In this episode of Porn and the Gospel, host Spencer Sutton invites brothers in Christ to take the first step on the ladder of blessing—becoming “poor in spirit.” Drawing from Matthew 5:3 and insights from Jerry Bridges, Charles Spurgeon, and Dane Ortlund, Spencer explores what true humility before God looks like for men striving for purity and holiness.
Through Scripture, reflection, and prayer, he reminds us that we cannot lead our families, workplaces, or ourselves without first surrendering our pride and acknowledging our spiritual poverty. This is where grace begins—and where real transformation takes root.
Key Takeaways
Poverty of spirit is an attitude of the heart. True humility isn’t about behavior—it’s about posture before God.
God blesses the humble. He dwells with the contrite and revives the heart of the lowly (Isaiah 57:15).
Confession is freedom. Like the tax collector in Luke 18, we come to God not with good works, but with open repentance.
Seeing God clearly reveals our need. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he said, “Woe is me!” before receiving cleansing and calling.
Humility magnifies grace. As Dane Ortlund writes, Christ is a billionaire in mercy—our dependence only deepens His display of grace.
Spiritual ambition and humility can coexist. Christ modeled both: total commitment to God’s mission and total lowliness of heart.
Scripture References
Matthew 5:2–3 — “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
Deuteronomy 8:2 — God humbles to reveal what’s in our hearts.
Isaiah 57:15 — God dwells with the contrite and lowly.
Luke 18:11–14 — The Pharisee and the tax collector.
Isaiah 6:5 — “Woe is me, for I am lost.”
Philippians 4:13 — Contentment through Christ, not self-sufficiency.
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21:51
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21:51
Unless You Do This, Nothing Else Matters
Episode Summary
In this episode of Porn and the Gospel, Spencer unpacks one piercing verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount — Matthew 5:20 — and shows how it cuts through our pride and performance to reach the real issue: the heart.
Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Most of us try to fix our behavior — to stop looking at pornography, to clean up bad habits, to appear holy on the outside — while our hearts remain unchanged. But Jesus makes it clear: you can’t fake holiness or white-knuckle your way into purity. Only the Great Physician can perform the open-heart surgery your soul truly needs.
Through Scripture, honest reflection, and a story of a friend caught in adultery, Spencer reminds us that sin is subtle and deadly — like arteries slowly clogging — and that only surrender to Christ brings real change.
This isn’t about trying harder. It’s about laying your heart bare before God and letting Him do the deep, painful, yet loving work of transformation.
Key Scriptures
Matthew 5:20 — “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Philippians 1:6 — “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
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14:01
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14:01
My Thoughts On Charlie Kirk
In this episode, we will dive deep into the events surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk — not just the headlines, but what believers can learn from his life, his faith, and his example.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t perfect (none of us are), but his clarity of purpose and devotion to Christ left a mark. From his candid admission of past struggles with pornography to his unwavering conviction that faith comes before politics, Charlie’s life points us toward something bigger: living every day with a North Star that glorifies God.
We'll walk through:
Why Charlie’s openness about past battles matters for men wrestling with sin
How purpose and calling give strength to overcome temptation
Why true faith always leads to righteous action, not passive religion
The descent, turning point, and ascent of Psalm 73 — and what it teaches us when evil seems to flourish
Why nearness to God is the only true cure for sin and despair
This is both a sober reflection and a rallying cry: don’t waste your life sitting on the sidelines. Draw near to God, take your eyes off the world, and live boldly for Christ.
Key Takeaways
Faith and Purpose Crush Sin: Freedom doesn’t come by willpower alone but through Christ and a clear sense of calling.
Psalm 73’s Lesson: The turning point comes when we stop comparing ourselves to others and fix our eyes on God.
Your Life Has to Count: We weren’t saved to coast into heaven on a “featherbed.” True faith produces works that glorify God.
Nearness to God Is the Cure: As Spurgeon said, “The greater our nearness to God, the less we are affected by the attractions and distractions of earth.”
Scripture Anchors
Matthew 28 — The Great Commission as our North Star
Psalm 73 — From envy and doubt to joy in God alone
James 2:17 — Faith without works is dead
Closing Challenge
Stop living defensively. Stop hiding. Lift your eyes to God, draw near, and live with eternity in mind.
If you found this episode helpful, leave a review, share it with a brother who needs encouragement and subscribe for more Christ-centered conversations on faith, freedom, and purpose.
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26:51
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26:51
Why Most Christian Men Are Being Deceived (and Don’t Even Know It)
In this episode of Porn and the Gospel, we tackle one of the most dangerous threats to a man’s walk with Christ...deception. From James 1 to Colossians 2, we uncover why every man is prone to believe lies and how those lies can quietly shipwreck your faith.
You’ll learn:
Why it’s easier to justify sin than to dig for God’s truth
How to identify the “plausible arguments” Paul warned about
The daily habits that protect you from deception and strengthen your spiritual foundation
The powerful picture Proverbs 9 paints of wisdom and folly—and why you can’t remain neutral
Three reflection questions that will challenge your walk with God this week
This isn’t just about avoiding sin. It’s about building your life on the bedrock of God’s Word instead of the sinking sand of human reasoning.
If you’re tired of being tossed around by temptation, distraction, and half-truths, this episode will point you back to the hidden treasure of wisdom and knowledge found only in Christ.
Join our free community for men at TheManOfValor.com and take the next step toward becoming the man God designed you to be.
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18:02
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18:02
Alexander's Fire: How Men Find Freedom Through Radical Sacrifice
In this week’s raw and honest episode, we’re going deep. Deeper than porn. Deeper than behavior. This is about the heart and the eternal battle between comfort and calling.
You’ll hear a powerful story about Alexander the Great and how his army’s success became their greatest hindrance. And how that same pattern plays out in the lives of Christian men today. Spoils become shackles. Comfort becomes compromise. And sin, both obvious and subtle, keeps us from the race we were meant to run.
But we’re not left without an example. Jesus, the greater King, burned every worldly treasure to obey the will of the Father—and then called us to follow Him. Not to simply “go,” but to follow.
You’ll discover:
Why the call to follow Jesus means radical surrender
How to throw off the “weighted vest” of comfort and sin
A practical challenge to fix your eyes on Christ...not other Christians, not your Instagram feed, not your bank account
And a live invite to join a free workshop on biblical meditation (inside the Man of Valor community)
This is not about white-knuckling your way out of pornography. It’s about magnifying Christ and living for something that will never fade.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Alexander the Great story and spiritual parallel
Hebrews 12:1–4 | Philippians 2 | 1 Peter 2 | 2 Corinthians 8:9
Quotes from Charles Spurgeon
The “Murph Workout” analogy to carrying spiritual weight
A free community for men: themanofvalor.com
Upcoming live workshop: How to Meditate on the Word of God (register inside the group)
For the Christian man, pornography use is at an all-time high. The most recent statistics indicate that 51% of all Americans seek out porn. And even though 80% of pastors believe porn use is a massive issue in their church, only 7% say they have a way to help men who desire to live a life of purity.
This podcast is for brothers in Christ who are struggling with porn and want to walk in sexual purity. We will explore how the Gospel destroys sexual sin and how a Christian man can leave the shame and guilt of habitual porn use behind and enjoy fellowship with Christ and live a life of purpose.
This is a Natural Porn Killer podcast.
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