Sexual Sanity for Women guides participants through the process of understanding why they struggle with destructive relational and sexual patterns and how the gospel brings change and a new way of living. Twenty lessons guide participants to understand God's good design for sexuality, the underlying reasons they struggle with sexual brokenness, and how the grace and truth of Jesus Christ can be applied to their struggles. Change begins as deeper heart issues are uncovered, and women learn that they are well-loved daughters of God who will find healing and wholeness as they live out God's Word in their relationships. This workbook is ideal for a one-on-one mentoring, college age student groups, and women's groups.
"Here's real hope for the woman who has experienced so much relational pain and sexual brokenness. The editor, Ellen Dykas, has experienced freedom through Christ herself, and is a woman of wisdom and compassion. Because Sexual Sanity for Women gently but firmly gets to the root of the pain, the woman who opens her heart to this truth will truly be set free."
Dee Brestin, Author of The Friendships of Women and Idol Lies: Facing the Truth about Our Deepest Desires
"God's design for sexuality is good and for our good. Harvest USA has provided a strong resource that brings a clear biblical foundation and the healing, redemptive, transforming gospel into a broken world and broken lives. This twenty-lesson guide offers opportunities for women to allow the Word of God to break into needy hearts. Whether for personal study or group mentoring, the body of Christ needs this equipping to hold before those who struggle to live out a godly sexuality."
Jane Patete, Women's Ministries Coordinator, Presbyterian Church in America
"Helping women understand God's original design for sexuality is a critical need in our culture. So many of the conversations and resources focus only on the sin; Sexual Sanity for Women provides a way to experience healing and transformation through the study of God's Word. It is not just another book; it is a discipleship tool to help bring true freedom that comes from living life the way God meant it to be. It is a resource I'm excited to share with others in our ministry."
Donna Noonan, Director of Women's Staff Development, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
"Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness is way overdue. A generation of iKids has known sexuality from the perspective of technology and the Internet. We need solid resources to help us teach those entering our church settings with heart-wrenching stories how to push the 'reset button' on their sexuality. Ellen Dykas has edited a creatively useful handbook for the church and counselors working with any woman who needs to retrain her heart to think about sexuality as a gift from God. This is a solid resource to use with teens, college women, or new believers. Harvest USA has hit the nail on the head yet again."
Penny Nelson Freeman, LPC, The Counseling Center at Chelten
"In an age where gender and sexuality are central battlefronts of the Enemy, the church must be ready to respond. Sexual Sanity for Women has broken the 'louder silence' for women. Many resources are merely academic or self-help in nature. Yet, this curriculum is a thorough, rare, and vital tool that will equip ministry leaders, counselors, and the church to bring hope and help to the sexually broken. Its comprehensive perspective effectively facilitates personal and corporate reflection while remaining Christ-centered, ultimately unpacking how the gospel speaks to gender and sexuality."
Heather Evans, LCSW, Counselor in private practice, Coopersburg, PA and cofounder of The Valley Against Sex Trafficking (VAST) Coalition
"No aspect of postmodern life is more broken than our sexuality. Nothing brings more wholeness to broken sexuality than the gospel of Jesus Christ. No ministry is more helpful in applying the grace of the cross and the empty tomb to broken sexuality than Harvest USA."
Phil Ryken, DPhil, President, Wheaton College
"Harvest USA is a time-tested ministry that changes lives with the gospel. They know how to speak the truth into your life with gentleness and love. Their skills and expertise have never been more needed by the church. Support it and become involved."
Timothy Keller, DMin, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York, NY and author of The Reason for God
"Ellen Dykas and the staff of Harvest USA have written a compassionate, insightful, and practical book that is faithful to God's Word in addressing the relational and sexual brokenness unique to women. This book speaks with truth and love to the issues that women in our churches are facing. The gospel of Jesus Christ applied in this way will bring hope and freedom to many."
