Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6

God has put marriage in the hearts and minds of people. Regardless of the tragic failures of past generations, the desire for marriage is born anew in every generation.

Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is not old-fashioned, out-of-date, or obsolete. It is a plan of God, a plan divine in creation.”

In Matthew 19, Jesus urges us to treasure marital fidelity and remain faithful to one another.

“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6).

Marriage is the first institution ordained of God, therefore it is a priority. It is permanent; when we commit to another in marriage, we become one, completely inseparable. Holy matrimony is not some sort of penalty; married life is God’s plan for total intimacy.

Yet, sexual immorality pollutes the married life. Adultery is a sin against one’s self; there is no other sin that will do more damage, spiritually, psychologically, and physically.

It is a sin against the home; God established monogamous marriage to meet the deepest emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of a child. The glue that holds the home together is sexual faithfulness.

Adultery is a sin against the Church; when a member of a church lives in sexual immorality, he sins against the holy Body of Christ.

No matter how society tries to glamorize it, adultery has destroyed great nations in the past. It may be the sin that destroys our nation, as well, because it is a sin against Almighty God.

There is a way to preserve our marriages. We must bring our failures and sins before Jesus Christ and depend on Him. We must exercise our devotion to Christ and to our families. We must guard our hearts and be disciplined, having control over who or what we let into our lives. We must remain determined, making up our minds that we will not fall into temptation.

Adrian Rogers says, “Love is a growing thing; it’s like a flower that needs to be cultivated and nurtured. It needs to be protected; its full beauty can be developed through life.”

Apply it to your life

We have a responsibility to treasure marriage fidelity. Remember your decision to depend upon Him, remain devoted, and develop your love for your spouse; stay disciplined and determined.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Titus 2:1-5

Physical features change and fade, but a lifestyle that adorns the Word of God brings unending beauty into the home. Yet, these days, our families face many oppositions that threaten to drain women of their splendor.

Titus 2 describes the lifestyle of a true woman of God.

“...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...” (Titus 2:3).

This passage first addresses the legacy a godly woman is to leave.

A godly woman teaches younger women how to be homemakers and how to instill values in their own families by example. She has the perfume of God in her life, marked by holiness, godly in her speech. She is not a false accuser, scandalmonger, or slanderer, nor does she indulge in addictive behaviors.

Secondly, this passage tells of the love she is to learn.

“...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…” (Titus 2:4). Our young generation looks at children as burdens rather than blessings. Children are the heritage of the Lord, and motherhood is a gift from God.

Adrian Rogers says, “A father has influence on a child, but a mother makes the greatest impression.”

Finally, this passage teaches us the life she is to live.

“...to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:5).

-Discreet

Sober-minded, sensible, using good judgment in her shopping, bookkeeping, decorating, and physical culture.

-Chaste

Pure and sexually moral.

-Homemakers

A woman’s primary responsibility is to keep the home.

-Good

Kind-hearted.

-Obedient to her husband

Submission is not subjugation; wives are instructed to submit to their husbands’ loving leadership in the home.

A woman who rebels against these things will have difficulties with God and with her husband and children. Ultimately, she will have difficulty with herself, because her deepest, most God-given instinct will not be met.

God has a plan for women; when all else fails, as we’ve witnessed in our world, we must return to the directions laid out in Scripture.

Apply it to your life

Women, consider your legacy, your love, and the life you live. Is your home adorned with the Word of God, and do you glorify Him in how you care for your family?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Psalm 128:1-6

Adrian Rogers says, “You can be born a male, but it takes maturity to be a man.”

Perhaps the most difficult, yet rewarding, role a man could ever commit to is being a good husband and father. The Lord develops godly men through His Word, and Psalm 128 exemplifies God’s plan for the man.

A godly man is first meant to be faithful in his walk with the Lord.

Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.” Men are a picture of God in their homes, as we view God as our Heavenly Father. Though we will inevitably make mistakes, we can be godly fathers by remaining faithful to God and to our families.

