In a couple of weeks, the brisk morning air will tell us that autumn is sneaking up on us. Our thoughts will turn to getting ready for a new season.
Fall is also a perfect time to start developing a change in the men of your church. A time to help them find real freedom from pornography.
Porn has become a major problem around the world. According to a survey by Pure Desire Ministries, 68 percent of Christian men view pornography regularly. That’s 7 out of 10 men who attend church on Sunday morning in the United States.
It affects individuals, families, the church and society. The men of your church are not exempt from becoming caught in porn’s terrible grasp.
Most church leaders have no idea how to combat this epidemic. Porn is not an easy topic to discuss in any setting. But there is help available, and the coming months are a perfect time to begin the discussion.
One of the most powerful and successful resources to help men break free from porn is the Conquer Series. This cinematic series consists of two volumes of 6 DVDs each, suitable for small group or individual study.
Each DVD contains Bible-based lessons on how pornography affects your brain, how to break free and strategies to build a battle plan to stand strong in the face of temptation.
Consider these five reasons that fall is an ideal time to start the Conquer Series:
1. Schedules are more flexible.
Summer is a busy time for every man. There are lawns to mow, youth sports practices and games to take your children to, vacations to take and a long list of other activities.
By the end of those long, hot days, the last thing a man is thinking about is going to a meeting. Sadly, this means often men will go through the hardest months of temptation without accountability.
According to Google Trends, the summer months see an increase in porn-related searches.
As we move into fall, take advantage of this change in men’s routines.
Now that their family duties have eased up a little, they have some time to focus on their own issues. Provide them with a chance to learn about how they can escape porn’s stronghold in their life.
That is exactly what the Conquer Series was designed to do.
2. Men want to finish the year strong
In fall, the end of the year is coming fast. Men will be thinking about the areas of their lives they fell short in and how to become a better husband, father and Christian.
Most men struggling with pornography addiction feel helpless in getting freedom from it. They want to overcome this bondage and the guilt and shame it brings. They need to know their church wants to help them be victorious.
By using the Conquer Series, you can lead your men to a porn-free life that they long to have to become a better man to themselves and others.
3. Less daylight and colder weather mean more indoor activities.
Fall’s shorter days and colder weather encourage indoor activities.
Summer is the perfect time for your church’s men to enjoy camping, fishing, sports and many outdoor events.
But fall evenings open opportunities for men to gather inside in small groups to discuss their lives. Pornography addiction is a topic best discussed in these situations.
Watching the Conquer Series DVDs and discussing the material in a warm, relaxed setting helps men learn about freedom from porn.
4. Many opportunities for informal gatherings.
Men like to be part of a group they connect with strongly and have similar interests. Just see how men gather together to wildly cheer on their favorite sports team.
There are many college and professional sports teams playing in the fall. Hunting, fishing and other outdoor events are also popular.
Even those men who don’t like sports-related functions will have areas of interests they share with other men.
Form small groups based around these common-interest areas. Men struggling with porn would benefit from interacting with other men they can relate to.
By bonding with the men of their church in these informal settings, they will feel much more comfortable getting involved in the Conquer Series study. Their discussions after watching the videos will be more lively and helpful.
5. Now is the time to act.
The most important reason to use the Conquer Series this fall is the urgency of the problem. The church must act now to confront this epidemic.
According to Mashable, almost 80 percent of American men between the ages of 18 and 30 admit to regularly watching porn. 70 percent of men 31 to 49 and half of men over 50 also admit to regular viewing.
Church leaders must get serious about helping their men. This is not a matter to put on the agenda to consider next year. They need to know help and hope are here today.
The Conquer Series Helps Change Lives
Pastor Chuck Beickel from Faith Baptist Church describes the incredible change he has witnessed in their church from using the Conquer Series.
In our church, it’s bonded our men together. We’re seeing victories over pornography. We’re seeing victory over other types of sins that people have been in bondage to for years and years and years.
Fall is fast approaching, and then the holidays with all their distractions will be close behind. Take advantage of the autumn months to bring freedom to the men in your church struggling with porn addiction.
