Sports gambling revenue has increased by 900-percent in just five years! In 2020, gamblers lost a record $1.5-billion on online sports betting. In 2024, that number hit $13.71-billion1. The total amount gambled on sports in 2025 has already broken all records with $150-billion2. And there are still two months left.
In a 2024 article from the American Enterprise Institute, Daniel Cox quotes a study from BYU estimating 12-percent of all websites are dedicated to pornography. Cox summarized the BYU study this way. “As soon as a young person gets a smartphone, they also receive access to the largest library of pornographic images and movies that has ever existed3.”
A ground-breaking survey in 2015 by Pew Research and the Barna Group, found, “41-percent of young men who consider themselves practicing Christians, purposefully view porn once or twice every month. The Barna Group recently updated that with a study entitled, “The Latest Stats on Pornography and Why They Matter.” The problem has only gotten worse. In 2025, “a majority of practicing Christians (54%) say that they are viewing pornography4.” That is “are viewing” as in currently in their lives over half of all confessed Christians view pornography this month.
At this point, many of you might be saying, “Okay, preacher. We knew this was a problem, how about some solutions!” I am going to use a combination of suggestions related in the articles and books referenced in our lessons this month. If you have problems finding the material, please let me know.
A support ministry called, Pure Desire Ministries, commissioned the follow up survey from Barna. The following points are based on a five-part recovery plan in the article referenced in this piece.
- Porn Is Impacting the Church: It does us no good to deny it. Our Savior offers a 2,000-year old solution that is as fresh as the problem is difficult. Jesus says, “tear out your eye” or “cut off your hand.” Our Lord offers these solutions in a discussion of sinful lust. The modern solution is to do away with your smartphone. Have your spouse limit your internet use or purchase one of the services designed to remove pornography before it is viewed. Find an accountability partner. There is never a time when your spouse does not know your password.
- Porn is Impacting Marriages and Families: Porn and sports gambling hurt more than just the Christian struggling to overcome. In a survey of women whose husbands felt they had recovered from porn addiction, “A majority of women (54%) said that they had not fully recovered3.” It is important for the porn/gambling addict to be supported, but do not forget the spouse suffering in silence.
- This Problem Doesn’t Get Better in The Dark: It is time for porn/gambling addiction to “walk the carpet!” As Christians, we are to pray for one another. That means if we are struggling with a, “sin which so easily entangles us.”-Hebrews 12:1, we must let our fellow disciples know.
- The Church Should Be The Perfect Support Group: This puts pressure on the rest of us to be supportive of someone engaged in a sin we may not understand. We are not to condone or enable sin in any form. But we need each other. Author Johan Hari has an eye-opening quote, “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—it’s connection. This is an important distinction. (If you are reading this article without hearing this morning’s sermon (9 Oct. 25), please listen for more on this subject particularly.-JS)
- Pornography and Online Gambling Destroy. God Heals: As much as we need each other, we need the power of God in our lives to overcome these sins. If we let our self-will run riot and give ourselves to the lusts of the flesh, we have no hope. Crucify the flesh, submit to the will of God and rest in faith in his mighty, healing power, “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”-Romans 8:13.
Child of God, you are not alone. We must confess our struggle with these devious schemes of the devil. Do not let your digital footsteps lead you into the modern day brothel with a card-shark waiting at his favorite table. Gambling will take your money. Pornography will take your family. Let God’s lamp lead you outside into the light (Romans 6:21-23). May God the Father strengthen us through his Spirit and save us through his Son.
Editor’s Note: This is part two of a series of bulletin articles. Please find the link to the first article below. Thanks!-JS
1 Greenberg, Doug. “U.S. sports betting industry posts record $13.7B revenue for ’24.” espn.com, 19 Feb. 25.
2 Sports betting in the United States – statistics & facts.” statista.com, 10 Feb. 25.
3 Stumbo, Rick. “The Latest Stats on Pornography and Why They Matter.” puredesire.org, 1 Apr 25.
4 Cox, Daniel A. “The Pornography Problem.” aei.org, 3 Oct. 24.
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