Check here each week for information to prepare your heart for the upcoming sermon and follow-up questions you can use after the sermon to dig deeper and disciple your family!
Marriage and Divorce
Marriage and Divorce – Matthew 19:1-12
Notes
Digging Deeper:
-What is God’s design for marriage? How is divorce contrary to this design?
-What is incorrect about the Pharisees’ second question (see v7)?
-How can marriage glorify God? How is singleness an opportunity to bring glory to God?
Other passages to consider:
Gen 1:27; 2:18-25; Deut 24:1-4; Mal 2:16; Matt 5:31-32; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 7:6-16; Eph 5:22-33.
Take Marriage Seriously
Take Marriage Seriously – Matthew 5:31-32
Sermon Notes:
1) Man’s Corruption – Easy divorce ______________
2) God’s Intention – One man and one woman in a ________________ of loving companionship
3) Christ’s Restoration – ____________ and ____________ to glorify God in your life and marriage
Digging Deeper:
- Why did God create marriage?
- What does marriage display about God and the Gospel?
- If married, what could you do this week to build into your marriage?
- Whether single, married, divorced, or widowed – how does the Gospel speak into your current life situation?
Other Passages to Consider:
Genesis 2:18-25; Isa 1:18; Joel 2:25; Matt 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 7:1-16; Eph 5:22-33.
Singleness Commended, but not Commanded
Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 – Singleness Commended, but not Commanded
Preparing my heart for the sermon:
- What reasons does Paul give in this passage for a believer remaining single?
- How does a spouse and children help in glorifying the Lord? How could they be a hindrance to serving Christ?
- Does marriage and family make it harder or easier to endure calamities and persecution? Explain.
Other passages to consider – Ps 145:13; Matt 6:19-33; 22:30; 24:36-51; Jn 16:33; Philippians 3:12-4:1; 1 Jn 2:15-17
Digging Deeper:
- What are the right reasons to get married? What should a believer look for in a spouse?
- What temporary things of this world often distract me from investing in Christ’s eternal kingdom?
- Do I have the right balance between family time and serving the Lord? How could we serve as a family?
- Where might God be calling me to serve during this season of my life? Am I willing?
Serve Christ Where God Has Placed You
Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – Serve Christ Where God Has Placed You
Preparing my heart for the sermon:
- Why does Paul bring up circumcision and slavery in a chapter on marriage? How does the point of this passage relate to what Paul has been saying about marriage and singleness?
- Think about how radical a statement v19 was for Paul, a Jew and former Pharisee, to make. (see also Gal 5:6)
- How should God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness impact my attitude about my current situation?
Other passages to consider – Acts 17:24-26; Rom 8:28-29; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 9:17-23; 12:1-20; 2 Cor 4:5-6; Gal 3:27-29; Titus 2:11-1; 1 Pet 2:9-10;
Digging Deeper:
- How can I serve Christ right now where God has placed me?
- What particular experiences or qualities has God given me that could be used to bring Him glory?
- Why does God make up the church with diverse people?
- How do I know when I should seek to change my situation?
Trusting/Obeying/Serving God Whether Single or Married
Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 – Trusting/Obeying/Serving God Whether Single or Married
Preparing my heart for the sermon:
- What is marriage? Why did God design marriage to be life-long?
- How would a change in marital status affect your service to the Lord?
- Why might an unbeliever leave his/her Christian spouse?
Other passages to consider – Gen 2:18-25; Ps 37; Prov 3:5-6; Matt 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Eph 5:22-33; 1 Pet 3:1-12
Digging Deeper:
- What are the right reasons to get married? What are the wrong ones?
- Describe the impact Christians can have on the rest of the family.
- If I am single and long to be married, what should I focus on right now?
- How can I trust God and be a blessing in my marriage?
Marriage and Family to the Glory of God
Sermon – Marriage and Family to the Glory of God – Genesis 2:18-25
Preparing your heart for the sermon:
- Who created marriage? For what purpose?
- Where did sexual desire come from? Why do we have it?
- How is our society’s view of children different from the Bible’s?
Other passages to consider: Ps 78:1-8; 127:3-5; Song of Songs (entire book); 1 Cor 7:1-5; Eph 5:22-33
Digging Deeper:
- How did the view of marriage and family change during the Protestant Reformation?
- Husbands, ask your wife – “Do you feel more like a wife or a mother?” Find out how you can build into her as your wife.
- What steps could you take to pursue companionship and romance with your spouse?
- What is our vision for how we would like to see our kids following Christ by the time they leave our home?
- Recognizing it is God who changes hearts, what should we be doing now as a family in order for that to happen?