1. Do the statistics that were shared about pornography surprise you? Why or why not?

2. Can I tell you that as hard as this subject is to talk about and to admit to the people around you, that when you do so it’s the beginning of relief, and healing and the end of shame? Have you experienced this to be true in your life? Why is keeping sin a secret our usual default mode? How can we help change this harmful practice in our church?

3. Series Focus: You can’t SELF-HELP your way to SELF-CONTROL. Have you ever tried to self-help yourself out of an addiction or problem? What was the result?

4. How would you describe the Fruits of the Spirit to someone? (What are they? How you access them? Why are they important?) What questions do you still have about the Fruit of the Spirit? And lastly, how do we cooperate with God to ensure that they are being cultivated in our life?

5. Read 1Corinthians 6:18-20

a. Paul doesn’t say to stand and fight, in fact quite the opposite we are to FLEE. This is so interesting. Why do you think God directed Paul to use the word FLEE instead of FIGHT. Where else in the BIble are we given specific instructions about facing sin and evil: Stand Firm, Fight, Flee, Etc. (Check out 1Corinthians 10:14, 2 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:12, Matthew 24:13, 1Corinthians 16:13, James 5:8, Ephesians 6:14, Galatians 5:1 . . . . and more). How could reading these verses and taking note of the subtle differences in God’s instructions help us in our Christian life?

b. Paul helps us see that one of the most radical things about Christianity - a life following Jesus is a paradigm shift of how our bodies are to be thought about. They aren’t just ours. If you’re single and have given your life to Christ - your body belongs to you, and to God. If you’re married or will be someday - your body is yours, and God’s and your future or current spouses. This is an incredible shift in thinking. When we honor the bodies that God gave us, we do so by treating them like they don’t belong to us.

i. Is this new information to you?

ii. How do you think about your body? Do you think of it belonging to you? Do you think of it belonging to your spouse? Do you think of it as belonging to God? What shifts might you need to make in your thinking and how will you make them?

6. How might you need to respond to this sermon? Can you share with your group a shift or action you would like to embrace. Here are some possibilities:

a. Admit that you have downplayed the seriousness of pornography or excused it before and ask God to change your attitude and words.

b. Repent of past or current sin in this area.

c. Share with a trusted friend an area of sin that you have been keeping secret

d. Share with a family member or close friend what you have learned about the dangers of pornography and warn them, educate them, pray for them, support them.

e. Learn more about Christian organizations that fight pornography and help addicts and those caught in the industry; and find a way to support their work.

f. Stop trying to SELF-HELP your way to SELF-CONTROL. Turn it over to Jesus and embrace his grace, strength and victory.

g. Decrease your judgment against those who struggle with addiction and find a way to support them.

h. Help start a new group for men who need help in this area and others like it.

i. Help start a new group for women who need help in this area and others like it.

j. Celebrate and champion our Support & Recovery Program at church and find ways to specifically support it and spread the word about it to others.

k. Join Support & Recovery yourself to gain help and support.