Thriving Parents Info | Email from Nov 14, 2025
Good Afternoon!
The following is from a resource I highly recommend called AXIS, a Christian parenting resource. For more information about AXIS keep reading.
“A mom recently wrote to us after using one of our Parent Guides. What she shared about a hard—but powerful—conversation with her 13-year-old daughter stopped us in our tracks.
Here’s what she told us:
“After reading your Parent Guide on Pornography, I asked my daughter if she had watched or was watching porn.
Through tears, she said, ‘Mom, I have a problem. I’ve been watching porn on Instagram for the last six months.’
I kissed her and told her I was proud of her for being brave enough to admit it.
Then she said, ‘Why are you such a good mom? I thought you were gonna yell and be mad at me.’
I told her, ‘Honey, I’m just doing with you what God does with me all the time.’”
Because of one conversation—and one Axis resource—this mom and daughter went from isolation to healing.
They made a plan. Together.
From Barna Research: “The majority of practicing Christians with a history of porn use (74%) say no one is helping them avoid porn.” And, “Just over half of practicing Christians (54%) report consuming porn with some level of frequency.”
We have a problem, and no one is talking about it. Adults, teens and in some cases, younger are struggling with sexual sin but we rarely talk about it in a way that is brings it out of the darkness into the light of the Gospel.
Recently, in class, we spent time meditating and discussing Luke 7:36-50.
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly”. Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The woman went to Jesus, ignoring the awkwardness of the party, taking her sin (most likely sexual sin), guilt and shame. Jesus’ response is fascinating. “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.” It seems it is not the amount of sin committed but whether we admit we are a sinner. Can we stop hiding our sin and admit we need forgiveness? I wonder what church would be like if it were more like an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting. “Hi, I’m Marty and I am a __________ (fill in your addiction).” At least in my mind, it seems this is more of what it should be instead of all of us acting like we have it all together. I also think our teens would be more willing to admit that they are struggling too. Don’t get me wrong here. I am not saying we should tell everyone our dark secrets. Tell someone. You pastor, Christian friend someone who can remind you of God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. Expose it to the light. Sin and it’s hold on us loses its power when we confess it. Also, we need to regularly confess our sin together in prayer to our Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace, individually and in church as the Body of Christ. He loves us in our darkest moments and is with us in our pain. Remember that the Bible (and if you need a summary, see Hebrews 11) is full of extremely broken people. Romans 7 is a reminder that even the Apostle Paul struggled with sin but we have a Rescuer, a Redeemer, Jesus!
Thriving Parents Meeting
Monday, November 17, in room 032 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM Please consider coming to Thriving Parents on Monday, November 17. We will be discussing some of the things teens are dealing with regarding pornography. How do we handle this and pray for our kids. Come and bring a friend!!! Remaining dates for Thriving Parents this year: November 17, January 12, February 23, March 23, April 20, and May 11.
In Him all things hold together,
Marty Kohlwey
Director of Campus Ministry
Resources
The War Between Ourselves | Tim Keller
When Anxiety Attacks: Helping Kids Navigate Fear, Doubt, & Insecurity
Our Civilizational Moment: The Crisis of the West & the Clash of Worldviews w/ Os Guinness
AXIS