Designed for Joy [eBook]

How the Gospel Impacts Men and Women, Identity and Practice

“Male and female he created them.” —Genesis 1:27

It’s one of the most important—and controversial—topics of our time.

God created men and women in his image—equal in value and complementary in roles. These distinctive roles are not the vestiges of a bygone era, but integral to God’s timeless good design for humanity.

Designed for Joy includes fresh contributions from fourteen young leaders, casting a unified vision for Christian manhood and womanhood. Whether discussing the significance of gender, the truth about masculinity and femininity, the blessing of purity, or the challenge of raising children in a confusing world, this practical resource challenges us to embrace God’s good design—for his glory and our joy.

Jonathan Parnell (MDiv, Bethlehem Seminary) is a writer and content strategist at desiringGod.org, and is the lead pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Owen Strachan (PhD candidate, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is assistant professor of Christian theology and church history at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky, and serves as president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

“There is no greater need in our day than for clarity around what it means to be men and women as image-bearers of God. This collection of essays speaks to the heart of the masculine and feminine soul and gives us a path for gospel impact in our world.”
—Darrin Patrick, Lead Pastor, The Journey, St. Louis, Missouri; Vice President, Acts 29; Chaplain to the St. Louis Cardinals; author, The Dude’s Guide to Manhood

“A fresh and engaging look at the rich, biblical teaching on gender. The world has lied to our generation: freedom and power are not found by throwing off the created order, but in recovering it. This book renewed in me an excitement to teach these concepts to a rising generation!”
—J. D. Greear, Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina; author, Gaining By Losing