Sermon Central
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Marriage In An Iworld
Contributed by David Mcclain on Jul 22, 2018 (message contributor)
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1. Revisiting God’s Design For Marriage: Lego Vs. Painter Views Of M
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Marriage is God’s construct designed for companionship, procreation, and permanence. If we approach marriage as an inviolable covenant that models Christ and the church, we must seek whatever avenues are necessary to restore them when damaged.
OPENING SENTENCE: When my sons were younger they spent hundreds of hours playing with Legos. INTRODUCTION: We bought dozens of kits each with assembly instructions. The kits included pirate ships, castles, police and fire stations, exotic vacation places, spaceships, Star Wars themes and more. ...read more
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2. Knowing What Is Good For You
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Marriage is threatened when we question the goodness of God’s design. Sin and disobedience is the result of believing that God is withholding something from us and we know better than Him what is good for us—so we pursue our own path.
OPENING SENTENCE: I can remember when I was still in High School my sister was watching a romance movie where the handsome main character was telling his beautiful recently discovered true love the depth of his everlasting love. INTRODUCTION: While I was trying to hold back my natural guy gag ...read more
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3. Broken People Produce Broken Marriages
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
We cannot fix relationships until we first realize we are broken, sinful people that God loves and wants to restore. The self-obsession of broken, sinful people creates a seeks to hide our flaws and blame others for them when exposed.
OPENING SENTENCE: I had an uncle who started to have a pain in his neck that caused him to lean his head to the left side and constantly wince in pain. INTRODUCTION: Doctors could not diagnosis the problem so he lived with the pain for years. In time his neck began to permanently lean to the ...read more
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4. The Evidential Case For Marriage
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Big Idea: The Bible and evidence overwhelming shows that the emotional, economic, physical and sexual benefits of marriage between a man and woman are essential to the well-being of any society.
OPENING SENTENCE: There is an old joke, not a very good one and one I am sure most of you have heard, but it lays the groundwork for my sermon today so I will tell it nonetheless. It goes like this: INTRODUCTION: God was once approached by a scientist who said, “Listen God, we’ve decided we ...read more
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5. The Divorce Decision
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
The marriage covenant is to be a permanent bond that is created by God Himself. Jesus responds to the disciple’s surprise at His stringent view of divorce and remarriage by stating that only
OPENING SETENCE: There is an old nursery rhyme called “Humpty Dumpty.” INTRODUCTION: Of course we all know it. We can quote it better than most Bible verses. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men. Couldn’t put Humpty ...read more
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6. God’s High View Of Submission
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
The marriage covenant is to be a permanent bond that is created by God Himself. Jesus responds to the disciple’s surprise at His stringent view of divorce by stating that only those willing to abandon everything for the sake of kingdom can accept it.
OPENING SENTENCE: Many of you may not know the name Tim Keller but he is well known as a very successful pastor who built the largest church In New York City, an area considered very difficult to reach, and he did it without gimmicks or watering down the gospel. INTRODUCTION: To honor his ...read more
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7. A Tough Act To Follow
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
A husband needs to follow the model of Jesus by providing selfless, loving servant- leadership with his wife.
OPENING SENTENCE: A rather common but not recommended comment you might hear from a frustrated parent is, “Why can’t you be more like your older brother?” INTRODUCTION: Needless to say, it is intended to motivate the child to try harder and give him/her a model of what proper behavior should ...read more
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8. Fairy Tale Marriages: The Hidden Dangers Of Romantic Love
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Love must be more than romantic love. When romance supersedes covenant as the central bond of marriage, the stability of that relationship is subject to
OPENING SENTENCE: Over the years I have officiated or observed the marriage of quite a few people and with it have seen a significant change in the nature of the couple's wedding vows. INTRODUCTION: In years past the focus of the vow was on the promise to love, honor and cherish until death do ...read more
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9. Unwritten Contracts
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
There is a potentially destructive tension when our expectations of our spouse do not match our reality. We reduce the tension when we create more realistic expectations and identify and agree
OPENING SENTENCE: There is a popular commercial series from that has a character named “Captain Obvious.” INTRODUCTION: One of the common themes of the commercials is that the internet pictures and information on the hotel you booked does not always match up to what you really get. I can ...read more
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10. Conflict Management In Your Marriage
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
We reduce destructive marital conflict when we identify and address the source of desperation that drives it.
