Rescue Skills: Essential Skills for Restoring the Sexually Broken

by Deepak Reju, Jonathan D. Holmes

Do you know someone who is struggling with pornography use? Unfortunately, it’s likely that you do—but you may not know how to help. In this book, counselors Deepak Reju and Jonathan Holmes provide a treasure trove of straightforward, biblical strategies for guiding a fellow believer toward recovery. You’ll learn how to listen well, develop a plan, understand the body’s role in sexual struggles, and, by God’s grace, keep your friend focused on Christ throughout his or her journey to freedom.

Although it can stand alone, Rescue Plan pairs with Rescue Skills, also by Reju and Holmes, for maximum effectiveness.

Endorsements
“Has the potential to . . . change the way you offer ministry to women and men who battle sexual sin.”

—Ellen Mary Dykas, Women’s Ministry Director, Harvest USA

“The most realistic yet hope-filled book I’ve read on helping people with pornography.”

—Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

“Compassionate, fresh, practical, convicting, and reproducible. . . . The right book at the right time.”

—Dave Harvey, President, Great Commission Collective

“Offers the most comprehensive approach . . . to equip counselors to offer wise, practical, biblical advice to people who indulge in pornography.”

—Jim Newheiser, Executive Director, The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship

“A stockpile of necessary wisdom. . . . Your arsenal will be filled with multidimensional tactics specific to the battle against porn.”

—Jenny & Curtis Solomon, Authors, Reclaim Your Marriage and Redeem Your Marriage

“Accessible, practical, and dripping with grace—it’s a book I’ll undoubtedly be coming back to time and again.”

—Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources, Biblical Counselling UK

Genres: Counselling, Christian Living, Theology

259 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2021

About the author

Deepak Reju, MDiv, PhD, serves as the Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministry at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and is a contributing author in Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling and the forthcoming Scripture and Counseling. Deepak and his wife, Sarah, have been married over ten years and have five children.

Reviews

[Mark Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great companion book to Rescue Plan which brings practical advice for counseling those ensnared by porn addiction. I’ll certainly be revisiting these lessons which can easily be adapted to other enslaving sin struggles.

[Andrew Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deepak and Jonathan capture years of counseling experience with solid theology in a concise and acutely written book on how to disciple those walking through the mud of porn. The book is both inspirational and hopeful for the struggler and disciple; a valuable resource in the Christian’s library for aid in carrying the burdens of others.

[Jennifer Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read along with Rescue Plan for every counsellor and helper in the church. Pornography is a pervasive problem, even among Christians, and we should all be equipped to help a friend be freed from their addiction.

[Brittany Lee Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful for discipleship relationships. An important resource.

[Jacob Hudgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this book: the authors take porn use very seriously from a spiritual, biblical perspective (and though it is about the “sexually broken,” porn is the main topic here). They have good advice to share with those who are disciplers/accountability partners. They stress discerning fake repentance from genuine repentance, which is both biblical and practical. I especially appreciated the reminder that porn use is just one part of a broader person with his/her own spiritual relationship, hopes and dreams, etc. The connection they made between male porn use and male aggressiveness was also novel and thought-provoking. I also appreciated the sections about recovering from a fall and recovering a vision for beauty.

What I didn’t like: the book was just amazingly repetitive. Seems like every chapter just kept saying “replace their love of porn with love of Christ.” I know this is the goal, but I bought the book because this is harder than simple statements. Just as with Rescue Plan, I wish they had just talked through their process from start to finish.

Still would recommend this for people working with porn addicts, but I thought it could have been better.

[Andy Yeung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really an insightful and practical, down to earth book equipping the counselor/discipler to walk alongside a brother/sister in putting sexual sin to death.

While specifically targeting sexual sin, many principles translate across other battles with sin (as is the nature of sanctification), so it was additionally helpful for my own soul in recognizing ways in which I can be better addressing and battling my own struggles with sin

[Seth Hensarling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this accurately describes the purity struggle because in the anecdotes I saw myself, in lessons I learned painfully. Praise God for his grace and patience to teach us the hard way, but how I would have loved for some of these truths to take root sooner!

I reread the last chapter on Fighting Battle Weariness multiple times. What a gift to have repentance available immediately plus the timeless strengthening from considering Christ’s character, namely His endurance.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The companion to “Rescue Plan” is a worthwhile book in discipling and shepherding God’s people in the pornographic age. This book brings clarity to interacting with those seeking to fight sin and provides helpful questions to rebuke, exhort, and encouraging those who are fighting to be holy.

[Paul Herriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tremendously helpful book. The authors clearly are practitioners, and that fills this book with wisdom and useful antidotes. I am excited to read the accompanying book. There is a real need for more equipped helpers for those who need helped.

[Caroline Hurdt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on discipling and counseling those struggling with sexual sin. Lots of practical questions, filled with the truth of the gospel, helpful examples that didn’t take over the chapters. This is a book I will continue to go back and reference again and again.

[Tiana Raw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most practical book to help those who have loved ones who struggle with porn. Definitely rooted in scripture, strange with its use of pronouns in the book but I understand they don’t want to limit the book to 1 gender.

[Andy Ardern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended for all helping someone who struggles with pornography and sexual sin

[Junha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book good. Narrator not good.

[Joshua]

This is a joint book to go along with Rescue Plan. Beneficial for anyone trying to help someone struggling.

[Derrick Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Crystal]

Read this for a biblical counseling course. Very good!

[Sharayah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“God’s Word, and especially the good news of the gospel, is crucial to a believer’s battle. The gospel is the good news that Jesus died and rose again for sinners. The gospel is not an intellectual idea to be acknowledged and accepted; rather, it’s the news about Jesus as a personal Savior. Christ himself is the struggler’s hope, strength, and provision against temptations.” (pg. 154)

This is a companion book to "Rescue Plan." It is written for people who are wanting to help those who are struggling with sexual sin.