Pornography causes real harm – fostering guilt, shame, and damaged relationships – while making it hard for people to break free. Yet we have good news: our God is gracious, “compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps 103:8). In Jesus, there is forgiveness, healing, and hope for change (1 Cor 6:11).
The following resources aim to reduce the harm of pornography by helping people break free, while holding out God’s good design for healthy sexuality and relationships.
Understanding the problem
All church leaders should familiarise themselves with why pornography is a serious problem. On our Why Resist page, you can discover a lot of information about the various harms from pornography.
Helping those who are trapped in pornography use
Looking for an effective way to break the harmful cycle of pornography addiction and build lasting discipline and resistance? We recommend The Resist Program—a 5‑week recovery pathway designed to reduce harm, strengthen resilience, and restore healthy relationships. Find out how to run it at resistprogram.org.
Teaching content
When addressing pornography in your congregation, consider four groups: those who use it, those affected by it (such as spouses, those pressured to be sexualised, or people with past involvement), those not yet influenced, and those who walk alongside these people. The Bible covers many related topics—God’s design for sexuality, grace and forgiveness, purity, self-control, temptation, empowerment to change, good parenting, self-worth, and loving behaviour. Regular teaching on these helps keep God’s instructions before your people amid the strong sexual messages they face.
Useful Bible passages for teaching include:
- Sexuality – God’s design: Gen 2:21-25; 1 Cor 7:1-40; Eph 5:22-33; Matt 19:3-9; Song of Solomon
- Grace and forgiveness: Ps 51; Isa 1:18; Rom 5:6-8, 8:1, 38-39; 1 Jn 1:7-9, 2:1-2
- Purity: Matt 5:28-30; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:15-20, 7:2; Eph 4:17-32, 5:1-21; 1 Thes 4:3; Heb 13:4; 1 Pet 4:1-11; 1 Jn 3:2-9
- Empowerment to change: Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 6:11, 10:13; 2 Cor 4, 9:6-14; Phil 4:6-8; James 4:7-8
- Confronting sin: 1 Cor 10:7-14; Rom 8:9-14; Col 3:4-10; Heb 12:1-10
- Justice for the oppressed (considering porn’s victims): 1 Thes 4:6-8; Col 3:25; Mark 9:42; 2 Pet 2:14; Mic 6:8; Amos 5:15; Jude 1:23; Ps 32; Titus 3:3-8; Prov 19:17, 21:13, 29:7; Isa 1:17
Teaching on pornography needs to be ongoing and integrated, reaching all groups in the church. It equips parents and leaders to counteract cultural and digital influences that challenge biblical values. A strategic, scripture-rich approach helps keep God’s commands front of mind, supports those struggling, and protects others from exposure.
Policies and Guidelines
Developing clear policies, guidelines, and leadership standards is essential for ministry staff, volunteer leaders, and ministry groups. These should outline expectations regarding integrity, accountability, and handling struggles such as pornography use. Policies must balance grace with accountability, establishing restorative processes rather than punitive ones, to encourage openness and healing. Regular training and mentoring reinforce these standards, providing leaders with tools to maintain personal holiness and foster a healthy ministry culture that protects both leaders and the congregation. Clear communication of these expectations helps create a supportive environment where leaders can confess struggles without fear, access help, and grow in their faith and leadership responsibilities.
Staff Management
When managing a ministry team, two realities must be acknowledged: some staff and leaders may be struggling with pornography, yet most will be reluctant to disclose it. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a culture that prioritises wellbeing, mental health, strong marriages, and stress reduction, while keeping this issue openly on the radar. Proactive measures include using internet filtering software, fostering transparent work environments, and minimising unnecessary internet use.
Encourage leaders to seek counselling if they struggle and maintain a prayerful attitude for their spiritual health. Watch for signs of crisis such as faith struggles, burn-out, or multiple stresses, and guide them into accountability relationships—even if that’s outside your direct oversight. Isolation is a significant warning sign. Providing ongoing professional development and mentoring is vital in preventing emotional and spiritual decline; for example, Sydney Diocese’s Safe Ministries offers support connecting leaders with mentors.
