My thoughts:
I think that this is a great option, especially for affirming churches, to use and discuss current topics in light of Scripture. The writing style is gentle and not confrontational. Even in the description the author notes that this is not meant to argue a point or change the minds of others. This would have been a great resource in my time as a youth director. The activities, reflection, and references make this a well rounded resource.

Who is this for:
This is for churches willing to discuss and talk about current and relevant topics. This would be great in a youth group setting but I would also like to see adults work through this. There are churches working toward an open and affirming status and this would be a great resource to help educate and show the vastness of God's love.

Questions/comments/concerns:
While I did enjoy this and find it helpful there are a few areas that are less sound in interpretation. This is not a problem but in the un-generous reader there could be pushback. I am also concerned that a non-affirming parent could be angry if this was used in a youth setting. Use wisdom for your church, group, setting before using the book. Even an email blast/letter informing parents of the resource you'll use with the group could alleviate the tensions.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars.

This is a fabulous Bible study. I'm not a teen, but I do love reading about God, Gospel, and Gender, and I love my Episcopalians (the author is Episcopalian but you don't have to be to read this). I was craving a Bible study that went beyond rigid interpretations of the Bible and found this on Netgalley. I was so thrilled! I recommend this to anyone looking to have an accessible, loving Bible study in their life.

I thought this book was well informative. As someone who contemplates their faith as a queer person, this was quite enlightening.

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.

God gospel and gender by Margie baker is the book so many of us need. Inclusivity for all. I’m so happy I was able to get ahold of this!!

This bible study for tweens and teens was a welcome breath of fresh air. It is a well written study that will be engaging for students and easy for a leader to follow with minimal advance prep.

But most importantly this is a study that highlights the good news that that God loves and delights in each and every one of us – exactly as we are.

I am grateful this book exists. Thank you Margie Baker and Church Publishing.

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

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.

This is a beautiful bible study. I will be recommending it for inclusion at my local book store. I was originally pulled in by the fun cover and title leaning towards a more controversial topic within my faith community but was kept reading by the insightful writing and deft handling of the nuance within biblical text.

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 copy. All thoughts and options are my own and this review was left voluntarily.

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.

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.)

I mis-read the pub date when requesting it and realize this is not an advance copy but still think it is an important work for those who long to throw open the door of inclusion wider!

This is precisely what I imagine many young Christians needing. Something that tells them that they can be both queer and religious, and that everything will be okay.
I love that it goes into the aspects of God that are not just "male", and explores a lot around that.