marriage on SermonAudio

Book by Richard Baxter

Rev. Jesse Pirschel preaches the sermon "The Meaning of Marriage" from Matthew 19:1-12. From the October 4th 2026 Divine Worship Service. To access a full catalog of sermons from Providence Presbyterian Church, visit providencetemecula.com

1. God Looks at the Man 2. God Looks at the Marriage 3. God Looks at the Children

1. Two Husbands 2. Only One Way to Remarry 3. Till Death Do Us Part

To take a hard look at the brokenness of the world, there is no better place to go than Ecclesiastes. The author, probably Solomon, goes through a long checklist of the ways that life can fail to satisfy us. Ultimately, this book serves to advance the grand thesis of Scripture: we were meant to live in union with God and the people he is saving through the blood of the Savior. But Solomon also teaches practical lessons about how to fight against the vanity of this fallen world. In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon uses the famous illustration of a threefold cord. It is commonly used in wedding as if God is the third cord intertwining the husband and wife. That may be a valid application. But Solomon is driving at a more basic point applicable for all of us, whether single or married: We were made for close, interdependent relationships that can free us from loneliness and unleash our potential for loving and serving others.

This sermon challenges the modern cultural emphasis on self-esteem by arguing that the Bible identifies self-love as a sickness rather than a cure. The central message, drawn from 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, is that a proper view of oneself requires viewing oneself through God's perspective rather than through human comparison or cultural standards. The exposition highlights that all distinctions, abilities, and possessions are received from God, rendering human pride irrational and exposing division in the church as a result of inflated self-importance. The tone is instructional and convicting, urging believers to dismantle self-centered thinking and instead find their identity in God's sovereignty and grace. Ultimately, the sermon concludes that the remedy for pride is not greater self-regard but a greater view of God, leading to humility and unity among believers.

Proverbs 7 exposes the counterfeit love offered by sexual temptation and contrasts it with God's design for covenant love—a faithful, knowing, passionate relationship that reflects Christ's love for His church. In The Strange Woman: Counterfeit Love, Solomon's warning shows how sexual sin promises pleasure without consequences, yet ultimately brings brokenness, shame, and destruction. The message calls believers to recognize temptation early, flee rather than negotiate with it, pursue purity before the moment of decision, and value the faithful covenant love God designed within marriage.