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Again, good morning, and if you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, I want to invite
you to join us in Matthew chapter 5.
Specifically, in just a moment, we're going to start reading in verse 31.
Now, today's passage we're going to look at is going to be Jesus' teaching on divorce,
and what we're going to do is we're going to look at what Jesus says about divorce to help
us better understand God's plan and God's intention in marriage.
Now, I want to take you guys back to 2004.
For some of us, that seems like yesterday, for some of you, you weren't even born then.
I want to tell you about what would come to be the craziest, wildest, Beau Bradbury you're
growing up, 30-day time period in my life, from about mid-May to about mid-June.
Three milestones that happened and took place during that time.
Number one, I bought a house.
I bought a house.
I had never, I had lived up until this point, I had lived in a dorm room and in the room
above my parents' garage, right?
Like, that was my experience.
So, I bought my first house.
If you weren't there, I bought a first house.
About 10, 15 days after that, I took my first job and got ordained as a youth pastor at Town
Creek Baptist Church, right?
Major milestones.
Man, God was working.
God was doing things.
I was learning about things.
I was learning about things like escrow.
I was learning about things like interest.
Like, I thought like my month, like that would then deduce the amount that I owed on my house
and then I found out that a little bit went to pay off the house, more went to pay off
this thing called interest that the bank was getting, right?
Like, like major milestones, like the house.
I become a youth pastor at a church.
Like, all of these things are happening in my life.
And then, and then, the biggest milestone of my life outside of salvation, right?
I got married.
Like, 15 days after that, right?
So, I convinced someone to let me buy a house.
Miracle.
I convinced someone to let me be their youth pastor.
Like, a whole church.
Miracle.
And then, a miracle upon miracles upon miracles, right?
I'd out to kick my coverage.
And at Matlock Baptist Church in Jackson, South Carolina, Erin Reiser walked down on that
blue carpet in that little country church, packed out with her dad standing there officiating
the wedding, a military chaplain, officiating, yeah, if you're not marrying a military man's
daughter, right?
We got pictures as we're all walking out, everybody's smiling, everybody's doing this, Erin's dad's
standing there.
Which, if you ever meet him, this, for him, this means I love you.
Right?
So, that's what, but I got married.
Now, here's where I'm going to talk about this.
Since then, since May of 2004, I have now lived in and purchased five houses.
Since May of 2004, I have worked as a full-time pastor in four different churches.
But since that same 30-day time period, by the grace of God and evidence of the Holy Spirit
in the life of my wife, I've just been married the one time.
Just the once.
She hadn't kicked me out.
She hadn't said, you gotta go.
Grace covers this woman.
And she loves me in spite of all that I'm capable of doing.
Here's why I start off by talking about this.
If we were to say to our world, hey, we're going to show you ways that you can move up in your career.
Ways that you can promote yourself and make more money and take that next step.
Thousands upon thousands of people would come running and say, tell me the secret.
If we go out into our world and advertise over and over and over again,
there's a way to take your house and move to the next house and move to the next house and move to the next house.
There's a way that you can flip and flip and flip.
There'd be thousands of people who sign up.
And in both instances, to hear about our opinion.
But the truth is, if we come and say, hear from the truth of God's word,
we can point to you and show you and tell you what it means to have the marriage that God desires for you.
Not only oftentimes would the world reject that,
but so many times those of us in the church reject it as well.
As we've been studying in the Gospel of Matthew,
we're in the section where we're studying the Sermon on the Mount.
So far within this sermon, Jesus has been dealing with some topics.
The topic of anger and the topic of lust and adultery.
And we see that Jesus in the teaching, that when we look at the fullness of Scripture,
what we find is Jesus is moving us to a greater good, a greater calling.
That it's not just do not murder, but that it's work toward forgiveness and reconciliation.
That it's not just do not lust, but it's how we look at, how we view one another,
how we see one another, that matters.
And now Jesus coming off the teaching of lust goes into a very sensitive subject of divorce.
