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.

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.

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)

“You don’t need another strategy. You need surrender.”

In this episode, Spencer unpacks what the Word of God reveals about overcoming sin, walking by the Spirit, and living with power in a world designed to defeat you.

We start with a battle scene—one king, 580,000 soldiers… facing an army of over 1 million. And what unfolds becomes a divine blueprint for anyone locked in a fight they’re losing—especially the fight against porn, shame, guilt, and the flesh.

But this isn’t a sin-management strategy. This is about warfare. Worship. Total surrender.

• The 5 biblical steps to spiritual victory drawn from King Asa’s story

• Why most men live powerless, defeated lives—and don’t even realize it

• The subtle trap of chasing relief over relationship with Christ

• Why “half-hearted” Christianity guarantees defeat

• What it really means to “walk by the Spirit” in 2025

• How success in God’s eyes has nothing to do with streaks, stats, or milestones

• The most honest prayer you can pray as a man today

“Unless you are helpless before God, you will have no victory.”

“You can’t drag your flesh behind you and expect to walk by the Spirit.”

“Men will do anything—buy anything—except the one thing Scripture commands: surrender.”

“If you’re not giving God your whole heart… just be okay with defeat.”

• Men battling porn or any other stronghold

• Anyone who’s tired of temporary victory and longs for deep change

• Believers who feel spiritually dry, weak, or stuck

• Those who want to move from “flesh-driven” to Spirit-led living

• 2 Chronicles 14 & 15 (King Asa’s battle and covenant)

• 1 Corinthians 3 (Carnal vs. spiritual Christians)

• Romans 8 (Life in the Spirit)

• Luke 9 & Matthew 16 (Radical discipleship)

In this soul-stirring episode of Porn and the Gospel, Spencer dives deep into one of the boldest prayers ever recorded in Scripture—the moment Moses stood between God and a rebellious people and said, “Blot me out of your book.”

What gives a man such courage? What kind of intimacy with God allows you to pray not just for yourself—but with fire and urgency for others?

You’ll discover:

• Why your freedom from sin is about God’s glory, not just your relief.

• The missing link in most men’s prayer lives—and how to restore it.

• Why habitual sin kills your concern for others—and how intercessory prayer breaks that cycle.

• What Paul and Moses shared in common when they prayed.

• A powerful, practical prayer from Ephesians 3 you can start praying today—for your wife, your brother, or even someone far from God.

Spencer brings Scripture, vulnerability, and a call to arms for every man who wants to go deeper in his walk with God and learn how to intercede with boldness.

• Exodus 32:30–32, 33:13–18

• Ephesians 3:14–21

• Galatians 6:1–2

• Who are you praying for with boldness?

• Is God’s glory your deepest motivation—or are you just asking for relief?

• What would happen in your life if you began praying like Moses and Paul?

• You’re tired of surface-level prayers.

• You’re ready to be used by God to bring restoration and revival.

• You know someone drifting away from the faith and want to fight for them in prayer.

In this episode, we'll discusses the struggles many men face in breaking free from destructive habits like pornography and masturbation. Based on scripture, we'll outline three key conditions for achieving spiritual fulfillment and joy: recognizing one's deep thirst and desires, believing in the truth and promises of the word of God, and asking the Holy Spirit to dwell in one's life.