⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
God’s Design for Gender: A Biblical Response to Transgender Ideology with Mike Riccardi
Series: Equipping You in Grace
Host: Dave Jenkins
Guest: Mike Riccardi
In this episode of Equipping You in Grace, Dave Jenkins and Mike Riccardi discuss God’s design for gender, how Christians can respond to transgender ideology with truth and love, and how the Church can offer clarity and compassion in a confused world.
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📖 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Equipping You in Grace, Dave Jenkins is joined by Mike Riccardi, Pastor of Local Outreach Ministries at Grace Community Church and Assistant Professor of Theology at The Master’s Seminary, to discuss God’s design for gender. This conversation helps Christians think biblically about gender, respond to transgender ideology with truth and compassion, and disciple others with theological clarity.
🗣️ Topics Discussed:
- The biblical foundation of male and female in God’s image
- Theological clarity about the body and creation
- Cultural engagement and pastoral wisdom
- Encouragement for parents, teachers, and church leaders
- Discipleship for those struggling with gender identity
- Resources for equipping the Church to stand firm in Christ
This episode highlights the importance of recovering God’s design for gender in both personal discipleship and church ministry.
📚 For more from Equipping You in Grace, visit:
https://servantsofgrace.org/equipping-you-in-grace-2/
🌐 Learn more about Mike Riccardi’s ministry at
The Master’s Seminary.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is God’s design for gender?
God’s design for gender is revealed in Scripture, where He created humanity male and female in His image, each with unique dignity, purpose, and roles.
How should Christians respond to transgender ideology?
Christians are called to respond with biblical truth and Christlike compassion—holding to God’s Word while caring for those struggling with gender identity.
Why is theology of the body important?
A biblical theology of the body affirms that our physical bodies matter to God. They reflect His design and purposes and are essential to understanding identity, gender, and redemption.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
