My new book Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents’ Guide to Discussing Homosexuality With Teens was officially release just two weeks ago. It’s led to some pretty interesting critical conversations itself already.

One parent told me of his middle school son who had a gay classmate calling and texting him repeatedly, trying to start a relationship.

One parent told me her daughter had come home from Bible study, smiling and relieved to have “learned” that the Bible was okay with gay marriage. The interesting thing in this conversation was the mom’s follow-up comment. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I freaked out! I need this book!”

More than one pastor has told me they’re running into questions about teens and sexual morality in their churches. One pastor has already booked a series of three or four meetings in mid-May for me to share with parents, teens, and pastors on this challenging topic. (I can’t release any more information on that until the details are finalized.)

The sense I’m getting is that a lot of parents and leaders want to talk with students about these things, but they’re not sure how to go about it. I’ve called it the perfect storm of awkward parent-child conversations. It combines issues of sex, generational differences, and all the contemporary prejudices against Christian morality.

It doesn’t actually have to be that difficult, though. I’m not saying every conversation will be smooth sailing. I do think though, that if parents are fully equipped to share truth respectfully, relationally, patiently, and with a decent background of knowledge on the topic, more often than not they can do it. In many cases it will actually help grow their relationships with their teens.

And if parents don’t teach their kids on this topic, someone else will: someone on the Internet, on a music video, on a TV show or movie… someone, in other words, who is probably passing along their own prejudices against biblical morality.

Tough conversations? Maybe. But necessary. And with the right equipping, it might go a lot better than you expect. That’s why I’ve written this Christian parents’ guide to discussing homosexuality with teens: to help you turn those tough conversations into great conversations.