And to lay down and establish not just what God's word is going to say,
what we're going to see in Matthew 5 about the topic of divorce,
but through looking at the fullness of Scripture, what we see of God's purpose and God's intention in marriage.
So join with me.
Let's read Matthew 5, starting in verse 31.
Jesus writes, I mean, Jesus speaks.
He says,
Now here in Matthew 5, I want to make this extremely clear.
And we're going to also see the Apostle Paul will refer to this in 1 Corinthians 7.
Jesus gives a consideration for divorce, not a command for divorce.
We see that Jesus' consideration for divorce in Matthew 5 is that concerning matters of adultery.
And the Apostle Paul will give consideration for divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 concerning matters of desertion.
But again, the goal is not, here's how you can divorce.
But the goal in the heart of God is reconciliation.
Reconciliation.
Well, it makes sense maybe in times like today, while divorce would be a very hot topic,
a key piece that people might want to find themselves teaching on.
But even in the time of Christ, this concept of divorce, this desire to obtain a divorce,
it was a common desire in the world of Jesus as well.
I think sometimes we look at our world and we think that our world is a lot worse than it was in times previously.
But it's not the case.
In fact, that what we find in Matthew 5, in the days of Jesus,
is the time in which he is giving this instruction in the time of Paul in 1 Corinthians as well,
that marriage was under attack as well.
So marriage has been under attack.
Marriage will be under attack.
But in the fullness of Scripture, we see God's heart and God's plan and God's desire.
Let me explain to you a couple of things that are happening in the time of Christ.
During the time of Christ, divorce was rampant.
And divorce was destructive in the family and in the culture in the time of Christ.
Very specifically, divorce was set up in the system of what's there
to promote and enable the men of the culture
to live out the fleshly desires that they had.
And it caused the women, in many ways, to be subjected, to be oppressed,
and to be controlled by the men of the day.
If you think that divorces happen for reasons that are flippant,
let me share with you some of the rabbis' teachings during the time of Christ, right?
Some of the rabbis' teaching of why a man could file for a certificate of divorce for his wife.
If a woman did not perform her household duties as given to her by her husband,
then he could divorce her.
If a wife could not bear children,
then the husband could divorce her.
If the husband found that certain aspects of his wife were unattractive,
specifically some examples that are spoken to,
was if he found the shape of her head,
her posture,
the thickness or thinness of her hair,
the shape of her eyebrows,
the shape of her nose,
the positioning of her eyes or her teeth,
the size of her knees or her ankles,
either too large or too small,
then he could divorce her.
It gets worse.
If she ate something that he did not give her permission to eat,
then he could divorce her.
Concerning matters of the in-laws,
please note like zero amens on this, all right?
Just go with me.
If she went to her parents' house without his permission,
he could divorce her.
Be quiet on this one.
If her parents moved closer to them without his permission,
then he could divorce her.
If she burned his supper,
like, yeah, please stop laughing,
he could divorce her.
If he found someone
that he thought was prettier than her,
then he could divorce her.
I think this is important.
If he felt like
she was not providing for him
in ways that he deemed
were sufficient
in any way,
shape,
or form,
then he could divorce her.
Now,
again,
this isn't,
during the time of Jesus,
this isn't just a cultural teaching
that Jesus is stepping into,
but Jesus is stepping into
an ungodly religious teaching
that the rabbis
are declaring
that the culture
has embraced
and at its core
is attacking
the institution
of marriage
for the sake
of the flesh of man.
Marriage is not being
looked at
at this time
as how does it reflect
the heart
and nature
of God.
Marriage is being
looked at
and how
can it satisfy
the sinful
heart
of man?
Maybe,
maybe,
this is where
we find ourselves today.
Maybe you and I
do
live in a culture
where we say
let's not allow
the Bible
and God
to define
marriage
and its purpose
and its intent,
but let's allow
the culture
or maybe even more
specifically
as we bring it home,
let's allow
the sinfulness
of me,
let's allow
the sinfulness
of man
to determine
what this is.