Second, a godly man is known for his fruitful work.

“When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2). God’s plan for the man is to provide for his family. Man is also designed to protect his wife and children, physically and emotionally. “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table” (Psalm 128:3).

He is also considered the pastor of the home.

As the wife is the vine, a wise husband understands it is his job to cultivate his wife’s love and needs, so she may meet the needs of their children.

Finally, a godly man is known for his worship and future wealth.

“The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children” (Psalm 128:5-6). If the husband and father establishes a home rooted in a love for God, he is very wealthy in what matters.

Adrian Rogers says, “Children don’t make a rich man poor; they make a poor man rich. The rich man can’t take his money to Heaven, but I’m taking my kids to Heaven.”

As fathers, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our children, and our children’s children.

Apply it to your life

Are you leading your family to know God—loving your wife and leading your children on the path of righteousness? Consider your walk, work, worship, and future wealth today.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 2:18-25

Those who are married have the potential for great wealth in what truly matters. We can have a millionaire marriage when we understand the value God has placed on the family.

In Genesis 2:18-25, we learn the basis for a wonderful marriage.

“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’” (Genesis 2:18).

There is no deeper companionship than a husband and wife. In their fellowship, they are designed to strengthen each other and cooperate in the world. They are meant to complete each other, to reflect the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church.

God gave us marriage to replenish the Earth and continue the human race. Our homes are meant to be the center of God’s glory.

Men and women are different in their nature, their personalities, and priorities. God made male and female different so that they may become one in marriage. (See Genesis 2:24.)

Satan’s plan for the family is to deny the authority of God, debase man, and deny morals. If he can destroy the family, he can dominate the world. When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world in Genesis 3, Satan’s war against the family began.

Genesis 3:15 says, “...He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This verse was a prophecy of Jesus coming and crushing the head of the enemy. No matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins.

Adrian Rogers reminds us, “Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding – He turned water into wine. I tell you that Jesus can turn the water of your sorrow into the wine of joy.”

Adrian Rogers says, “The Jesus that turned water into wine will turn arguments, strife, and heartache into peace, purpose, and joy.”

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: James 1:19

God made husbands and wives different so that He can make them one in marriage. Because of these innate differences, arguments are inevitable.

James 1:19 reveals how to handle conflicts: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…”

We must be swift to hear, or quick to tune in.

Only by listening can we begin to understand each other, and be brought back into a place of emotional intimacy.

When in conflict, remember four things as you listen to your spouse:

Observation

Be perceptive; listen with your eyes as well as with your ears, reading body language. Rather than looking away, lean in to show you are listening.

Concentration

All too often, we are thinking about other things rather than our spouse’s words. As loving mates, we should instead give them our full attention.

Consideration

Think about what the other person is saying. Don’t assume you already know what is going to be said, or try to catch your spouse in an error; instead, listen to what is said and also to what is meant.

Clarification

After the other person has spoken completely, restate what was said, to make sure you understand what was meant.

Second, we must be slow to speak, or tone it down.

Our tongues will often get us into trouble. Having two ears and one mouth, we should listen twice as much as we speak.

When in conflict, some spouses like to play judge or professor. Some play psychologist or historian, dictator or critic. Some might even play the self-righteous preacher. But as believers, we must remember that love is what controls our language.

Adrian Rogers says, “Watch your words; keep them warm and sweet because you may have to eat them.”

Finally, we must lighten up, or be slow to wrath.

Unwarranted anger severely damages the home; it is not a weakness, it is a wickedness.

When facing marital conflicts, don’t run away, give in, or get fired up. Instead, find the right time, with the right tone, at the right place. Rather than being right and losing, compromise and gain together.

Married life may never get easier, but if we learn to deal with each other lovingly, it will get sweeter.