Ron Lutz, Pastor, New Life Presbyterian Church, Dresher, PA
"In our postfeminist, hypersexualized culture, women are confused about what the Bible teaches about sexuality. Sexual Sanity for Women is an eminently practical small group resource that will minister to women who are addicted to pornography, struggle with same-sex attraction, feel guilty from a lifestyle of promiscuity, have been sexually abused, or just need to understand what Christianity has to say about sexuality. It deals with the issues frankly while pointing women to gospel truths in a compassionate way. A must-have resource for every women's ministry."
Melanie M. Cogdill, Managing Editor, Christian Research Journal
Frankly, most pastors and Christian leaders don't often think of women having sexual brokenness. Much of the news and material out there focuses on the failings of men. So it was with pleasure I took of "Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness" by Ellen Mary Dykas, Women's Ministry Coordinator at Harvest USA. Harvest USA seeks to bring the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ to individuals and families affected by sexual struggles. One way is by providing resources that address biblical sexuality to individuals and churches. And this book is one important piece to that sexual puzzle! This softbound workbook of 208 pages equips ministry leaders and Christian women with some much needed tools toward that end. "Sexual Sanity for Women" is a series of group sessions, supplemented by six appendices. The author uses an arboriculture (tree care) motif for each session. She addresses the female sexual sins, idolatry, traumatic pain, desires, looking for love in all the wrong places, gender, fantasies and ungodly thought-life, to name a few. Each session is outlined and ordered, with even suggested time-frames for every section (about and hour and forty minutes in total length). But the book is a workbook, so that each participant has plenty of room to write out answers and reflections to the questions everyone will be asked in the group. And to keep the meeting from wander from Dan to Beersheba, there is a stated "Key Concept" at the beginning of every discussion. In the end, Dykas sees clearly what the issues are and how to proceed. "Many women who wrestle with their sexuality in sinful ways - including promiscuity, pornography, fantasy life, masturbation, and homosexuality - have other heart struggles as well. The Bible is clear that we all live out of our hearts, and yet our hearts have been impacted by living in a sinful world, where people sin against one another in traumatic ways" (2), but change is possible in Jesus Christ! And this book is put forth to help facilitate that change. I highly recommend the book.
Frankly, most pastors and Christian leaders don't often think of women having sexual brokenness. Much of the news and material out there focuses on the failings of men. So it was with pleasure I took of "Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness" by Ellen Mary Dykas, Women's Ministry Coordinator at Harvest USA. Harvest USA seeks to bring the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ to individuals and families affected by sexual struggles. One way is by providing resources that address biblical sexuality to individuals and churches. And this book is one important piece to that sexual puzzle! This softbound workbook of 208 pages equips ministry leaders and Christian women with some much needed tools toward that end. "Sexual Sanity for Women" is a series of group sessions, supplemented by six appendices. The author uses an arboriculture (tree care) motif for each session. She addresses the female sexual sins, idolatry, traumatic pain, desires, looking for love in all the wrong places, gender, fantasies and ungodly thought-life, to name a few. Each session is outlined and ordered, with even suggested time-frames for every section (about and hour and forty minutes in total length). But the book is a workbook, so that each participant has plenty of room to write out answers and reflections to the questions everyone will be asked in the group. And to keep the meeting from wander from Dan to Beersheba, there is a stated "Key Concept" at the beginning of every discussion. In the end, Dykas sees clearly what the issues are and how to proceed. "Many women who wrestle with their sexuality in sinful ways - including promiscuity, pornography, fantasy life, masturbation, and homosexuality - have other heart struggles as well. The Bible is clear that we all live out of our hearts, and yet our hearts have been impacted by living in a sinful world, where people sin against one another in traumatic ways" (2), but change is possible in Jesus Christ! And this book is put forth to help facilitate that change. I highly recommend the book.