OPENING SENTENCE: Vaunda had an aunt who had been married for over forty years to the same man before he passed away long before her. INTRODUCTION: When they were both alive Vaunda and I would travel south to visit with them in Monterey, California and they were always very welcoming and ...read more
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11. Our Secret Fears
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
We overcome the deepest fears that negatively impact our marriages by learning to be content in Christ alone.
OPENING SENTENCE: Sometimes when you hear someone like myself preach on an issue you wonder if we can really understand what you are dealing with in your own life. INTRODUCTION: Let’s face it, sometimes life can be hard and the admonition to trust Jesus, or let God take control, etc. can come ...read more
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12. How To Handle Betrayal And Rejection In Marriage
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Anger at betrayal can is resolved by restorative confrontation.
OPENING SENTENCE: The husband of a young woman at the church I pastored years ago had horrible spending habits. INTRODUCTION: He was a man who seldom worked and always had an excuse for why- none of them was very convincing. He was healthy, capable and jobs were available but none suited his ...read more
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13. The Anatomy Of Adultery
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Being committed to God and our spouse protects you from inappropriate relationships.
OPENING SENTENCE: Something that stirred up controversy some weeks ago was the US vice-president, Mike Pence stated to the Hill that he practiced the “Billy Graham” rule. INTRODUCTION: That meant that he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife and that he won’t attend events ...read more
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14. Cohabitation- Building A Relationship On A Shaky Foundation.
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Building a healthy lasting relationship requires both parties to commit to a permanent covenant relationship with God and others.
OPENING SENTENCE: Back in my UPS days one of the workers who worked across the belt from me as we loaded package cars was a guy named Gary. INTRODUCTION: Somehow we got on the topic of marriage and he told us that he saw no need for marriage or at least the publically recognized covenant we ...read more
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15. I Think I Married The Wrong Person
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
The bond of marriage is grounded in the covenant- not in the ideal person.
OPENING SENTENCE: Some years ago there was a popular movie whose message was that somewhere in the world is a perfect soul mate made just for you in heaven- you just have to find him/her. INTRODUCTION: The movie, called “Made in Heaven” tells the story of two people who had a few chance ...read more
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16. Married To A Fool
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Being married to a fool requires great wisdom and maturity.
OPENING SENTENCE: His name was Mike. INTRODUCTION: Mike was wealthy and very generous. He could be likable and charming and I am sure his wife saw those attributes when she married him. But, there was another side to Mike- he could be very opinionated and controlling leading him at times to ...read more
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17. Life Crisis’s That Impact Marriages
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
When dealing with a major life crisis let God handle what you and your spouse cannot.
OPENING SENTENCE: Not long before Vaunda and I moved to Canada we the got news about Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman tragically losing his daughter. INTRODUCTION: Stephen and most of his family were at home and the younger kids were playing outside. The family included 3 naturally ...read more
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18. Money And Marriage
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Money issues in marriage are resolved when couples put the Kingdom of Heaven first.
OPENING SENTENCE: Let me read a story that has been lived out in thousands of homes. INTRODUCTION: “Making no effort to be quiet, Graham comes to bed. It's about 1:00 a.m. Anna has been asleep for three hours, but she's wide awake now. "Anna," says Graham, "we're never going to make it if you ...read more
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19. The Addictions That Destroy
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
The Spirit of God frees a person from the addictions that destroy marriages
OPENING SENTENCE: On Facebook the other day I ran across a post that reveals the heart of a young girl toward her father. INTRODUCTION: It reads: Dear “Dad", Don’t worry, I'm fine. You were a good dad when you were clean. but you could never seem to stay that way. It seemed like even I wasn't ...read more
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20. Parenting: Training Up A Child In The Things Of God.
Contributed on Jul 22, 2018
Parents must agree on the values and principles for childrearing
OPENING SENTENCE: Let me read to you a mothers account of a typical day in her household. INTRODUCTION: Like last night. I had repeatedly asked Addy to go pee before bed, and repeatedly asked Peyton to stop throwing Addy’s pillows. When neither of them listened to me, Peter yelled from the ...read more
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21. They May Not Break Bones But Words Can Still Hurt.
Contributed on Jul 23, 2018
Taming the tongue is vital to healthy communication in marriage.
OPENING SENTENCE: I was surprised when I heard some time ago that scholar Ruth Tucker was divorcing her husband for domestic violence. INTRODUCTION: Most of you probably don’t know who Ruth Tucker is. She was a Ph.D. missions’ professor at Trinity Evangelical Seminary and is considered by many ...read more