Apply it to your life

Are you facing conflicts in your marriage today? Take the words of James 1:19 to heart: tune in, tone down, and lighten up. Practice acceptance, accommodation, and adjustments together.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 2:21-24

The biggest problem in many marriages is failure to adequately communicate; if we don’t learn to communicate, our homes could disintegrate.

Marriage is the most intimate relationship there is; we are designed to communicate on the deepest level. Healthy communication peaks when we have absolute, total, openness with one another, spoken in discerning kindness and gentleness.

Jesus is both the power and the example of healthy communication, and we would be wise to follow His steps.

We must first remember the awesome power of communication; the tongue gives direction, but it can also bring destruction because our words reveal what is in our hearts. (See Matthew 12:34.)

Adrian Rogers says, “If you want to know what’s in their hearts, listen to their words.”

The greatest hurts in the home often come from spoken words. The problem of poor communication could be due to our differences as men and women.

There is also the issue of self-centeredness, being full of pride and clinging to the idea of being “right.”

1 Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Poor communication could also be rooted in bitterness, unresolved problems, or an unforgiving spirit, which completely defile marriages. The distractions of life or differences in temperament could also hinder healthy communication.

Insecurity or fear directly threaten our ability to achieve the freedom level of communication.

1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous…”

If we want to practice proper communication, everyone must do their part. We must learn to be more sensitive with each other, deal with our self-centeredness, and be willing to overlook our partners’ problems. We must find the root of a closed-off spirit, create areas of commonality, and make time to talk things through.

Communication is an ongoing process. It evolves over time spent together and requires maintenance, yet there is nothing more important.

Apply it to your life

Are you practicing healthy communication with your family? Pray for Jesus’ power as you follow His example in how you speak to others. Adrian Rogers says, “Quit trying to change your partner and change yourself.”

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Genesis 2:19

There is no sweeter, deeper, more wonderful companionship than that of a husband and wife. In Genesis 2, we first see God’s divine, unique design of male and female. These differences between us should not divide us; rather they unite us.

Adrian Rogers says, “God made us different that He might make us one in marriage.” By understanding our roles, we can celebrate the differences between us.

Genesis 2:18 says, “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Even Adam, who had face-to-face fellowship with God, was still incomplete and in need of a companion. And though he was surrounded by all sorts of creatures in paradise, God knew Adam needed someone like himself.

There are general differences between men and women designed to complement each other. God gave Eve to Adam to make up for what was lacking in Adam’s nature, and vice versa. These differences are not necessarily strengths and weaknesses. Rather, they are traits to contribute to the partnership.

The Beauty and the Beast.

God made man physically stronger, to provide and protect, while He made women to give and nurture life. Being physically weaker does not make women inferior; rather, her delicacy is her strength.

The Tortoise and the Hare.

Men may have more energy for the moment, but women are designed to endure longer.

The Romantic and the Mechanic.

By nature, men are motivated by maintenance. On the other hand, women are relational and long for romance.

The Radar and the Computer.

We process information differently because we look at things differently. Generally speaking, men tend to be logical, analytical, and factual, while women factor in details, emotions, and context.

The Code Speaker and the Reporter.

Women use language to express their emotions, while men use language to dispense facts.

The Lover and the Achiever.

The deepest need of a woman is to be loved, while a man’s deepest need is to be respected. (See Ephesians 5:33.)

As we come to understand the innate differences between men and women, we can better love and encourage each other in our marriages, honoring God by how we treat our spouses.

Apply it to your life

If you are married, take time to celebrate the definite differences between you and your spouse, and see how you can use your marriage to glorify God.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7

The marriage relationship is meant to be the most intimate of all human relationships. In marriage, we share the inmost part of our nature with another person. But in order to build lives together as husband and wife, we need to build on a solid foundation.

1 Peter 3:1-7 explains God’s divine design for marriage: “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear…” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

There must be order in the home rather than chaos. As is true in any organization, there must be a leader. God has appointed the husband to lead the home; this does not mean the wife is inferior. When wives express an attitude of submission, it means they are to look to their husbands, not as servants to masters, but as subjects to leaders.