I found this
pretty surprising.
I've heard
for years
that the
divorce rate
in the United
States
is somewhere
around 50%.
Come to find out
that number
has
declined.
In the United
States
right now
about 33%
of all marriages
end in divorce.
so on the
surface
that's
commendable
but then
we begin
to dive in
and try to
understand
why the
numbers are
what the
numbers are
and what
we find
is
while the
number
of divorces
are down
the number
of marriages
are at an
all time
low.
So right
now
in our
world
it's less
likely
that
people
will
choose
to be
married.
They see
the system
they feel
that it's
broken
they feel
that it's
not for
them
and then
they will
define
their
union
as they
see fit.
What about
the church?
For
marriages
today
where both
parties
claim
Christian
faith
both
32%
end
in
divorce
so
33%
to
32%
and
today
if
we're
being
frank
the
definition
of
marriage
is
largely
determined
globally
by
governments
individuals
and
cultures
let's
define
what
marriage
is
and so
Jesus
steps into
a world
of that
steps
into
a world
of marriage
and we're
going to
see
the
different
pieces
of this
and why
this
matters
so much
to
him
where
a man
can
divorce
his
wife
because
she
ate
something
that
he
said
didn't
belong
to
her
we
step
into
a
world
where
a
man
can
divorce
his
wife
because
the
hair
on
her
head
has
become
too
thin
Jesus
steps
into
a
world
where
a
man
can
divorce
his
wife
because
another
woman
in the
town
turned
his
eye
and
that
in
this
these
people
claim
godliness
and I
see the
exact
same
thing
in our
culture
today
does
Jesus
give
does
god
give
considerations
for
divorce
absolutely
he does
always
desiring
always
pointing
toward
reconciliation
the bible's
clear
god hates
divorce
but he
opens up
these matters
in adultery
and in
matters
of desertion
i
think
the
issue
that
we
face
is
not
what
can
i
do
to
get
divorced
but i
think
even
within
the
church
we
have
to
have
an
honest
conversation
about
what
is
biblical
marriage
what
is
biblical
marriage
because
i'll be
honest
with
you
most
christians
that i
hear
talk
about
what
a
biblical
marriage
is
defining
a
biblical
marriage
at a
kindergarten
level
is
defining
marriage
at a
kindergarten
level
they're
starting
with a
great
foundation
but
they're
not
growing
their
understanding
of that
moving
forward
and what
we want
to do
this
morning
is
as we
look
to
as
Jesus
says
it's
not
that
you
just
don't
murder
but
it
has
to
work
toward
reconciliation
it's
not
that
you
just
don't
commit
adultery
but
you
work
to
God
and
who
God
has
called
you
to
be
I
want
us
to
understand
this
morning
what
is
biblical
marriage
so
flip over
with me
to
Matthew
chapter
19
Matthew
chapter
19
here
just a
moment
we're
going to
read
verses
3
through
6
what
is
biblical
marriage
well
Jesus
in
Matthew
19
is
going
to
quote
from
Genesis
and
Jesus
is
going
to
explain
that
biblical
marriage
is
of
heavenly
design
biblical
marriage
is
of
heavenly
design
so
who
defines
what
marriage
is
check
all right
it's
slashing
on me
so
if not
I'll get
even louder
next time
thanks
man
all right
biblical
marriage
is
of
heavenly
design
Matthew
19
verses
3
through
6
and
Pharisees
came up
to him
and tested
him
by asking
is it
lawful
to divorce
one's
wife
for any
cause
and he
answered
have you
not read
that he
who created
them from
the beginning
made them
male and
female
and said
therefore
a man
shall leave
his father
and his
mother
and hold
fast to
his wife
and the
two
shall
become
one
flesh
so