Ultimately, leaders facing ongoing pornography struggles pose risks not only to themselves but also to their families, ministries, and congregations. Addressing this openly with compassion and clear support structures safeguards both individuals and the church community.
Creating such an environment requires intentional leadership actions and pastoral care that balances grace with accountability, ensuring your ministry team is spiritually healthy, supported, and protected from the destructive effects of pornography.
Personal Management
Many church leaders quietly struggle with pornography. In ministry, where leaders are expected to uphold a higher standard, these struggles are often hidden and go unaddressed. If you face sexual temptation, including pornography, know that change is possible—but don’t face it alone.
Resist Ministries offers confidential support specifically for church leaders dealing with unwanted pornography temptations. We understand the importance of privacy and provide Resist Programs tailored for leaders. These private group sessions allow you to meet others with similar struggles in a safe, confidential setting.
Recent research shows this issue is widespread: about two-thirds of pastors have struggled with pornography at some point, and nearly one in five currently do. Despite this, many keep it hidden from their churches and leadership teams, fearing judgement or career consequences.
If you are a church leader seeking help, Resist Ministries can connect you with confidential programs and resources designed to encourage recovery through faith and community support.
Pastoral Care
When addressing pornography in your congregation, keep in mind there are multiple groups affected, all which need strategies and sensitivity. They are users, people affected by pornography and its culture, and the next generation (those yet to be affected by porn).
When thinking about pastoral care, keep the following points in mind:
Equipping Your Community to Understand Pornography
People need a full understanding of the many problems caused by pornography, including how it affects them and others around them. The Resist Program offers this holistic information and equips people to resist pornography effectively. Many Christians feel guilt and shame about their use and need God’s grace, often feeling helpless as compulsive behaviours persist despite attempts to stop.
It is important to realise that biological and neurological damage from long-term porn use takes time and persistence to repair. Unfortunately, some users don’t recognise the harm, and their perceptions must be gently challenged. The Resist Program is designed to provide this critical information and support lasting change.
Understanding Pornography’s Ripple Effect
The impact on spouses can be devastating. Spouses can be heavily affected, as research shows that pornography reduces trust, increases insecurities, and contributes to relationship breakdown. This harm is often called Betrayal Trauma. Likewise parents, siblings and close friends all carry a burden when relating with porn users.
More broadly, the surrounding sexualised culture has enormous influence on how young people behave and feel. Modern objectification culture alone places horrible pressure on females, whilst perpetuating unloving and unrealistic expectations in men.
Our families, churches and schools need to be actively resisting this culture, both exposing how harmful selfish sexuality is, whilst being counter-cultural in the alternative narrative of respectful, Christ-like, mutual-love relationships.
About Betrayal Trauma
Betrayal trauma occurs when someone experiences deep emotional and psychological pain after being betrayed by a trusted partner, especially in situations involving hidden pornography use or sexual addiction. This trauma is so severe because it breaks the foundation of trust and safety in intimate relationships, leading to feelings of fear, loss, confusion, shame, and ongoing distress. People affected may experience symptoms similar to PTSD, such as intrusive memories, anxiety, and a fractured sense of self-worth.
Pastors can support those experiencing betrayal trauma by approaching with sensitivity and compassion. It’s crucial to provide a safe, non-judgmental space where people can express their pain openly. Pastors should listen carefully, validate the hurt without minimizing it, and avoid offering quick fixes or platitudes. Encouraging professional counselling and offering ongoing pastoral care rooted in God’s grace and forgiveness can help individuals navigate their healing journey. Being patient with the process and gently reminding them of God’s unfailing love fosters hope amid the pain.
Helping the next generation resist pornography is a long-term challenge for our churches and schools
Helping the next generation resist pornography requires a long-term commitment from churches and schools. This involves education resources, parenting support, leadership training, school curricula, and fostering a healthy sexual culture. Preparing children and teens early is crucial because if parents, churches, and Christian schools don’t lead, worldly messages will prevail. Young people need to understand the real dangers of pornography and see how to live as disciples of Jesus amid today’s highly sexualised culture. Consistent guidance helps them develop resilience and godly perspectives in a challenging environment.