These verses also call to attention a wife’s adornment of serenity. According to 1 Peter 3:3-4, a woman is to have an internal beauty about her—a gentle spirit, which becomes more beautiful every day. It is also important for wives to respect their husbands and offer them encouraging affirmations. She must pay close attention to his needs.

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Husbands may delegate authority, but they cannot escape their responsibility. They must provide for the home, more than just food and clothing—they must also meet their wives’ emotional needs.

He is also called to protect the home and pastor it; as the God-appointed spiritual leaders of the home, husbands are to treat their wives as Christ treats the Church.

Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot have a Christian home without having Christians, any more than you could have a cherry pie without cherries; if you want God in your home, then you have to give your heart to God.”

Apply it to your life

Have you laid the foundation for a good, godly marriage, accepting your divine role as a husband or wife? Prayerfully agree to God’s plan and enact what He has called you to be in your home.

Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 13

We are fast approaching a loveless world; in our mechanical society, it is clearer than ever that real love is what we lack.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul shares three observations about real love, and why it is exceedingly valuable in our lawless age.

“But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love is more valuable than speaking in tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. Scripture is meant to encourage, exhort, and edify us, but if we handle it without love and use it to divide, we are nothing.

Love is even greater than faith; although it is necessary, what good is faith that can remove mountains if it cannot remove malice in our hearts?

Love inspires a charitable attitude, but our good works are worthless if we do not do them in love. (See 1 Corinthians 13:3.)

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up…” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love enables a humble spirit, a courteous new nature, and an unselfish attitude.

Adrian Rogers says, “Love and pride don’t dwell in the same heart; you can be big-headed or you can be big-hearted, but you can’t be both.”

Love does not vaunt itself; it enables us to not envy, or to harbor irritability. It enables us to be forgiving and sympathetic; it does not collect grudges, and it rejoices in truth. (See 1 Corinthians 13-5-6.)

While other virtues fade and fail, the mighty force of love endures; it conquers all things, making friends out of enemies. It completes everything else, adding infinite value to prophecy, worship, and knowledge.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

One day we will see the Lord face to face and our faith will become sight, our hope will become reality, yet love will continue on and on.

Are you filled with real love, which excels all other virtues, enables the fruits of the Spirit, and endures all things?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Titus 2:11

Every Christian needs a burning, blazing, passionate love for the Lord Jesus Christ that overflows into service and worship. However, we must be careful with our zeal, so that it doesn't become misguided.

Titus 2 addresses the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of zeal, and urges us to watch out for extremism and harmful fanaticism.

First, zeal can display the grace of God.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men… that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2: 11,14).

When we truly love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will become zealous about truth and excited to do good works for the kingdom of God. This is a good and godly thing, because we are called to go “all in” with our love for Jesus.

Adrian Rogers says, “The cause of Christ has been hurt by lukewarm Christians—Sunday morning benchwarmers who claim to be on the Lord’s side, but don’t live for Him.”

However, when taken to the extreme, good things can become bad things. If we're not careful, zeal can distort the grace of God.

Zeal that is divisive and destructive can be deadly to our churches, homes, and communities. Principles are great when used as tools to live by, rather than as weapons to hurt others.

When we obsess and debate over incidental things, we lose sight of what is fundamental. This kind of zeal is foolish, fractious, and fruitless. Extremism can also be fatal because it causes the spiritual death of many other people. When we have zeal for the wrong things, we’ll often fight the wrong enemy with the wrong weapons and the wrong energy.

Finally, there is a zeal that denies the grace of God.

Salvation comes from God alone; no matter how passionate we become, we must never lose sight of that truth. No one is so bad that he cannot be saved, and no one is so good that he need not be saved.

Apply it to your life

We cannot be moderate about our love for Jesus. Are you filled with zeal that displays the grace of God?