there
are
no
longer
two
but
one
flesh
what
therefore
God
has
joined
together
let
not
man
separate
so
in
this
passage
Jesus
takes
the
teaching
of
creation
of
what
we
see
in
the
biblical
understanding
of
marriage
and Jesus
is going
to expand
on that
and so
that's why
we're looking
at this
passage
in
Matthew
19
3
through
6
so
here's
the
kindergarten
level
that we've
got to
begin
on
marriage
biblical
marriage
godly
marriage
Christ
honoring
marriage
is one
man
and one
woman
that's
the plan
that's
the design
one
man
and one
woman
it's
the plan
that god
has
given
it's
the plan
that we're
going to
see
it's
the only
marriage
that god
is going
to bless
it's
going to
be how
we see
god
work
and move
this is
the
kindergarten
level
this is
what we
have to
agree
on
and the
context
and the
matters
of
biblical
marriage
it
was
and it
is
and it
will
be
one
man
and one
woman
the
second
thing
that we
see
here
in
Matthew
chapter
19
which is
echoing
in
Genesis
1
is that
within
this
there is
commitment
to
one
another
there's
commitment
to
one
another
I'm
going to
tell you
something
I love
my wife
is a
blessing
my wife
treats me
better than
I deserve
my wife
challenges
me
my wife
makes
me
better
my wife
is
compassionate
to me
my wife
is an
encourager
to me
I
outkick
my
coverage
when she
said yes
to marrying
me
but I
want to
say this
as well
being
married
is
hard
being
married
is
hard
it's
difficult
because
while my
wife
is all
of those
things
she's
not
perfect
she
comes
with
her
faults
she
comes
with
her
sins
she
comes
with
her
issues
and so
do I
and you
take
two
people
who
in
their
flesh
can
be
selfish
and in
those
moments
marriage
is
a
commitment
marriage
is not
a
commitment
at
the
altar
it
is a
commitment
at
the
altar
and
it's
a
commitment
every
day
marriage
is
making
a
choice
to
love
and
to
honor
her
and
for
her
to
love
and
honor
me
as
we
stood
before
that
church
and
as
we
stood
before
God
because
it
comes
more
under
being
the
God
and
just
a
commitment
where
two
people
shake
hands
and
move
on
it's
a
covenant
that is
established
before
him
because
woven
into the
reality
of the
day-to-day
life
of our
marriage
is our
commitment
to one
another
as we've
made a
covenant
before the
Lord
so
biblical
marriage
is of
heavenly
design
of
one
man
and
one
woman
in
commitment
to
one
another
the
third
thing
that
we're
going
to
see
in
understanding
what
is
biblical
marriage
is
in
oneness
in
oneness
therefore
a man
shall leave
his father
and mother
and hold
fast to
his wife
and the
two
shall
become
one
flesh
oneness
I
believe
that
oneness
in
marriage
that
what
Jesus
is
speaking
about
here
is
just
not
in
the
physical
but
it's
in
the
every
aspect
of
our
life
it's
in
the
oneness
the
day
that
I
got
married
is
the
day
that
I
stopped
having
to
think
about
me
solely
and
it
is
the
day
under
surrender
to
the
Lord
that
I
commit
to
not
just
me
but
I
commit
to
we
I
think
the
dirtiest
word
when
it
comes
to
marriage
is
the
word
mine
you
see
in
marriage
I
believe
when
God
brings
us
together
he
brings
us
together
in
one
and
so
the
plan
and
the
purpose
is
not
to
come
together
so
that
we
can
separate
in
our
day
to
day
life
but
it's
the
intermingling
of
souls
so
that
there's
oneness
in
all
things
so
it's
our
home
it's
our
money
it's
our
kids
it's
our
plan
it's
our
future
that
in
this
me
and
mine
get
removed
and
the
we
come
together
I
think
dangerous
things
and
guys
my
marriage
I
am
not
and
what
I'm
about
to
say
you
guys
