Healthy Sexuality
We want to be a church that does sex well. Sex isn’t often talked about in church and when it is it’s often framed around what you can’t do, when you can’t do it and who you can’t do it with. We aspire to be a church that understands it and appreciates it, and for that to be true, it means talking about it, with maturity, wisdom, nuance, and grace.
Conversation #3: Sex is Powerful
The nature of attraction and desire
Thursday, April 23 2026 | 6:30-8:30 PM
Cedar Hall
What are the elements of healthy sexuality? It’s easier to define unhealthy sexuality, but that doesn’t give us a vision or a target. In a broad sense, "sex" includes far more than just intercourse. It’s connected to aspects of our lives that we may not intuitively recognize as being related. Those elements are part of our life whether or not we ever choose to become sexually active. They begin well before intercourse and even extend beyond it. So what does it actually look like to grow and mature in those areas?
This session explores the biological and psychological forces of attraction and desire, normalizing the powerful urges driven by brain chemicals like dopamine and adrenaline. We will discuss how developing a stronger sense of self allows for true intimacy—letting oneself be fully known, whether you are single or married.
Previous Conversations
Session 1
Session 2: Sex is More than Intercourse
Frequently
Asked
Questions
-
While these nights are highly conversational, they will not involve small-group discussions at tables. Instead, the conversation will take place in three primary ways:
A guided dialogue on stage between Josh and Laura
A moderated Q&A with the audience at the end
Anonymous surveys distributed afterward to capture additional perspectives and experiences
-
We plan to host these conversations three times per year over the next several years.
-
Our goal is to make healthy sexuality the norm at Salem Alliance by approaching this topic through three key lenses: restorative, preventative, and developmental.
These “Sex Is ____” conversations will focus primarily on the developmental aspects of sex and sexuality — asking questions like:What does healthy, life-giving sexuality look like over time?
How can we grow in sexual maturity, not just sexual morality?
How do we move from fear, shame, or stuck places toward freedom, confidence, and connection?
We’ll explore themes that help us develop a more holistic, hopeful, and informed understanding of sexuality — one that leads to greater relational health and spiritual flourishing.
-
This event is designed for everyone, regardless of relationship status or age. Here’s why:
Many of us have not had sufficient teaching or dialogue to grow in wisdom, confidence, and compassion around sexuality.
Every person carries a unique sexual history — often mixed with joy, questions, hurt, confusion, or shame. Better conversations can bring clarity and healing.
We influence others (children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers) who are navigating their own questions and experiences. Gaining understanding helps us love others well.
Sexuality is not limited to the act of sex. All of us are sexual beings with desires, dignity, and areas in need of growth.
We want to be a community marked by humility, curiosity, and lifelong learning — this is an opportunity for all of us to grow together.
-
Not at this time. While aspects of sexual orientation and gender are part of the broader conversation of sexuality, they are not the focus of this series. As the conversation develops over time, we may address these topics in the future.
-
We live in a culture that relentlessly promotes sex but is starved for genuine conversation. Many adults feel uneasy or uninformed, so these talks rarely happen—even though students long for dialogue and wise, biblically-grounded guidance.
These evenings help break that silence. Our students face constant sexual messaging that shapes their sexual understanding far more than any input they receive from their parents or church. In addition, high schoolers, in particular, are only a few years away from independence. This is a chance for them to be in the room with you — to experience Christ-centered, thoughtful dialogue that can continue at home. We believe it’s far better to engage these topics now, in a setting marked by honesty, maturity, and hope, than to let culture form them in isolation.
Recommended Resources
Connect with Our Team
-

Laura Scharer
-

Josh Mann