Sexual Sanity for Women is a powerful, gospel-centered, hope-filled study guide for women struggling with or embroiled in "destructive relational and sexual patterns." One may benefit from reading this book alone, but would find it even more helpful by participating in a small study group led by a competent woman able to keep the group on track and focused on the material in the book.
Sexual Sanity for Women is a powerful, gospel-centered, hope-filled study guide for women struggling with or embroiled in "destructive relational and sexual patterns." One may benefit from reading this book alone, but would find it even more helpful by participating in a small study group led by a competent woman able to keep the group on track and focused on the material in the book.
God created mankind as sexual beings – both man and women. It is through our sexuality that we are able to fulfill part of the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply.” If we look at human sexuality within our world today we quickly realize that our sexuality is broken and marred. It is not as it should be. Sin has marred our sexuality and we carry it wherever we go. As sexual beings we rightly long for sex but we also realize that something is wrong, very wrong. In short, because of sin we are sexually insane. There is no adult, teenager, and these days, almost no child, who has not been effected in a negative way in regards to their sexuality. From sexual abuse, unsolicited exposure to porn, to prostitution and porn addiction, every person’s sexuality has been affected by sin. We are all in some way touched by sexual sin and we are all in need of healing. One cannot get past the first book of the Bible without seeing the sexual sins of Gods people. Even king Solomon, in all his wisdom, was no match for sexual sins. New Growth Press has recently published two resources for helping people deal with their sexual brokenness. Sexual Sanity of Men: Re-Creating Your Mind In A Crazy Culture by David White and Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing From Sexual & Relational Brokenness Ed. by Ellen Dykas are two workbook/devotional style books to help walk people through their sexual issues and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to bear on their lives. As White points out, “Sexual sin is an equal opportunity pathogen of the soul.” (SSM, p. 2) While the focus on sexual sins is more often focused on men, women struggle with it as well. Dykas writes, “Women are sexual beings just as much as men are. However, they often experience an even ‘louder silence’ regarding their sexual sin and temptation.” (SSW, p. 1) Both men and women need the gospel applied to their sexuality. These books are written more so as workbooks. Both books follow a daily pattern with a few pages of content followed by reflection questions. SSM is broken into 4 sections over fourteen weeks with devotionals for five days each week. SSW has twenty weeks of material. While a person can go through the books alone, they are really designed to be worked through in small groups. SSW is especially designed for this as each weeks session is formatted like a Bible study lesson guide. These books pull no punches in terms of their brutal honesty about the damaging effects of sexual sins, done to us and by us, on our sexuality. In the beginning of SSM White opens up with a jarring description of how sexual sin can destroy us, "Sexual sin brings desolation. It promises excitement and pleasure, but delivers discontent and insatiable craving, often bringing ruin to God’s blessings: family, friendships, vocation, and health. It leads to an insane life." (p. 8) As both books point out, sexual sins, like all sin, offer to the seeker things that it cannot deliver. There are many reasons why men and women run to sexual sins to fulfill but in the end find that they are right back where they started – wanting. But we would be remiss to think that these are just books telling us about the broken state our sexuality is in. No, these books walk the reader through the reality of their sexual insanity right into the sanity the gospel brings. SSW describes for us the hope the gospel brings to our broken sexuality, "The Christian life is compared to a marathon – it is a race finished by someone who keeps a steady pace toward the finish line. Our journey of growth as women desiring to be like Jesus in our relationships and sexuality is a lot like running a marathon. We must persevere and beware of temptations to quit or get sidetracked. We will be encouraged as we run alongside others heading toward the same finish line. We will be enabled to endure as we set our hope in Christ, fixing our desires upon him. He is with us in the journey, and he will welcome us home when the race is done!" (p. 161) Slowly and steadily the gospel will do its work in our lives in all areas including our sexuality. Sexual Sanity for Men and Sexual Sanity for Women are just the kind of books the church needs to offer to God’s people. Though not to be replaced with professional counseling for those who may need it, these books present God’s good news of the gospel to the bad news of our sexual brokenness. There is no one who these books are not for. These books are useful for anyone from the most sexually promiscuous to the prudish among God’s people. There is hope and there is healing for our sexual brokenness and these books show us the way.
