Masturbation: Step 6

Masturbation: Step 6

Jeffrey E. Miller
Jeff has been happily married to Jenny for 18 years and they have two daughters. He joined the staff of Trinity Bible Church of Richardson, Texas in 2001, and became its fifth Senior Pastor in 2005. You can follow Jeff's blog at www.jeffreyemiller.com. Jeff has published both popular and academic...

This subject is as tough as it gets. As of 2006, there are 988,968 words in the English language, and I have found that out of all of those words, the hardest one for a man to say is "masturbation." Although talking about it makes us uncomfortable, 95% of men say they have done it (the other 5% lied). According to one survey of 600 men (a cross-section of age and marital status), the average man masturbates thirteen times each month. Although the Bible never expressly condemns masturbation, the practice is rightly considered a sin because of its invitation to lust and tendency to be habit-forming. Men often respond in one of two extremes: We rationalize our behavior or we are paralyzed into inactivity by guilt. How can we get a grip (pun intended) on this most avoided subject?


Reflection Questions:

Can you identify patterns in your sexual habits? What healthy outlets do you have for stress?


How are you dealing with the guilt? Has it paralyzed your effectiveness for Christ?


Meditation verse:

18 Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body” – but the immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Related Topics: Sexual Purity



Purity: Step 1


It is difficult for men to grasp the biblical concept of sex. Most men have mistaken views of sex that are leading us into sexual destruction, especially in our marriages. And we should expect nothing else, since our adolescent sex education amounted to magazines or videos. For that reason, we're beginning a series of talks for men designed to answer some of our most basic and risqué questions about sex (and even some questions we're afraid to ask). We'll be talking about subjects that are generally avoided in mixed company. In fact, we'll cover topics most men would never imagine they'd hear a pastor discussing in a church men's group. From purity to pornography, from masturbation to the mechanics of sex; we're pulling back the curtain on what the Bible teaches about male sexuality. It's time Christians stop whispering about sex.

Related Topics: Sexual Purity