Wives

Key #2 Building Intimacy

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There is a powerful lie in our culture about marriage – that Christians and non-Christians have the same rates of marital happiness, adultery, and divorce. This powerful lie keeps non-Christians from coming to church to get help for their family. And, this powerful lie also keeps Christians discouraged and feeling like hypocrites. But, this lie is untrue and the most comprehensive sociological research proves that church attending, Bible reading, prayer uttering Christians have the best marriages of any group of people. In this sermon, Pastor Mark blows up the cultural lie and replaces it with biblical truth as we learn the 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your marriage and family.

Churches Are for Marriage, Not Just Weddings | Hebrews 10:24–25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…

Key #1 Becoming Relationally Healthy

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This week we examine the woman at the well as a case study in relationships. Through her example, we learn that until we have a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ, we are relationally unhealthy. Therefore, our relationship with Jesus Christ through which we experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to heal our hurts and bring us health has to be our first relationship priority. Do you have a healthy growing relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit to nurture and heal your soul at the deepest levels of your being?

Is there such a thing as “the one”?

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This week both Joseph in Malaysia and Donna in Canada wrote in asking about dating and marriage: Will God choose ‘the one’ we are supposed to marry or date? Is there such a thing as ‘the one’? The myth that everyone has a “soul mate” finds its non-biblical origin with the philosopher Plato. This destructive … Read more

Under Authority Like Christ

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Some of the most hotly debated issues of today are about issues of gender and authority. The three positions on gender roles are egalitarian feminism, hierarchical chauvinism, and complementarian chivalry.

Divorce and Remarriage

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The church at Corinth was confused over issues pertaining to divorce and remarriage and asked Paul a number of questions. Due to the prevalence of divorce in our culture this sermon is based upon Paul’s answers to the Corinthians as well as answering many of the questions asked about divorce.

Good Sex, Bad Sex

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The Corinthian Church was filled with people who were in all sorts of sexual sin. Paul spoke frankly about the difference between good sex and bad sex while also refuting their silly arguments denying that the lordship of Jesus extended over their pants…

VII. DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY

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God rightly compares marriage to a vine. You’ve got to invest a lot, and you’ve got to wait a long time. You’re going to need to be patient and tending to it if you want it to grow and be fruitful. Adultery is like a Weed eater that carelessly severs the vine’s base, killing it in an instant.

Jesus Is a Better Esther

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Jesus is a better Esther who came into human history as one of God’s people. God’s people in the Persian Empire were spared death because Esther finally identified with them, but all of God’s people are spared eternal death because Jesus Christ identifies with us. We are all Haman; we will either hang on our own cross for our own sin like him, or Jesus hung on a cross in our place for our sin.

Jesus Has a Better Kingdom

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Xerxes was the greatest king in the history of the world to his day, but in his kingdom, addictions were fed, men were castrated, and women were mistreated. Every generation chases the same foolish myth: if we could just get a good king with a good kingdom, then we’d have a heavenly life on a fallen earth. But when fallen, faulty, flawed sinners sit on a throne, you never get a glorious kingdom.

Selfish Lovers and Servant Lovers

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Jesus is the unselfish servant, but we are all selfish. Our selfishness is rooted in pride; we believe “I’m more important than you.” Proud people are selfish lovers, in and out of the bedroom (and most problems in the bedroom are the result of problems outside of the bedroom). Selfishness shows up in the “little things,” the little foxes that gnaw at and destroy the roots of the precious vine of a marriage. Are you proud and selfish, or are you a humble servant, by the grace of God?