are
like
but
we
know
I'm
not
the
perfect
husband
I
do
not
have
the
perfect
marriage
but
I
see
warning
signs
of
things
that
have
crept
into
our
marriage
and
I
see
warning
signs
that
creep
into
those
around
us
into
their
marriages
that
seek
to
desire
to
push
and
to
pull
apart
and
they
always
become
where
it's
the
me
and
mine
and
not
the
we
and
ours
so
in
our
house
there
is
not
my
money
and
her
money
there's
not
a
man
cave
and
a
she
shed
where
we
need
to
get
away
from
one
another
there's
not
the
separate
but
there's
the
unified
and
coming
together
church
the
world
does
so
much
to
try
to
split
us
apart
why
do
we
want
to
welcome
and
invite
it
into
our
house
the
fourth
thing
that
we
see
for
Jesus
in
the
design
the
heavenly
design
of
a
biblical
marriage
is
it's
under
the
authority
of
God
it's
under
the
authority
of
God
that
a
biblical
marriage
is not
just
one
man
and
one
woman
but
it's
two
people
coming
before
the
Lord
in
unity
and
commitment
to
him
to
him
as
Lord
and
Savior
of
their
life
and
as
the
Lord
of
their
home
and
so
the
standard
is
set
and
established
the
goal
is
set
and
established
it's
not
under
my
authority
it's
not
under
her
authority
it's
not
under
the
authority
of
the
norms
of
the
culture
of
the
day
it's
under
the
authority
of
God
and
how
many
times
have
I
has
she
been
wrong
and
praise
God
we don't
have
to
return
to
the
opinion
of
a
person
but
under
the
authority
of
God
we
also
see
in
this
biblical
marriages
of
heavenly
design
because
it's
for
life
it's
for
life
so
they
are
no
longer
two
flesh
but
one
verse
six
therefore
what
God
has
joined
together
let
not
man
separate
that
word
separate
it's
divorce
that
what
God
has
brought
together
the
commitment
and
the
covenant
and
the
purpose
and
the
design
is
for
life
so
biblical
marriage
is
of
heavenly
design
but
also
biblical
marriage
is
of
missional
purpose
is
of
missional
purpose
in
Genesis
128
God's
word
says
and
God
blessed
them
back
into
the
creation
God
blessed
them
and
God
said
to
them
be
fruitful
and
multiply
and fill
the
earth
and
subdue
it
and
have
dominion
over
the fish
of the
sea
and
over
the
birds
of
the
heavens
and
over
every
living
thing
that
moves
on
the
earth
so
we
see
from
here
not
only
does
God
give
a
heavenly
design
from
top
down
this
is
how
this
should
be
done
this
is
how
designed
but
now
in
marriage
you
get
purpose
and
God
from
the
very
beginning
says
here's
the
purpose
and
the
plan
for
you
then
I'm
going
to
bless
you
and
I'm
going
to
say
to
you
be
fruitful
and
multiply
and
fill
the
earth
and
subdue
it
that
God's
plan
would
be
that
from
your
marriage
would
become
the
multiplying
process
of
discipleship
not
just
with
one
another
but
with
your
kids
and
to
continue
this
on
and
on
in
his
design
God
says
I
give
you
work
I
give
you
purpose
I
give
you
meaning
in
Deuteronomy
chapter
6
in
verse
7
it
says
this
about
who
God
is
and
what
God
has
done
and
how
God
is
working
verse
7
says
you
shall
teach
them
diligently
to
your
children
and
you
shall
talk
of
them
when
you
sit
in
your
house
and
when
you
walk
by
the
way
and
when
you
lie
down
and
you
rise
up
the
truth
of
who
God
is
what
we
what
in
the
marriage
should
be
teaching
in
the
children
it's
the
continuation
of
what
God
has
called
us
to
do
what
God
has
called
us
to
be
and
what
God
has
taught
us
to
create
in
our
house
I'm
so
grateful
of all
the
things
that
my
parents
have
taught
me
I'm
so
grateful
for
all
the
things
that
my
parents
have
modeled
for
me
