Dr. Sean McDowell is a leading Christian voice on hot-button and controversial topics, including evolution, atheism, evil and suffering, pornography and sexuality. A popular apologist, speaker, podcaster and bestselling author, McDowell brings a Christian worldview to difficult cultural situations. 

In his latest book, “Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture” (B&H Publishing, December 2020), McDowell takes on the world’s view of sex, love and relationships. He shares that culture’s view of love is built on a pursuit of self and one’s desires. The Christian worldview, in contrast, comes from Jesus’ invitation to reorient the focus of our lives, so that instead of chasing love for selfish gain, we are first and foremost to give love—to God and to others.

McDowell says, “The point of this book is to motivate readers to chase a bigger question, namely, ‘How do I seek God and His kingdom in my relationships with other people?’ In other words, what does it mean to truly love God and love other people?” 

In “Chasing Love,” McDowell tackles some of the toughest questions with which Christians struggle in today’s sex-saturated culture, including: 

• How does Jesus speak to singleness?
• What does the gospel say about LGBTQ issues?
• Can sexual sin truly be forgiven?
• Is pornography a big deal?
• How can we address sex abuse?

“Whether readers get married someday or remain single, Jesus invites them to the great task of loving God and loving other people just as he loved them first,” McDowell says. “This book focuses on doing this by loving God and others with our sexuality and in our relationships in the unique cultural moment that we find ourselves.”

“I hope readers will be encouraged to focus on trusting God and his grace amidst their daily struggles. As they understand that forgiveness and growth are part of the process, then they can follow God’s design for sex, love and relationships.”

“Chasing Love” stems from the True Love Waits movement, which began in 1993 as a Bible study resource and social campaign among teens. True Love Waits is a call for teenagers to declare sexual purity for themselves and openly among their peers. “Chasing Love” comes alongside this movement to provide Biblical context for current issues of sexual purity surfacing among today’s teens. In his book and in the “Chasing Love” Bible study, McDowell provides practical counsel on how we can embrace a life of purity by loving God and loving others with both our body and our soul.

McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, McDowell is a popular speaker for camps, churches, schools, universities and conferences. He has spoken for numerous organizations, including Focus on the Family, Cru, Youth Specialties and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

McDowell is the author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books. Lifeway Christian Resources will simultaneously release a companion study book to “Chasing Love,” “Chasing Love Teen Bible Study Book.” In this nine-session Bible study, McDowell focuses on what it means to love God and others with our sexuality.

Find out more online at chasinglovebook.com. 

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Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. McDowell is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, McDowell speaks at camps, churches, schools, universities and conferences. He has spoken for organizations including Focus on the Family, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Cru, Youth Specialties, Hume Lake Christian Camps, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Association of Christian Schools International. He is the co-host for the Think Biblically podcast, which is one of the most popular podcasts on faith and cultural engagement.

McDowell is the author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books, including “The Fate of the Apostles,” “So The Next Generation Will Know” (with J. Warner Wallace), “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” (with Josh McDowell), “Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage” (with John Stonestreet), “Is God Just a Human Invention?” (with Jonathan Morrow) and “Understanding Intelligent Design” (with William A. Dembski). McDowell is the General Editor for “A New Kind of Apologist,” “Apologetics for a New Generation,” “Sharing the Good News with Mormons” and “The Apologetics Study Bible for Students.” He has one of the leading apologetics blogs, which can be read at seanmcdowell.org.

McDowell lives with his wife, Stephanie, and three children in San Juan Capistrano, California.