All Things Christmas!

Sermons

← back to list

Jan 12, 2014

To Have and to Hold (part 5)

Passage: Matthew 5:31-32

Preacher: Travis Fleming

Series:Upside Down Actions

Detail:

Applying Jesus' words in Matthew 5 requires us...

1.  Delving into God's plan for marriage.
     We can see marriage is...
          A.  Rooted in creation.
          B.  Defined by a couple (male & female).
          C.  Entered into by covenant.
          D.  Fixed by a permanent commitment.
          E.  Consummated by cleaving on the honeymoon night.
     As God wills, it was...
          F.  Established to bring about godly children.
     And can only be...
          G.  Dissolved in certain circumstances.
          These involve...
               1.  Death of a spouse.
               2.  Desertion by an unbelieving spouse.
               3.  Defiling of the marriage bond through unrepentant sexual immorality.
               *While it is true that these three allowances are biblical, remarriage is never
                 commanded, but is always a concession.

2.  Grasping marriage's meaning.
     Requires understanding that marriage is...
          A.  At the foundation of society.
          B.  One of God's prescriptions for loneliness.
          C.  The greatest picture of our salvation.
          D.  One of the means of our sanctification.
          E.  Essential to establishing our identification.
          F.  A means of protection for the family.
          G.  A help in the preservation of society.
          H.  A help in our physical satisfaction.

3.  Leaving behind the mess marriage is in today.
     Jesus says that marriage is a mess because of the...
          A.  Hardening of our hearts.
     And for us to leave the mess behind means...
          B.  Disavowing divorce.
          C.  Committing to the covenant we made.
     And may mean prayerfully...
          D.  Seeking reconciliation with your spouse.
          E.  Staying single.
     And remember Jesus' death enables us all to be...
          F.  Finding forgiveness.