How would you respond if someone in your small group confessed to a struggle with pornography? What would you do if someone said they suspected their spouse was having an emotional of physical affair? Even if it proves wise to recommend an experienced counselor, how do you walk alongside your friend and, if married, their spouse?
How honest do they need to be about their struggle? How much should they tell their spouse? How much do they need to understand “why” they sinned and how much should they focus on just “stopping it”? Are all struggles with sexual sin the same in their motivation, severity of impact, or severity control over an individual’s life? How would you know and how much should seek to discern as a small group leader or friend?
How do we most effectively minister the gospel to someone struggling with sexual sin? Do we merely say, “You are entertaining yourself with what Jesus died to free you from repent, forsake your sin, and follow Him to the life your seeking in the empty promises of sin”? If more, then what, how, when, and how long?
As a church, we cannot pretend this issue does not exist, choose to remain ignorant on these subjects, or hide behind the excuse that these are private matters.
Lust is not a gender specific issue. Lust is not something “some people” struggle with. Lust is not a “phase we go through.” Lust is not a problem that getting married will solve. Lust may never go beyond your imagination, but still create a persistent dissatisfaction with your current relationships or marriage.
Or, lust may be life dominating. Lust may cause you to put your health, your spouse’s health, your job, or your reputation in jeopardy. Lust may lead you to lie and create a double life in ways that you would have never thought you would.
Regardless of your type or depth of struggle with lust or whether your are single or married the “False Love: Overcoming Sexual Sin from Lust to Adultery” (video recording of a previous presentation is available at this link) seminar is designed to help you walk away from these fantasy-based relationships (yes, even adultery is a fiction and porn is a relationship) and move towards the pure, true love for others than God ordained.