but
the
call
of
scripture
is
don't
just
teach
your
kids
to
be
financially
stable
don't
just
teach
your
kids
what
it
means
to
grow
in
their
career
don't
just
teach
your
kids
the
things
of
this
world
that
are
there
but
show
your
kids
teach
your
kids
model
for
your
kids
explain
to
them
who
God
is
the
purpose
of
the
home
is
found
and
rooted
in
the
heart
of
missional
discipleship
one
of
the
things
that
I
love
and
treasure
the
most
about
our
kids
ministry
is
the
heart
Don's
heart
Don
Coulter
if you
don't
have
kids
you
might
not
know
who
she
is
you
might
not
have
met
her
but
Don
Coulter
is
our
children's
minister
and
she
works
hard
with
a
wonderful
group
of
volunteers
every
day
to
create
environments
and
to
provide
opportunities
to
disciple
your
kids
in a
fun
and
energetic
way
that
they
want
to
be
a
part
of
but
the
heart
of
her
ministry
is
not
bring
us
your
kids
leave
them
alone
pick
them
back
up
rinse
and
repeat
for
the
next
week
the
heart
of
her
for
ministry
is
how
do
we
come
alongside
parents
to
equip
you
to
strengthen
you
to
do
what
God's
word
has
called
us
to
do
in
Genesis
1
and
Deuteronomy
6
this
week
I told
Don
that I
was
going
to
be
talking
about
this
and
I
stopped
by
her
office
and
I
said
hey
if
you
could
this
week
just
kind
of
jot
like
the
things
and
I
know
this
is
important
for
you
guys
and
what
you're
doing
and
what
you're
modeling
but
if
you
could
jot
down
some
of
the
things
that
you
guys
are
doing
and
guys
I
thought
I
would
get
a
piece
of
paper
with
like
two
to
three
things
on
it
and
I
ended
up
finding
out
about
the
seven
different
ways
that
she
works
on
a
weekly
basis
along
with
her
volunteers
to
provide
parents
not
just
to
come
and
drop
them
off
but
how
can
we
help
you
invest
in
eternal
matters
because
folks
I'm
going to
say
this
like
in
eternity
in
eternity
it
doesn't
matter
what
your
SAT
score
is
in
eternity
it
doesn't
matter
if
you
can
hit
a
curve
ball
in
eternity
it
does
not
matter
the
level
of
piano
player
that
you
are
in
eternity
here's
what's
going
to
matter
is
Jesus
Christ
your
Lord
and
Savior
I'm
not
saying
those
other
things
aren't
beneficial
I'm
not
saying
they
shouldn't
be
a
part
of
your
life
they're
part
of
our
family's
life
but
what
is
essential
in
this
is
the
work
that
we're
doing
for
salvation
folks
here's
some
things
that
she's
got
going
on
as
we
just
mentioned
earlier
through
here
the
Bible
story
buddies
for
babies
through
preschoolers
so
that
what's
happening
in
the
life
of
these
little
ones
is
we're
instilling
in
them
a
heart
of
scripture
that
loves
God's
word
that
finds
God's
word
fun
that
finds
God's
word
convicting
that
finds
God's
word
interesting
and that
it
brings
the
family
together
to do
this
every
week
what she
has
provided
is for
she has
a
Willow Ridge
kids
worship
music
playlist
on
Apple
Spotify
Amazon
and
YouTube
so that
you can
come
together
and
let's
be
honest
instead
of
playing
the
garbage
that
comes
on
the
radio
that
we
can
listen
to
not
just
music
that
praises
and
worships
God
but
instills
in the
heart
and
reminds
them
of
the
lyrics
that
they're
going
to
sing
on
Sunday
mornings
she
provides
a
go
curriculum
resources
for
preschool
and
elementary
to
reemphasize
and to
help go
along
with
what's
instructed
on a
Sunday
morning
these
videos
are
uploaded
on the
Monday
after
the
lesson
preschool
and
elementary
families
receive
weekly
go home
guides
to
continue
the
discussion
at
home
in
additionally
elementary
school
students
take
