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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.”

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.

• 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.”

• 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

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.