Pure Freedom Ministries Redeeming Sex in the Church “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NLT).

Sex is Everywhere What you do with your sex life witnesses to where God is in your life. “Among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…because these are improper for God’s holy people” (Ephesians 5:3, NIV).

Sex is All Over the Bible “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:4-6, NIV).

A Dirty Subject “If you preach the gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your time—you are not preaching the gospel at all” (Martin Luther). “…and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:12, NASB).

Sex and Spirituality Our sexuality, even in brokenness, makes us aware of a “deeper longing” (God). “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30, NIV).

Unresolved Internal Pain “Sexual addictions are not just about sex, but about how we process the hurts, hassles and hopes of our lives” (Dr. Ted Roberts). “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3, NIV).

Attraction vs. Addiction Christian men are often deeply troubled by the intensity of their sexual feelings. “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28, NIV).

Porn is Looking for You! The “Triple-A” Engine driving cybersex: 1.Accessibility 2.Anonymity 3.Affordability

Epidemic in the Church “Sexual addiction is the Goliath of the 21 st Century” (Diane Roberts).

Epidemic in the Church “It’s possible that one in three [church] people is struggling with porn….Among young Christians the proportion will be higher” (Tim Chester).

Epidemic in the Church “The church is the porn industry’s biggest customer” (Mike Genung).

Sexually Addicted Christians? “Sexual addiction is a disease and it involves sinful behavior” (Mark Laaser). “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34, NIV).

Expecting Immediate Change How long do you expect repentance and change to take? “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:18-19, NLT).

Accepting Responsibility Is addiction a choice? Recovery is impossible until addicts face their own behavior, stop blaming and become accountable for their actions.

Results of Pornography Porn only teaches you to be a porn addict. Takes more control over your heart. Sows a bitter harvest for marriage. People become “pornified.” Porn sins against the church.

Addressing Sexual Addiction “Unless the church deals with this issue, we have no chance for a true revival that will change the moral climate of our nation” (Ted Roberts).

A Grace-full Community “Grace is about having a relationship with a person’s heart rather than their behavior” (Michael Dye).

Sexually Addicted Pastors “Only when the pain of our dividedness becomes more than we can bear do most of us embark on an inner journey toward living ‘divided no more’” (Parker Palmer).

The Pastor’s Dilemma Where is the pastor struggling with sexual addiction to go to for help?

Drug of Choice “Pornography addiction has shown itself to be the ‘drug of choice’ among clergy” (Richard Nevard).

Perils of Ministry Religious addiction Expectations Pedestals Emotional Escape Entitlement Lack of Accountability Pastoral Isolation

The Pastoral Iceberg Spiritual Quirks Confident Timid Gifted Boring Likeable Arrogant Angry Emotional Immaturity Hopelessness Lonely Distorted Thinking Overwhelmed Wounded Poor Self-image Discouraged Doubts Poor Prayer Life Paranoia Isolated Financial Distress Addictions Past Abuse Family Distress Scared Empty Unrealistic Expectations Shame