home
a
table
talk
guide
that
can
be
used
for
dinner
discussions
throughout
the
week
we
also
offer
over
in
building
two
I
didn't
know
this
existed
I
came
home
and
told
my
wife
I
didn't
know
that
this
was
there
man
wouldn't
this
been
awesome
when
our
kids
were
little
she
offers
Willow Ridge
kids
family
resource
cabinet
in
building
two
that
includes
books
that
parents
can
borrow
on
difficult
topics
thank
you
thank
you
Dawn
for
what
God
has
done
in
your
life
and
what
you've
seen
in
the
life
of
your
family
and
what
you're
desiring
to bring
us
into
last
thing
so
biblical
marriage
is
of
heavenly
design
designed
by
God
biblical
marriage
is
for
a
missional
purpose
and
the
challenging
of
growing
and
raising
up
believers
but
then
lastly
we're
going to
see
that
biblical
marriage
is a
holy
picture
it's
a
holy
picture
in
Ephesians
5
22
through
33
the
apostle
Paul
in
writing
about
relationships
within
the
church
speaks
to
the
relationships
in
the
family
here's
what he
says
Ephesians
5
verses
22
through
33
wives
submit
to your
own
husbands
as to
the
Lord
for
the
husband
is
the
head
of
the
wife
even
as
Christ
is
the
head
of
his
church
his
body
and
is
himself
its
savior
now
as
the
church
submits
to
Christ
and
everything
wives
should
submit
in
everything
to
their
husbands
verse
25
husbands
love
your
wives
as
Christ
loved
the
church
and
gave
himself
up
for
her
that
he
might
sanctify
her
having
cleansed
her
by the
washing
of water
with the
word
so that
he might
present the
church to
himself in
splendor
without spot
or wrinkle
or any
such thing
that she
might be
holy and
without blemish
in the same
way
husbands should
love their
wives as their
own bodies
he who loves
his wife
loves himself
for no one
ever hated
his own flesh
but nourishes
it
and cherishes
it
just as
Christ
does the
church
because we
are members
of his
body
therefore
a man
shall leave
his father
and mother
and hold
fast to
his wife
and the
two
shall
become
one
flesh
verse
32
this
mystery
is
profound
and I
am saying
that it
refers
to
Christ
and
the
church
however
would
each
one of
you
love
his wife
as
himself
and let
the wife
see
that she
respects
her
husband
well
if we
move
from
one
uncomfortable
passage
of
scripture
in
Matthew
5
about
divorce
we
jump
two
feet
into
another
passage
of
scripture
that
is
on
its
surface
I
think
often times
within
the
flesh
of
humanity
an
uncomfortable
topic
to look
at
as
Paul
comes
and
as
Paul
sets
and
as
Paul
establishes
this
is
the
holy
picture
that
marriage
communicates
prior
to
verse
22
and
verse
21
Paul
writes
in
the
context
of
the
church
and
he
says
submitting
to
one
another
out
of
reverence
for
Christ
you
see
the
problem
often
times
in
marriage
if
we
haven't
accepted
the
heavenly
design
that
this
is
from
God
and
of
God
and
done
God's
way
if
we
haven't
accepted
the
missional
purpose
of
marriage
that
us
coming
together
is
more
than
about
gratifying
the
desires
of the
flesh
that
us
coming
together
is
more
than
just
figuring
out
two
or
better
than
one
that
coming
together
that
in
this
is
for
a
missional
purpose
as
we're
growing
one
another
and
as
we're
growing
each
other
up
in
a
way
that
is
reflective
of
the
heart
of
God
and
honoring
to
him
and
then
as
a
result
of
this
what
we
see
is
that
biblical
marriage
when applied
in the way
that God
designs
it
to be
lived
out
to be
practiced
to be
experienced
it
portrays
a
holy
picture
and
so
Paul
calls
the
husband
in
the
biblical
marriage
and
the
