During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Since this lesson deals with a sensitive topic, if possible, divide the class into 2 separate groups: 1 group for boys and another group for girls. Have a male teacher teach the boys and a female teacher teach the girls.
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:18–20
Sinful desires invade nearly every part of our lives. They creep into our hearts and minds in ways we never expect or imagine. We begin by deceiving ourselves into believing that we can resist the temptation. Then we deny that the sin we are considering is wrong. Next, we give in to our temptations and disobey God, telling ourselves lies such as “A small sin will not matter!” or “Others have done much worse.” We get caught in this cycle again and again, and the end result is always the same—shame, guilt, and fear that separate us from God. We cannot break this cycle on our own. But God is the source of all truth, and He has overcome the lies of the world!
Where does this cycle of denial, deception, and disobedience repeat itself in your life? Where do you feel that you have lost the ability to do what is right? Call on God to help you to break that cycle of sin. His ways are always true and good, and His strength is more than enough. Invite Him to erase the lies that tempt you and replace them with His truth.
Encourage the teens to ask their family members, “What are some good ways to avoid temptation?” They can then share that God gives us strength to endure any temptation we may face.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the teens as they arrive. Ask them if they used the internet recently and what they did while they were online. Have them get into groups based on which of these uses for the internet their online activity fits into: communication, information, entertainment, or purchasing things. They will play a game in these groups for the Connecting activity.
When you are ready to begin class, have the groups form circles. Give each group a stone and a cup and have them put these things on the ground in the middle of the circle. Then assign each group 1 of the body parts from the list below.
Then explain the game.
You need to work with your group to put the stone into the cup. However, you can only use the body part I assigned to your group. For example, if your group is the “knee” group, each student on your team can only use 1 knee to put the stone into the cup. You will need to work together and use more than 1 student’s knee to pick up and move the stone. The first team to get the stone into the cup wins. Ready? Begin!
Give the teens 3 minutes to do this. Then assign the groups different body parts and repeat the game. Then have the teens sit in their regular places for discussion. Allow 2–3 teens to answer each of the following questions.
As some of you mentioned, the hardest part of this game was that you could only use 1 body part. If you could have used your hands, the game would have been easy. Even being able to use both of your knees or both of your elbows would have made it easier. But using only 1 body part made the game difficult.
God created us in unique and amazing ways. He sees us as whole people—body, mind, spirit, and soul—and He intends for others to see us that way, too. However, sometimes we think only of certain characteristics a person possesses and do not think about their other valuable characteristics. For example, we may not notice that a young lady who is smart in math is also very kind to others or that a young man who is handsome is also very helpful.
This is especially true when it comes to the way people look, and this is especially dangerous in pornography. Pornography is visual or printed material that is intended to cause sexual excitement. This includes books, videos, websites, or magazines that show pictures of private body parts or show or describe sexual acts.
Pornography creates false realities in order to cause intense sexual excitement in those who view it. It often causes us to see people as objects instead of as God’s precious creations who are worthy of love and honour. Pornography also often causes us to dishonour ourselves. Today we will talk about the lies of pornography and how to protect ourselves with God’s truth.
Sadly, many people have been exposed to some type of pornography, especially on the internet or through sexual text or social media messages. Often, we may accidentally find pornography when we are searching for something completely different. Other times, someone we know may share it with us or send it to us. Being exposed to pornography can cause an intense sexual reaction. Viewing it just once can cause us to desire to see it again and again.
Pornography is addictive. Regular exposure to pornography causes the brain to form new nerve pathways that connect with the areas that control pleasure. As the exposure to pornography continues, these pathways grow stronger and stronger, and the body begins to desire more and more. Eventually, these pathways can become so strong that the excitement and pleasure received through pornography are greater than the pleasure of actually having sexual intercourse.
Pornography damages relationships. Viewing pornography regularly can cause a person to detach from real relationships in favour of false ones. People who use pornography often are less satisfied in their relationships and are less likely to give and receive love.
Pornography use grows. What is exciting at first soon loses its thrill, so people who use pornography begin looking for material that is more shocking, more sexual, more violent, and more graphic. They also begin to view pornography more often in order to satisfy their desires, and they may take risks in order to experience that thrill. This can lead to acting out things they have seen or imagined in real life.
Pornography hurts other people. It is linked to sex trafficking, sexual violence, rape, prostitution, and the mistreatment and abuse of others, especially women and children. Pornography communicates the message that others are objects to be used to satisfy our desires rather than human beings with needs and emotions who are worthy of honour.
Pornography appeals to our desire for pleasure, but not the healthy kind. And when our desire for pleasure overtakes our healthy desires, we may have difficulty deciding what is good and right. However, the Bible teaches us truth. We can use that truth to help us to overcome the temptation of pornography.
Truth 1: We are created in the image of God and loved completely.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1
Truth 2: It is important to care about others.
Listen to what the Bible teaches us about thinking of others:
In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3b–4
Truth 3: God can help us to resist temptation.
Listen to what the Bible teaches us about avoiding things that could be harmful to us.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
Proverbs 6:27–28
Listen to what the Bible tells us will happen when we allow sexual desires take control of our lives.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:14–15
What do you think it means that “sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death?”
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts.
As with all sin, pornography begins with desire. We are all human, and we all sometimes have sinful desires. When we allow these desires to deceive us, as often happens with pornography, we begin to believe the lies that fulfilling those desires through pornography is healthy and good. This leads to disobedience to God—sin. And, as these verses teach us, the end result of sin is death—eternal separation from God.
We can choose not to be deceived by the lies of pornography. We can choose to believe God’s truth instead. Here are some ways to honour God and avoid temptation.
What are some other ways to avoid the temptation of pornography?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts.
The temptation of pornography can be strong, and the consequences are great. Exposing yourself to pornography can have very damaging effects, both on your life and on the lives of those around you.
I will read a situation about being tempted by pornography. After I read the situation, find a partner and talk together about ways to resist and avoid temptation in that situation. Remember the ideas we learned: pray and read the Bible; learn what tempts you and stay away from it; think about the consequences; and find a trusted person to hold you accountable.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the teens can do this activity on their pages.
No matter how hard we try to avoid it, sometimes we are tempted. When we are faced with strong temptation, such as pornography, we can ask God for strength. Listen to what the Bible tells us about God’s help in times of temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:13–14
The Bible promises that we will not face temptation that we cannot resist. God will provide us with a way out when we are tempted, and He will give us strength to endure it.
Think of 1 area of your life where you face strong temptations. Think about how you can use the ideas we learned to resist or avoid temptation. They are: pray and read the Bible; ask God for forgiveness; learn what tempts you and stay away from it; think about the consequences; and find someone to hold you accountable.
Give the teens a few minutes to think and pray. Then close with a blessing based on 1 Corinthians 10:13–14:
Blessing: May you find comfort in the fact that you are not alone in your temptation. May you remember that God will provide you with a way out, and may you know that He is faithful even when we feel weak.
Lead the teens in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
