KEY VERSE: MATTHEW 5:28

But i say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Kjv)

Focus:

Pornography can be a difficult and awkward topic for discussion, especially in a teen sunday school. Yet, it has never been more relevant. With hundreds of cable channels, many boundaries and standard that existed a few decades ago with regards to issues of sex in entertainment are no longer in existence. Today, teens are confronted with sexual content like never before. And the internet has made it all too easy for them to indulge the very sexual desires that reach their peak during the teen years. So, while you may find this week's study especially challenging, keep in mind that it offers some valuable information to teens just when they need it most.

As you present this study, make a point of emphasizing that pornography can refer to more than just the blatant perverse images and depictions we normally define as obscene. Help students gain better perspective on how to choose their entertainment, and what they allow to fill their minds. It is important you try to put yourself in the place of your students - living in a world where sexual expression is celebrated, sexual humour is applauded, and sexual standards are often belittled. They need to know they are not alone in their temptation-- or in their effort to rise above them. Students will be encouraged to know they can discuss this delicate topic with sincere friend and mentor.

The Basic Message: Explain to students...

• WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

Pornography is a spiritual death trap that must be avoided.

• WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Even though the temptation to view porn is subtle, the consequences on our relationships with God and others are severe.

•HOW DO I LIVE IT?

Understand the dangers of porn, and reject the peer pressure and temptation that can pull you into it.
Activity Option: REMEMBER NOW
Invite volunteers to come to the front and describe in a couple of sentences the funniest scene from a recent event they witnessed or a comedy they saw on television. Encourage them to be as specific as possible. Then discuss the following questions:
▪️ Why could volunteers describe their favorite scenes with such accuracy? [Guide: Talk about how things we see and hear will stick in our minds, especially if it's something we enjoy. Then discuss situations in which this might not be a good thing, such as bad joke or an unkind comment about a peer.]

Guide:

Explain that one of the most dangerous traps facing Christians comes into our lives through what we see: pornography. Porn often consists of little more than simple images, leading some to believe that it's no big deal. Yet it can stay in our minds for a lifetime and corrupt our relationship with God.

Study Overview:

Explain that today's study considers...
▪️ Porn is such a danger for Christians.
▪️ How porn can get into our lives through subtle ways, then stay with us for a lifetime.
▪️ How to develop a plan for avoiding the trap of pornography.

Inform and Discuss

Teacher Hint: WHAT IS PORN?
Pornography is the depiction of human body or sexual activity for the purpose of causing sexual arousal or excitement. Porn can be in form of photographs, videos, books, sound recording, animation, video games, Tv programmes, music, humour/jokes.

A. Why worry about porn?

1. Read or have a volunteer read Matt 5:28.

Why is lust considered to be on the level of actual adultery in God's eyes? [Hint: God is concerned with our thoughts and desires because the condition of our hearts defines who we are, what we believe, and what is important to us. Actions simply reflect who we are on the inside (Luke 6:43-45). Thoughts don't just come and go without having an impact. If we allow lust to fill our imagination, we would be burned by those thoughts as surely our clothes will be ruined by wrapping them in hot coals.]

2. Read or have a volunteer read Proverbs 6:25, 27.

Discuss how porn can have a negative effect on us in the following three areas: How will it impact our walk with God? How will it affect our Christian witness? How will it influence the way we view people of opposite sex? (Note that porn can cause us to view others as object of lust rather than valuable creations of God worthy of respect.)

Teacher Hint:

Some health experts believe porn can actually become a form of addiction. In these cases, the person is so focused on watching, and thinking about porn that it takes over other parts of his or her life. One of the biggest dangers of this obsession is that the person can become desensitized to what he or she sees. Consequently, the person then must increase the frequency or intensity of the porn to achieve the same thrill.

3. Read or have a volunteer read Proverbs 7:21-23. How do you think God wants Christians to feel about porn? [Hint: God doesn't want us to see sex as something shameful and bad. It's simply something reserved for marriage, according to His plan. Porn twists His plan for sex by urging us to think about sex outside of marriage.

B. What can you do to avoid it?

1. Why do you think a Christian would become involved with porn, even knowing the dangers? [Guide: Take time for discussion, noting that sexual temptation is very strong, especially for teens and there is a lot of peer pressure. Thus it will take a strong commitment on our part to avoid pornography.]

2. Read or have a volunteer read 1 Thess 5:22. Mention two points this passage make regarding porn. [Hint: i.We need to avoid porn before it becomes a problem. ii. We must deal with it aggressively if it becomes a problem.]

C. How can accountability help?

1. Read or have a volunteer read 1 John 1:9. Besides repenting, what else should we do if we fall into the trap of porn? [Hint: God forgives, but He expects us to grow from our mistakes. We need to remove sources of temptations from our lives, look for help from a sound pastor, friend, or parent, and commit to growing spiritually through prayer and learning.]

2. Read or have a volunteer read Titus 3:3. How can we help each other stay safe from porn?

Hint: Form accountability group of 2 to 4 good Christian friends, and meet regularly to talk about spiritual things, pray together, and encourage each other to grow in the things of God. (Note that honest discussion will be easier if group members are the same gender.) Invite parents to check the web history on your computer/phone without telling you. Or, simply block certain websites. Block offensive cable channels. Watch how you talk and act toward members of the opposite sex, especially if they may be attracted to you.

Involve Them:

Have students discuss what to say and do in each of the following scenarios, and how the conversation might go:
▪️ A friend is pressing you to look at a pornographic video or magazine. He or she doesn't think porn is a big deal.
▪️ You've become aware that a Christian friend has a porn problem, and you need to confront him or her.

Inspire Them:

Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study (pg.029), explaining WHAT the Big Idea behind the study is; WHY it matters; and HOW we can live the lesson captured in this study.

Ministry Activity:

Invite students to gather and pray for each other in groups or pairs. Challenge them to seek God's help in staying strong when tempted by porn or other form of lust. They might also pray to be good examples to others through their actions and choices, not causing others to be tempted by what they read, the jokes they tell, or what they wear or do.

Guide:

Encourage students to examine their lives for areas where they've allowed some type of porn to affect them. Challenge them to reject temptation by staying accountable to God.

Teacher Hint:

Ask yourself...

1. Do students understand what pornography is, and why it is dangerous?

2. Are they prepared to confront and overcome the temptations of lustful images and entertainment all around them?

3. Do they know why accountability to other Christians can help them overcome lust?

4. Have they had the opportunity to repent of any porn they've allowed in their lives, and seek God for help in the future?

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THIS PUBLICATION IS A PRODUCT OF GENERAL COUNCIL TEENS SOLUTION DEPARTMENT ASSEMBLIES OF GOD NIGERIA