Sermon Tone Analysis

The Commands of Christ – 16a

A Christian's Righteousness: In Marriage

December 15, 2021

Open: What does the world believe about marriage today?

Optional for sexual relations.

An antiquated human-instituted (church) institution

Is not restricted to one man and one woman for life.

It is a contract, not a covenant.

You need to “try-out” several partners before you get married to see if you are compatible (sexually, etc.).

Procreation and marriage are not necessarily linked.

My spouse will (must) make me happy

My spouse can and must (will?) change

My Private Immorality Does Not Affect My Marriage

Love controls our feelings instead of our Spirit-renewed minds controlling our feelings

Storms: So here’s the problem: How do I honor and esteem marriage without dishonoring and defaming those who have experienced divorce?

And how do I encourage and affirm divorced people without appearing to minimize the importance of honoring one’s marital commitment and vows?

If I magnify the value of marriage and stress the importance of faithfulness to one’s marital vows, divorced people will feel judged and rejected and unfit for ministry and service in the church.

But if I express compassion and love for divorced people and remind them how much God really does love them, others will think I’m glossing over their failures and that I’m contributing to the very devaluation of marriage that I earlier denounced.

How do I stress the permanence of marriage without condemning the divorced?

And how do I love and affirm the divorced person without condoning sin and failure?

Storms, S. (2016).

Biblical Studies: The Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:31–19:12).

Edmond, OK: Sam Storms.

Read: Matthew 5:27-32 and Matthew 19:3-9.

1.

What does Matthew 5:27-32 teach us about marriage?

Lust is a sin that is countered by marriage.

It prevents self-maiming.

Marriage is a commitment that cannot be ended except by sexual immorality.

It is intended for life.

Vs. 27-30 teach about shunning lust.

How does marriage contribute to a believer’s ability to do that? 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; 1 Timothy 5:13-14; Matthew 19:10-12

Lust is destructive:

A gift from God:

The battle against lust:

2. Jesus points back to the first marriage in Genesis.

What does the first marriage teach us about God's original design for marriage (Matthew 19:3-6)?

What was true about the first marriage that has never been true since?

No rivals

No parents or in-laws

No distractions (although there was still work)

Now we have screens to distract us, before that TV (sports)

Work could have been a distraction for Adam, but I think not

Children distract women especially?

No sin to corrupt anything in marriage:

Temptations

Communications

Relationship

Dangers

LifeGuide Topical Bible Studies - Sermon on the Mount.