Reflection Options  

Journal  (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

• What is the difference between desire and lust? How do you know when you have crossed the line into lust?  What have you found that helps you turn toward God (instead of away from him) in the midst of your struggle?

• Self analysis 1.  When are you most likely to struggle with lust? Are there patterns you can detect (is it when you are tired, stressed, or overworked? Taking in a lot of questionable movies, shows, or other source of content? Allowing yourself to indulge in…?).  What generally blocks you from submitting to God in this struggle? 

• Self analysis 2. Identify the object(s) of your lust.  What unmet need, desire, or fantasy are you trying to satisfy? What do you think you will gain from indulging in that lust? Is there another, more healthy way to address some aspect of that need or desire?

Quote Interaction (Interact by agreeing, disagreeing or otherwise engaging with the quote/quotes)

• “There’s no technique or accountability partner that can help us find our sacred sexual identity. Ultimately, there’s only the worship of God that can overcome the worship of sex.” Haydn Shaw, Generational IQ

• Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness (Phil. 4:8). (D.A. Carson)

• To look to Christ to meet our perceived psychological needs is to Christianize our lusts. We are asking God to give us what we want, so we can feel better about ourselves, or so we can have more happiness, not holiness, in our lives. (Edward Welch)

• Seeing women when you go out is not forbidden, but it is sinful to desire them or to wish them to desire you, for it is not by tough or passionate feeling alone but by one’s gaze also that lustful desires mutually arise.  And do not say that your hearts are pure if there is immodesty of the eye, because the unchaste eye carries the message of an impure heart.  And when such hearts disclose their unchaste desires in a mutual gaze, even without saying a word, then it is that chastity suddenly goes out of their life, even though their bodies remain unsullied by unchaste acts. (Augustine)

• The desire of love is to give. The desire of lust is to get. (Unknown)

Reading and Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults: 

• Read the Case study with Ted and Gary (pp. 184-185).  Can you relate to any part of Ted’s struggle with pornography? What intentional actions here might help you move forward (or might help you help someone who struggles with this)?

• Read “Biblical Vision, Guidance and Support” (pp. 171-173). How might developing “a clear, compelling vision for sexual identity and sexual behaviors” help a person struggling with a culturally-saturated image of satisfying the flesh? What picture of sexuality do you think you have received from popular culture/media? How is it different from God’s vision?

• Read “Trusting God’s Self-Portrait” (pp. 173-176).  Do you agree with the authors that making too big of a deal of sexuality is not the problem in our culture, but not making enough of a big deal is?  How does being created as a self-portrait of God make a “big deal” of our sexuality?