Dear Friends,

There is no greater influence in our lives than our family of origin, except God himself.  Jesus spoke with great authority and concern about marriage and family.  The threats against having a healthy lifetime marriage are so numerous and destructive that many avoid marriage or resign themselves to failure.  Most of us have been deeply hurt directly or indirectly by divorce at some point in our lives.

Ever since sin entered the world, conflict and betrayal have been the norm among humans. Jesus was willing to teach us how to deal with the “Marriage Mess”.  This Sunday I will teach on four practices that must be replaced to have a lasting healthy marriage. These things apply no matter how long you have been married or what shape your marriage is in.  So, invite your adult kids and all your friends that could use Gods help with their marriage.Blessings,

Blessings,
Joe

Mat 5:27-30 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

• How does the rise of pornographic culture encourage the habit of seeing oneself and others as objects rather than persons?
• How does feeding lust undermine marriage?
• Why is Jesus just as concerned with the heart and mind as the actions?

Mat 5:31-32 “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

• How should followers of Jesus think differently about their marriage commitment?
• Why should couples avoid threatening divorce as a tactic to win arguments?
• Is divorce commanded for unfaithfulness?
• Why was divorce allowed?

Mat 19:8-10 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning, it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.”

• It’s been said -Marry for all of life, or do not marry for all your life. The force of Jesus’ teaching about marriage in the Sermon on the Mount is permanence. When we think about marriage, permanence should be our emphasis as well.
• How serious does Jesus say we should take our word?

Mat 5:33-37 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

• Does this mean we should never swear any oaths?
• How can you strengthen your life in verbal honesty? 

“Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Our words should always match our deeds. The ease with which we can deceive others (and ourselves) should encourage us to be vigilant in this area.”