wife
in
the
biblical
marriage
to be
reflective
of
someone
he
calls
wives
to be
reflective
of the
church
to
show
the
love
and the
compassion
and the
honoring
nature
of
the
church
and
within
this
there
are
words
that
appeal
to
the
flesh
wives
submit
and
in
our
flesh
when we
see
this
and
when
we
look
at
the
example
maybe
that
you
have
as
a
non-godly
example
the
illustration
or the
call
feels
weak
but
the
call
is
not
weak
the
command
is
not
weak
because
it's
in
submission
not
to
the
men
that
we
see
in
Matthew
5
not
to
the
men
that
we
see
who
don't
love
the
Lord
not
to
the
men
that
we
see
that
are
honoring
but
they
said
that
it's
in
submission
to
Christ
as
the
church
is
to
Christ
and
then
the
call
within
this
is
that
husbands
love
your
wives
and
then
there's
an
example
for it
as
Christ
loved
the
church
and
gave
himself
up
for her
that
he
might
sanctify
her
having
cleansed
her
by
the
washing
of
water
with
the
word
men
the
conflict
in
our
home
oftentimes
is
not
why
won't
she
do
the
conflict
so
oftentimes
in
our
home
is
men
why
won't
we
love
why
won't
we
love
in a
way
that's
beyond
our
flesh
why
won't
we
love
in a
way
that's
beyond
our
selfishness
why
won't
we
love
in
a
way
that's
beyond
our
self
exalting
propensities
why
won't
we
love
in
a
way
that
Jesus
loves
in
sacrifice
in
serving
in
mercy
and
in
compassion
may
we
love
the
way
that
God
has
called
us
to
and
that
in
this
verse
32
this
mystery
is
profound
and
I'm
saying
that
it
refers
to
Christ
in
the
church
so
that
when
the
world
sees
the
testimony
of
your
life
in
marriage
what
they
see
is
this
is
what
it
means
to
see
the
love
of
Christ
and
this
is
what
it
means
to
see
the
love
of
the
church
that
God
can
take
two
people
broken
with
baggage
can
save
them
can
set
them
free
and
then
can
call
them
into
a
unity
that
reflects
his
goodness
and
his
nature
I'm
going to
ask
that
if
the
worship
team
and
the
prayer
team
would
go
ahead
and
get
in
place
my
message
my
challenge
our
challenge
today
is
this
what
is
not
our
step
out
what
is
not
our
excuse
of
how
we
can
get
out
but
what
is
God's
challenge
in
our
life
to
dig
in
to
surrender
to
love
to
serve
to
seek
to
glorify
and
honor
in
every
way
by
understanding
God's
design
by
understanding
God's
purpose
and
by
living
out
the
holy
picture
of
marriage
of
what
God's
called
us
to
would
you
pray
with
me
God
we
come
to
you
today
we're
thanking
you
for
the
beauty
of
your
word
but
Jesus
you
challenge
us
you
call
us
to
be
reflective
of
you
in
every
way
in
our
life
God
I
pray
that
would
ring
true
in
who
we
are
as
individuals
Lord
but
also
who
we
are
as
families
that
the
markings
of
our
home
the
markings
of
our
life
would
be
the
call
to
honor
Christ
and
the
passionate
pursuit
of
him
God
where
we
have
fallen
short
whether
that's
through
divorce
whether
that's
through
selfishness
in our
marriage
whether
it's
found in
an unwillingness
of creating
the culture
of discipleship
whether
it's
found
in the
flesh
of
our
lives
God
we
thank
you
that
you
call
us
to
the
sweet
place
of
repentance
and
that
God
you
give
us
your
forgiveness
and
mercy
God
may
we
respond
to
you
in a
way
that
will
bring
glory
and
honor
to
your
name
and
it's
in
Jesus
and
we
pray
Amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
a
new
episode
and
in
the
meantime
you
can
visit
us
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
or by
searching for
Willow Ridge Church
on Facebook
Instagram
and YouTube
thanks again
for listening