siblings is central to God’s relationship with humanity, the study encourages helps youth to see how a thread of inclusion runs through the bible. Each chapter of God, Gospel, and Gender includes an opening prayer, an activity, opportunities to delve into the biblical text, prompts to respond to the text, and a closing prayer. Designed for use by groups or individuals, this book calls youth to affirm the dignity in every person.

192 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Lauren Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend for LGBTQ christian teens, christian parents of LGBTQ youth, progressive/affirming churches and youth groups, and LGBTQ organizations supporting youth and their parents. This is a solid Bible study, grounded in scripture and the teachings of Jesus. A refreshing and supportive take.

Chapters/study topics:
•How We See God, How We See Ourselves: Non-gendered images of God
•Christ the Mother Hen: Maternal images of God.
•God Loves All Families: Family relationships in scripture
•God Loves the Whole Spectrum: Genesis 1
•Made For Community: Genesis 2
•God of Changed Names: Abram, Sarai, Jacob, and Simon
•Love and the Law: Discerning what matters
•Jesus and the Tricky Questions: responding in love

Digital ARC from NetGalley.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not this book‘s target audience (LGBTQ Christian teens) but I’m glad it exists for those who are. Written by a lesbian Christian mom, it’s supportive and full of affirming scripture and discussion topics.

From the book:

What we offer is a message of love, acceptance, and justice from Scripture. This serves as a sort of antidote to some of the poison queer and trans folk, especially youth, are dealing with these days. You are loved, deeply, just as you are. You are enough. You are called.

Each chapter begins with an introduction to the topic, a prayer, and an ice‑breaker activity. The activities work best with a partner, but they can be reflective as well. These three elements work together to initiate the wondering process and prepare us to enter into a deep, imaginative, faithful reading of Scripture. The majority of each chapter is devoted to one or more passages of Scripture along with context, language notes, and questions to guide your reading. The questions are designed to make space for wonder and to invite connections between Scripture, your own life, and the wider world.

(I read a digital ARC of this book for review.)

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first got approved by the publisher of this book to review it, I was a bit nervous to get into it. I grew up christian and was taught that being queer and trans was bad or against God’s will. There was also hostility and hate towards these people. When I got older this really started to bug me because it didn’t fit with my view of the Lord.
This book explains this issue really well and is very affirming to everyone no matter your gender. Overall I really liked this book and it exceeded all my expectations.

This book is very informative and explains all their points really well. It asks good questions that really give me something to think about. I really liked the references to the scriptures and the explanation. It was all very clear and understandable.

This book can be used to read on your own but also in groups. I think you could get more out of the book if you used it in a church group or with family. This book is mainly written to teens and tweens who are queer or trans, but also to their friends and family.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Religion book for teens, Christianity, Gender & Sexuality in Religion
Series: N

God, Gospel, and Gender: A Queer Bible Study for Teens by Margie Baker is a thoughtful and affirming resource that gently guides LGBTQ+ teens (and their families and communities) through an inclusive reading of scripture. Grounded in solid theology and rich biblical scholarship, the study challenges traditional interpretations that have often excluded queer and trans identities, offering instead a loving and expansive view of God’s image and the dignity of all people. With accessible chapters featuring prayers, activities, and discussion prompts, this book is well suited for group or individual study, encouraging reflection on faith, identity, and community. While primarily aimed at queer Christian youth, its message of love, acceptance, and justice resonates broadly, making it an important tool for progressive churches and anyone seeking a compassionate understanding of gender and scripture.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for queer, trans, and nonbinary youth and the adults who care about them. It is also worth reading for anyone who has felt or been told that how they identify, what their family looks like, or who they love is wrong because "it's not in the Bible."

The author offers a reading of Scripture that is more inclusive and expansive and welcoming, as of to say, "yes, you belong here too."

My one critique was that the book seemed to end abruptly. There wasn't really a conclusion or summarizing chapter. I was just reading, and then it was done. I read it on a Kindle, so perhaps that would have been different with a paper book in my hand .

The study questions and suggested activities for processing the lessons are good and I could see them working both for individual self reflection or for youth groups, Christian education, or camps.

[Hannah Pow · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I'm not the target audience of God, Gospel, and Gender, I did grow up attending a Christian school, and have queer friends. These experiences make me very much believe this book will prove important and informative in many lives.
The warm and supportive exploration this book takes its reader on holds an important message about love and acceptance within the Christian community. It could be exactly what young LGBTQIA+ folks, their families, and their church communities need.

Thank you Church Publishing Incorporated and Netgalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and options are my own and this review was left voluntarily.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Church should be a place of solace, of support. For LGBT teens, and for teens with LGBT friends, it often doesn’t feel that way. Margie Baker has managed to thread the needle well in giving teens the chance to look in depth at the scripture and to see what the gospel says on gender, and come to their own conclusions. This is a great bible study, and one I hope a lot of churches will do for their youth programs…and, honestly, for their adult classes, too.

[R Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic, thought-provoking look into various aspects of the Bible which shine a light on gender diversity, name changes, non-nuclear families, and more. I loved the deeper questions and activities provided and have already recommended it to a mumma friend of mine! would have loved a look into "man laying with man" and to discredit that which is easily done and not give credence to that homosexuality is a sin 😥 that hurt a little when it's not in the original Hebrew.

[Mx.Lucey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm non-binary and sapphic so normally I avoid church. I was kicked out of a church around 7 years ago for my sexuality and I really was unsure of this bible study but I actually felt very comforted by it and highly recommend it.

[Amy Mellies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful lessons on God as a non-binary being, verses in scripture to help de-bunk a lot of harmful theology, and great questions to ponder.

[Motoko Maegawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good bible study companion and some useful reminders of é sharing teems in conversation and activity.