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Pursuit of Purity. Practical Ways to Protect our Children from a Sexually Saturated Culture . Pursuit of Purity. Establish a Biblical Foundation “Relative” vs. “Absolute” Truth Parental Significance & Challenges Sexual Purity Practical Application Resources Q & A.
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Pursuit of Purity Practical Ways to Protect our Children from a Sexually Saturated Culture
Pursuit of Purity • Establish a Biblical Foundation “Relative” vs. “Absolute” Truth • Parental Significance & Challenges • Sexual Purity • Practical Application • Resources • Q & A
Establish a Biblical Foundation Q: What’s the #1 fear of Christian parents today as their children leave home? A: That they will not have passed on their values, morals, and faith. We have reason to be concerned – almost 75% of “born-again” youth will not return to church once they’ve left home. (BTW, “Nones” now exceed Protestants in the United States!)
Establish a Biblical Foundation Parental Perception Parental Reality 64% of parents think they are doing an excellent job of helping children to develop a world view based on the bible Only 5% of parents have a biblical world view • 72% of parents believe they are doing well providing a regular regimen of spiritual instruction to their children Fewer than 10% of Christian households spend any time at all weekly either reading the bible or engaging in prayer as a family
Establish a Biblical Foundation According to the Barna Group: “Who people become as adults - their thinking, behavior and spiritual foundation - is largely determined by what happens in their minds and hearts by age 13.” *Parents are still, by far, the biggest influencers in the spiritual development of their children.
Establish a Biblical Foundation Secular World View Biblical World View • Exclude God from their thinking • Don’t believe in creationism • Reject “absolute truth” • Man makes his own destiny • World needs more education to solve its problems • Right & Wrong is determined by the consensus of today’s society • Many paths lead to heaven, including good works • God is the center of everything • God created the world • Embrace “absolute truth” • God determines man’s destiny • Only Christ can solve man’s problems • The Bible is inerrant and God’s laws are unwavering • Only Jesus saves; He is the only way to heaven
Establish a Biblical Foundation Statements indicating a belief in Relative Truth: “No one has the right to tell me what is right or wrong.” “It’s wrong to judge others morally.” “I can do what I want as long as I’m not hurting anyone.” “You have to do what you think is right.” “Look…that’s your opinion.”
Parental Significance & Challenges What Influences Our Kids? • Level 1 (Greatest Influence, by far) Parents, Peers, Contemporary Music, Movies, TV, and Internet • Level 2 Schools and Siblings • Level 3 Church / Youth Group, Adult Mentors and Extended family
Parental Significance & Challenges Dangerous Assumptions: • My child knows about sexual purity because it’s innate in us that we know right from wrong. • My child knows the value of sexual purity because he sees it modeled at home. My spouse and I love each other and are faithful to each other… therefore it should be obvious to our kids that we value sexual purity. • I take my child to church. Doesn’t she hear about it there?
Sexual Purity Pornography 90%of 8-16 year olds have viewed porn online 80% of 15-17 year old males view hard core porn weekly (12-17 year old males are the largest consumer demographic of porn) ~50%of Christian men view porn weekly
Sexual Purity Pornography Shades Mountain Baptist Statistics (grades 9 –12) 60%of ALLstudents grades 9-12 have viewed Pornography 35%between the ages of 11-13 6%prior to 10 years of age
Sexual Purity Shades Mountain Baptist Statistics (grades 9 –12) When asked if masturbation was an area of sin in their lives? 95%of all boys said yes 33% of all girls said yes *BTW, by a large majority, our youth will say oral sex is considered “ok” because it doesn’t involve virginity.
Practical Application Modesty 3 Reasons to Dress Modestly • God Commands It - 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Romans 12:2 • Dressing Immodestly is a stumbling block for guys Romans 14:13-21 • Self respect and encouragement to others Ephesians 2:10
PracticalApplication The Gestalt Theory
Practical Application “Our challenge is to motivate our children to have a thirst for the righteousness of God; that is, to always do what it right in God’s eyes because they want nothing more than to honor and please him.” 1. Make Biblical / Absolute Truth the Cornerstone of your household!!! * Family prayer / devotion time * Family mission trips * Spiritual accountability
Practical Application 2. Know what’s going on with your kids!!!! * Internet – Facebook; cell phones; texting * Music -- I-tunes; Google artists * TV/Movies – bedroom privacy; ratings * Friends – inner circle; curfew; location details * Family Time – High / Low; parent / child dates
Practical Application 3. Talk to them about everything – especially the “tough” subjects! * Begin purity talk early * No subject is off-limits * Be transparent … share your struggles! * Always refer back to what the bible says about any and every subject
Resources • Secret Keeper Girl: The Power of True Beauty and Modesty -DannahGresh • Your Girl & Your Boy: Raising a Godly Daughter/Son in an Ungodly World - Vicki Courtney • Praying the Scripture for Your Children - Berndt • Every Young Man’s/Woman’s Battle - Arterburn • For Young Women Only - Feldhahn • Passport to Purity - Rainey • Living with Teenagers - magazine
Resources • www.crosswalk.com • www.pluggedinonline.com • www.purefreedom.com • www.girlsgonewise.com • www.xxxchurch.com • www.internetsafety.com (Safe Eyes)
Pursuit of Purity Questions & Discussion