Every Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker
Week 3: Part Two — How We Got Here
Read Part Two, Chapters 3–5 of Every Man's Battle. Key Scripture: Genesis 3:6; Proverbs 6:25-26; Job 31:1.
Previewing Week 3 of Every Man's Battle
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
These chapters trace the roots of the struggle — biological, experiential, and cultural — helping us understand not just that we struggle, but why. Understanding the roots is not an excuse; it's a map toward the exit.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.The authors argue that men are 'wired visually' — that male sexuality is powerfully stimulated by visual images in a way that differs from women. How does understanding this biological dimension help clarify the nature of the battle? Does it create sympathy for yourself, or does it feel like an excuse?
2.Arterburn and Stoeker describe how early sexual experiences — pornography discovered as a child, sexual experimentation in adolescence, imprinting of certain images — establish grooves that persist into adulthood. Can you identify moments in your own history where grooves were formed that still affect you today?
3.The authors use the metaphor of a 'defense perimeter' that has been gradually worn away over time through small compromises. What were some of the small compromises — a movie, a website, a habit of looking — that widened the breach in your own life?