Sermons About Marriage
HONORING THE MARRIAGE COVENANT AND ENJOYING GOD'S FAVOR (Malachi 2:10-16 * Message #3/6) 08-23-09
INTRODUCTION TO TODAY’S MESSAGE: 1) Relevance to our Daily Lives: Understanding God’s beautiful and protective plan for marriage; Taking to heart the consequences of marital sins and the connection between spiritual growth & healthy marriages; and Enjoying God’s favor by supporting/living out godly marriages and by seeking reconciliation after divorce. 2) The Six Disputations in Malachi (appearing in chiasmic form): Chiasm: a literary structure with reoccurring themes and a common center (often used in Scripture). For example, instead of 6 topics being arranged in an outline form as “ABCDEF”, a chiasm might consist of three topics that are each repeated, in this order “ABCCBA” (or a variation of this such as “ABBABBA”). In the outline below, notice God’s disputes with Israel concern 3 topics, each mentioned twice: (Israel’s Experience of God; Israel’s Offerings; & Israel’s ungodliness). --> A. God’s Love & Israel’s Experience (1:1-5): The LORD rebukes Israel for doubting His love, and says they will proclaim His greatness when He judges their enemies; --> B. God’s Name & Israel’s Offerings (1:6 - 2:9): The LORD rebukes the priests for accepting Israel’s half-hearted, begrudging offerings that dishonor God’s name; --> C. God’s Favor & Godly Marriages (2:10-16): The LORD rebukes Israel for those men who have married women outside of the Jewish faith and for divorcing their Jewish wives, and consequently God withholds His favor from them; --> C’. God’s Justice & Godly Living (2:17 - 3:5): The LORD rebukes Israel for her ungodly living (adultery & social injustices) while Israel questions God’s justice (as evil doers seem to go unpunished), but God will purify His people & judge sinners; --> B’. God’s Faithfulness & Israel’s Offerings (3:6-12): The LORD rebukes Israel for giving offerings half-heartedly, begrudgingly, and assures His people that they will experience His faithful provisions if they return wholeheartedly to God; --> A’. God’s Promise & Israel’s Experience (3:13 - 4:6): The LORD rebukes Israel’s blasphemous complaints against Him (that it is futile to serve God), and He assures the faithful remnant that they will experience His promise of the coming blessing, because they are His treasured possession. 3) Two Reoccurring Phrases in Malachi: --> “The LORD of hosts” - Israel’s personal God (Yahweh) reigns over all; --> “… but you say…” - refers to the disputes Israel has against her God. HONORING THE MARRIAGE COVENANT: --> In light of God and His Creation (v10); --> Thru Our Covenant with God (vs10-12); --> As a Covenant between a Man and a Woman (vs13-15) [including Companionship & Oneness]; --> By Multiplying Godly Offspring (v15). ENJOYING GOD’S FAVOR: --> By Guarding our Spirits against Compromise (vs15-16); --> By Confronting Domestic Violence & Overcoming It (vs15-16) [see: the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233 Website: www.ndvh.org]; --> By Preserving Marriages and Finding Healing after Divorce (vs10-16).
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The Happy Marriage
Looks at the issue of submission in marriage as presented in St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 5
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New People, Same Message
Jesus talks about marriage and divorce, using that as a context to talk about a bigger message of being close to Him.
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The Vow of Priority
This is the first of 4 messages about marriage. The truth is that everybody needs to discover the one in order to find joy and fulfillment in life. In this message you learn how important it is that everybody finds the one.
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Just How Married Do You Want to Be?
Ever considered God's plan for marriage? Whether you are married now or look forward to getting married one day, listen to Jim and Sarah Sumner share their insights from God's Word and their own life experiences to inspire us to love God and love our spouses more.
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Perspective On Marriage
A successful marriage is more than just finishing life together. Jesus is our template as well as our Helper.
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Set in Stone: What Do We Do with the Ten Commandments? Part 7
Jesus expands the reach of the seventh commandment, "Do not commit adultery" from a physical act to a state of the heart.
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Dream Big
Life is more enjoyable when you are connected with your spouse. No duh, right? But the number of couples who live their lives in isolation is staggering. Take a look around the church and you’ll see them everywhere. They may be doing their best to look like they are “together” but sadly it’s just an act. They aren’t connected to their spouse and they definitely aren’t connected to a larger community. This isn’t a condemnation, just a reality. We want to change that.
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Money In Your Marriage
Genesis 2 gives us the picture of what marriage is supposed to be like before sin entered the picture; it gives us implications for money in our marriages. We are to leave, cleave, and become one with our spouse. Your spouse is supposed to be your primary financial consideration. You should strive to be on the same page financially and share everything. If you are a parent, you should teach and train your children about the biblical view of money.
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