Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Abuse; Anger; Conflict; Emotions; Family; Love; Marriage; Remorse; Revenge; Temper; Violence References: Psalm 11:5; Matthew 5:21–22; Romans 13:10; Ephesians 4:26–27 I was a nurse in the operating room for several years. One day a couple arrived, both with gunshot wounds. He had awakened late for his first day on the job because his wife … Continue reading “SHOTGUN
LOVE”

Topics: Cohabitation; Commitment; Family; Marriage; Pleasure; Sex References: 1 Corinthians 6:15–20; 7:3–5 Married people have better sex lives than single people. And married people are about twice as likely as unmarried people to make love at least two or three times a week. That’s not all. Married sex is more fun, certainly, at least, for … Continue reading “SATISFIED
WITH SEX”

Topics: Accepting Christ; Invitation; Marriage; Romance; Salvation References: John 1:12; Ephesians 5:31–32 Tedd was five years older than Janet, finished college before her, and was working in a city hundreds of miles from her. They always seemed to be at different places in their lives. But they had been dating for seven years. Every Valentine’s … Continue reading “THE
WORD HE LONGED TO HEAR”

Topics: Anniversaries; Family; Husbands; Marriage; Time Reference: Ephesians 5:25–33 Margaret said her husband, George, couldn’t remember their wedding anniversary on March 7. But one year, when they were en route to Australia, at five minutes before midnight on March 6, George proudly looked at Margaret and said, “This year I remembered. Just five more minutes … Continue reading “REMEMBERING
THE ANNIVERSARY”

Topics: Child Rearing; Children; Divorce; Family; Marriage; Parenting References: Matthew 19:3–12; Mark 10:10–12 Children don’t need parents who like each other or are even civil to each other. But they do need them to stay together, for better or for worse. That’s the conclusion of therapist Judith Wallerstein in The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce. This … Continue reading “STAYING
MARRIED FOR THE KIDS”

Topics: Depravity; God’s Love; Idolatry; Persistence; Sin References: Ezekiel 16:15–63; Hosea 1:2; James 4:4 Have you ever had to turn a lover over to a mortal enemy to allow her to find out for herself what his intentions toward her really were? Have you ever had to lie in bed knowing she was believing his … Continue reading “LETTING
LOVE GO”

Topics: Marriage; Ministry; Skills References: Genesis 1:26–31; 2:4–25; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; Luke 10:1; Ephesians 5:22–33 When the time came for a strategic decision during his ministry, Jesus made an interesting choice. He gathered seventy-two workers, like regional representatives, and sent them to various towns to prepare people for his visits (see Luke 10:1). He could have … Continue reading “THE
POWER OF A PAIR”

Topics: Conflict; Divorce; Marriage; Relationships References: Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:1–6; 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 A couple was in the midst of a hostile divorce. Six months into their case, their baby boy was born. His mother named him a day later, only to find her husband had gone to court to bar her from naming the … Continue reading “NAMING
THE CHILD”

Topics: Family; Generosity; Marriage; Materialism; Money; Responsibility References: Proverbs 11:24–25; Ecclesiastes 5:8–15 Several men in the locker room of a private exercise club were talking when a cell phone rang. One man picked it up without hesitation and said, “Hello?” “Honey, it’s me,” she said. “Sugar!” “I’m at the mall two blocks from the club. … Continue reading “ANYTHING
FOR SUGAR”

Topics: Anger; Bitterness; Forgiveness; Gratitude; Husbands; Ingratitude; Marriage; Relationships; Resentment; Wives Reference: Matthew 18:15–35 I collect old newspapers. I was humored by a story in the November 17, 1930, edition of the Chicago Herald Examiner about a husband and a wife. The article tells of a man named Harry Havens of Indiana, who went to … Continue reading “HIS
SEVEN-YEAR FIT”