BIG IDEA
Porn never tells the whole story.
MESSAGE NOTES:
WHAT:
There are issues that are really impacting our everyday lives, our joy, our peace…when that happens, we really should talk about it! . I know this topic isn’t easy, but here’s something that I would love for all of you to get today.
Porn doesn’t just affect those who view it. Our whole society is actually INFLUENCED by the culture of porn. Here’s what I mean.
Porn culture is changing/influencing the way we think, which means it is teaching us in a way. The problem is that porn was never designed to educate you. Porn was designed to hook you and make you addicted. It was designed to manipulate you and trap you. We’re being influenced by something that’s teaching us a fake education. Something that is waging war against us.
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 ESV
SO WHAT:
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 ESV
Porn doesn’t tell you facts like this when you look at it. The intent is for you to be distracted and addicted. There are no redeeming lessons to learn. Consider this.
• Porn will not make you better at sex. It might actually make you worse because it damages your relationships.
• Porn will not make sex better for you. It will actually make it less desirable because it doesn’t give you realistic expectations of sex.
• Porn will not help you understand what sex is like. It will actually confuse you and lead you further away from understanding it.
God isn’t against porn because He thinks that the act of sex is bad. He isn’t anti-porn because it has twisted what He intended sex to be. God created the recipe for our relationships and marriage, and porn would have you ignore the right way and create something disgusting He isn’t anti-porn because it’s bad for you and bad for others.
God is a 100% loving God, and pornography has 0% to do with love..
NOW WHAT:
OK, so we have covered what porn really is and what it isn’t. What should we do with this?
There are lots of steps we could all take, but for the sake of today, we’re simply going to focus on
two.
1. Refuse to be fooled. Train your brain: When you see the ad or the Snapchat, argue with it. Question it: What is this trying to sell me or convince me to do?
2. Refuse to participate. Create a plan to set yourself up for success before you even reach the trap. Think ahead: What will you do when you come across pornographic content or are tempted to believe the lies of porn culture?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
*Optional ice breaker questions to lead with:
On a scale of 1-10, how awkward is it to talk about sex in church?
How much does it get talked about by the people around you?
Why do you think we should or should not talk about sex at church?
Q1: 1. What are some ways porn has shown up in other parts of culture? (Think TV, movies, music, ads, TikTok, etc.) Upperclassmen: What are the messages being communicated in music, movies, TV shows, and TikTok that reflect porn culture?
Q2: The speaker said everyone is affected by porn-culture. Do you think that is true? Why or why not?
Q3: Read Ephesians 5:15. What does it look like to be wise living in a culture influenced by porn culture?
Q4: Were any of the facts the speaker read surprising to you?
Q5: As a group, brainstorm some practical ways a person could...
a. Refuse to be fooled by the messages porn sends
b. Refuse to participate in porn content
c. Refuse to face their struggle with porn alone