God created mankind as sexual beings – both man and women. It is through our sexuality that we are able to fulfill part of the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply.” If we look at human sexuality within our world today we quickly realize that our sexuality is broken and marred. It is not as it should be. Sin has marred our sexuality and we carry it wherever we go. As sexual beings we rightly long for sex but we also realize that something is wrong, very wrong. In short, because of sin we are sexually insane. There is no adult, teenager, and these days, almost no child, who has not been effected in a negative way in regards to their sexuality. From sexual abuse, unsolicited exposure to porn, to prostitution and porn addiction, every person’s sexuality has been affected by sin. We are all in some way touched by sexual sin and we are all in need of healing. One cannot get past the first book of the Bible without seeing the sexual sins of Gods people. Even king Solomon, in all his wisdom, was no match for sexual sins. New Growth Press has recently published two resources for helping people deal with their sexual brokenness. Sexual Sanity of Men: Re-Creating Your Mind In A Crazy Culture by David White and Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing From Sexual & Relational Brokenness Ed. by Ellen Dykas are two workbook/devotional style books to help walk people through their sexual issues and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to bear on their lives. As White points out, “Sexual sin is an equal opportunity pathogen of the soul.” (SSM, p. 2) While the focus on sexual sins is more often focused on men, women struggle with it as well. Dykas writes, “Women are sexual beings just as much as men are. However, they often experience an even ‘louder silence’ regarding their sexual sin and temptation.” (SSW, p. 1) Both men and women need the gospel applied to their sexuality. These books are written more so as workbooks. Both books follow a daily pattern with a few pages of content followed by reflection questions. SSM is broken into 4 sections over fourteen weeks with devotionals for five days each week. SSW has twenty weeks of material. While a person can go through the books alone, they are really designed to be worked through in small groups. SSW is especially designed for this as each weeks session is formatted like a Bible study lesson guide. These books pull no punches in terms of their brutal honesty about the damaging effects of sexual sins, done to us and by us, on our sexuality. In the beginning of SSM White opens up with a jarring description of how sexual sin can destroy us, "Sexual sin brings desolation. It promises excitement and pleasure, but delivers discontent and insatiable craving, often bringing ruin to God’s blessings: family, friendships, vocation, and health. It leads to an insane life." (p. 8) As both books point out, sexual sins, like all sin, offer to the seeker things that it cannot deliver. There are many reasons why men and women run to sexual sins to fulfill but in the end find that they are right back where they started – wanting. But we would be remiss to think that these are just books telling us about the broken state our sexuality is in. No, these books walk the reader through the reality of their sexual insanity right into the sanity the gospel brings. SSW describes for us the hope the gospel brings to our broken sexuality, "The Christian life is compared to a marathon – it is a race finished by someone who keeps a steady pace toward the finish line. Our journey of growth as women desiring to be like Jesus in our relationships and sexuality is a lot like running a marathon. We must persevere and beware of temptations to quit or get sidetracked. We will be encouraged as we run alongside others heading toward the same finish line. We will be enabled to endure as we set our hope in Christ, fixing our desires upon him. He is with us in the journey, and he will welcome us home when the race is done!" (p. 161) Slowly and steadily the gospel will do its work in our lives in all areas including our sexuality. Sexual Sanity for Men and Sexual Sanity for Women are just the kind of books the church needs to offer to God’s people. Though not to be replaced with professional counseling for those who may need it, these books present God’s good news of the gospel to the bad news of our sexual brokenness. There is no one who these books are not for. These books are useful for anyone from the most sexually promiscuous to the prudish among God’s people. There is hope and there is healing for our sexual brokenness and these books show us the way.