Porn Kills Love

Goals for this Week’s Study:

  • Review Pastor Daniel’s sermon from Sunday morning.
  • Help group members (especially new members) get to know one another.
  • Reflect on the next steps that have been taken over the past week.

Getting Started:

Open your group with prayer.

 

SHARE: Pornography is a topic a lot of churches and believers shy away from talking about, but it’s quickly becoming one of the most threatening epidemics sweeping across the world. Did you know it was as serious of an issue as it really is? Which statistic that Pastor Daniel shared shocked you the most? (64% of men and 33% of women who attend church regularly look at porn once a month, 1/5 searches on cell phones are porn related, 67% of college men and 49% of college women think porn is a helpful resource for their sexuality, 68% of pastors struggle with pornography, 9/10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls become addicted to porn before the age of 18)

 

Scripture:

- “ Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:26-27

- “Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” – Genesis 2:25

- “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” – Genesis 3:7

- “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” – 2 Timothy 2:22

- “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19

 

Sermon Notes: Take time to let everyone share some of the notes they took or anything that stood out to them from the message. Use this time to get everyone in your group talking (a good tip for this situation would be to go around the room and have everyone share one thing that stuck out to them from Pastor Daniel’s sermon)! Keep in mind, not everyone may feel comfortable talking yet, so try your best to help assist them in any way you can!

 

Study Questions

  1. If you had to define “pornography” in your own words, how would you define it?
  2. An official definition for porn is “television programs, magazine, books, etc. that are regarded as emphasizing the sensuous or sensational aspects of a nonsexual subject and stimulating a compulsive interest in their audience.” Was this different from your definition? Why is it important to know what exactly it is?
  3. If you or someone around you has struggled with pornography, what are some of the lies that have been or are currently being believed? (Pastor Daniel shared some on Sunday: Porn defines me, I’m the only one struggling with this, I have to fulfill my sexual desires, I’m strong enough to handle it, Because of your addiction God can no longer use you, Porn separated me from God’s love)
  4. Pastor Daniel shared that new habits and new thoughts can begin to rewire our brain! What are the three steps he shared to help us? (Run from porn, Run to God, Run with others!)
  5. Read 2 Timothy 2:22. We get the word flee from the word fugitive. What does being a fugitive look like? (Keeping your eyes out for the thing that can catch you)
  6. Thinking about what we’ve learned from this message, do you feel like God is leading you to take a next step this week?
  7. How can your Life Group help you with this next step?

 

Final Thoughts:

  • You can conquer your biology if you have the right theology!
  • Jesus didn’t just come to cover your sin, but to help you conquer them.
  • The 3 biggest triggers for porn are loneliness, worthlessness, and hopelessness!
  • If you want God to forgive you, confess to Him. If you want to FEEL forgiven, confess to others!
  • God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble!

 

Pray Over Your Group!

Pray that all members are able to put the information learned from this Sunday into action this week. Pray that all members are able to run to God and ask for help from those around us this week!

CHALLENGE!

Find a friend or a fellow Group Member and become each others accountability partner this week. Whatever you’re struggling with (Porn, Depression, Anxiety, etc) take a moment to reach out and ask your partner for help or advice! We can’t do this alone! We truly are Better Together!!!!

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

  • https://www.xxxchurch.com - Ministry devoted to seeing freedom from sexual addiction!
  • Covenant Eyes – App for Android or Apple that monitors web and phone usage and allows reports to be sent to an accountability partner of your choosing!
  • Counseling – We provide free counseling for a variety of struggles or circumstances. (If one of your group members would like to sign up for counseling, email us @ zhacker@betterlife.church or call us at the office @ 606-780-0084)

Zach Hacker