Divorce on SermonAudio

A sermon on being in the world, but not of it.

4:01 Does the Bible call us to apologize to others as well as repent to God? 7:00 Is it okay to attend two different churches on a Sunday morning? 11:22 How should I confront my family that has allowed people in my family to be abused and victimized? 13:11 How do you get my child to see their need for Christ amidst ongoing disobedience? 19:55 Is pornography in a marriage unfaithfulness and grounds for divorce? 22:45 What will the Holy Spirit's role be in eternity? 27:48 What do you think about prominent pastors who step down and say they are now agnostic and atheist? 35:29 How do I find a balance between sharing the gospel and talking about everyday things with non-Christians? 39:58 What do you think about people who have an internet ordained pastor marry them? 42:43 What do we do with pastors who associate with speakers we don't agree with? 48:24 Did the Centurion who gave Jesus sour wine on the cross trying to disgrace him?

In Matthew 5:31–32, Jesus continues exposing the shallow righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees by confronting the misuse of divorce. Deuteronomy 24 regulated divorce in a fallen society; it did not command or celebrate covenant-breaking. Christ takes us back to creation, where marriage is God's joining of one man and one woman in a one-flesh covenant ordinarily intended for life. Jesus rejects casual divorce while recognizing sexual immorality as a genuine exception, not a command to divorce. Scripture also addresses willful desertion in 1 Corinthians 7 and requires pastoral judgment in difficult cases. Civil paperwork cannot determine righteousness before God. Yet this passage is not without hope. Christ receives repentant covenant-breakers, protects those sinned against, and calls His people to faithful obedience. Christian marriage ultimately points beyond itself to Jesus Christ, the faithful Bridegroom who loves His church, gave Himself for her, and never abandons His covenant people.

Dr. Schmidt examines Judah's spiritual rebellion against God. In addition, Jeremiah reveals that the Jews were married to God, and therefore, the lesson includes an examination of divorce as presented in the scriptures.

4:35 Whose responsibility is it to confront someone in the church that is living in sin? 9:25 Should I reconcile with my husband with whom I'm separated, who has since become a Christian? 15:11 I thought I was a Christian, but I got involved in the demonic world, am I still saved? 27:11 Who are the "Sons of God" referred to in the Bible? 40:17 Could you explain the parable of the shrewd servant in Luke 16? 45:32 Will there be more testing of the angels into evil and good?

The sermon emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness of divorce by examining Malachi 2 and Matthew 19, asserting that God hates putting asunder what He has joined. It warns against distorting Scripture to suit personal desires, criticizing modern trends in Bible translation and parenting that drift from biblical truth. The preacher stresses that true faith requires obedience to God's commandments rather than relying on legalistic loopholes or cultural shifts. Believers are urged to remain faithful to their marital vows and to the Word of God, avoiding the destruction that comes from following human wisdom over divine instruction. Ultimately, the message calls for humility, repentance, and a steadfast commitment to living Christ-like lives in anticipation of eternity.

Pastor Ken argues that the institution of marriage is under cultural attack and calls believers to return to God's original blueprint for a lifelong covenant. It distinguishes between civil arrangements and sacred covenants, emphasizing that divorce violates the divine union established by God. He challenges husbands to lead spiritually and defines biblical grounds for separation while rejecting secular justifications like no-fault divorce. By anchoring marriage in sacrificial love rather than fleeting emotions, couples can withstand trials and reflect Christ's relationship with the church. Concluding with a call to repentance, hope, and reliance on God's promise-keeping nature to restore marital strength.

Why do women initiate roughly two-thirds of divorces? And how many marriages are ending (not because of adultery, violence, or some unavoidable crisis) but because someone no longer feels in love, feels unhappy, feels unfulfilled, or believes the relationship is no longer meeting his or her emotional needs? Our culture constantly tells us: "Follow your heart." "Trust your feelings." "Do what makes you happy." But the Bible says: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." — Proverbs 28:26 That raises some uncomfortable questions. Are your feelings always telling you the truth? If you genuinely feel something, does that make the feeling right? Should feelings determine whether you stay married? And perhaps most importantly: Can you change the way you feel? In this message I examine research concerning women and divorce, the modern shift toward divorcing over dissatisfaction and "growing apart," and what Scripture teaches about the proper place of emotions in our lives. The answer is not that feelings don't matter. They matter enormously. But that is precisely why they must be governed rather than blindly followed. DISCERN your feelings. Test them by Scripture and sound reason. REJECT wrong feelings. A feeling can be completely genuine - and still be wrong. CHANGE your feelings. You may not be able to immediately command yourself instantly to feel differently, but you can govern what you think about and what you do. Right thoughts and right actions can cultivate different affections. And this applies to men as well as women.

The sermon explores the theme of love voluntarily surrendering its rights for the spiritual good of others, drawing primarily from 1 Corinthians 8. It contrasts Christian liberty with legalism and emphasizes that true maturity is demonstrated through self-denial rather than the assertion of personal freedoms. Christ serves as the supreme example of this surrender, having laid aside His glory to redeem humanity. The message urges believers to maintain an eternal perspective, recognizing that their actions significantly influence weaker brothers and sisters in faith. Ultimately, the preacher calls for a balance of truth and compassion, encouraging the church to build bridges of love rather than dividing over non-essential matters.