This Week's Sermons

Is Divorce Okay?
by Derek Helt
Mark 10:1-12

“I was going to make this one work. I believed in marriage, that it was supposed to last forever—‘Till death do us part’— so I was going to make it work.” Our friend’s story embodies the dilemma that we in the church face all the time: how do we uphold the biblical principle of lasting marriage, while at the same time be agents of God’s grace when marriages, and lives, come apart? The two objectives often seem to be at odds with each other.

Some Myths About Divorce
by Rick Gillespie-Mobley
1 Corinthians 7:1-33

…Some facts about divorce: Divorce is often going to leave women and children much poorer than they were during the marriage. Divorce is not going to terminate the feelings you have for each other. They may intensify, and they may go to the extremes of hatred. The other partner may become consumed with the destruction and death of the other person. Bitterness can eat at you for years and years to come…

A Put Away Message (Divorce)
by Jerry Shirley
Matthew 19:3-9

This is a topic often ‘put away’ by churches these days because half of their people are divorced. But I believe we should talk about it, and see what Jesus has to say about it...for the same reason. One thing is certain—we need more compassion in our preaching and more mercy...so long as it’s not at the expense of the truth.

When the Wrecking Ball Hits Home
by Doug Lyon
1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Today the word “divorce” is commonplace. I dare say that most 10-year-olds in America know that word. Not only that, but I dare say they know someone personally who has been divorced. As Christians, what should our stance be on the issue of divorce? Now, we know that we are not to follow the dictates of society or the norms of our culture. We know that we must follow our only true and reliable guide—the Word of God. The problem is that there isn’t a consensus among pastors and theologians as to what the Word of God teaches on the subject.…

Let’s Remove the Scarlet D
by Jim Miller
Matthew 23:4

Let me say up front that I believe that marriage is meant to be a permanent covenant between one man for one woman, forever…But I have a concern that goes beyond the breakdown and collapse of a Christian marriage. For example, what do we do with William S., whose wife abandoned him, filed for and gained a divorce and then remarried her adulterous lover? Rather than his church embracing and comforting him, he now lives alone in an empty unfurnished apartment and is no longer allowed to hold his volunteer office as Boy Scout director in the church he has been a member of for more than twenty years “until he gets his personal life sorted out.”

This Week's Videos

Offered by: Outreach Films Mary Time: 2:37 Recently divorced, Mary's self-worth is shaken. Feeling expendable and easily replaced, she represents tens of millions of people whose lives have been turned upside down by divorce, Mary's silent pain is evident to few. But there is a Hope that will resonate with Mary ... if we'll only reach out. Click to watch »

Offered by: SermonSpice Divorce Countdown Time: 1:32 A 5-minute Biblical Countdown preparing your congregation for a sermon on Divorce and what God's word says about it. Click to watch »

Offered by: Outreach Films FIREPROOF: Salt & Pepper Time: 2:29 In this clip from the film FIREPROOF, Capt. Caleb Holt and Lt. Michael Simmons are talking about Caleb’s decision to get a divorce. Michael points out that Caleb made a lifelong covenant vow with his wife when he got married. Caleb tries to avoid responsibility for his marriage’s failure. Michael superglues the salt and pepper shakers together to show how marriage bonds two people together permanently. Click to watch »

Offered by: WorshipHouse Media Love Lessons Learned Time: 1:21 A series of statements that contrasts the realities of failed love with the grace of God. A meaningful way to begin a discussion about divorce and remarriage as well as bring some much needed healing to people who have made mistakes. Click to watch »

Offered by: SermonSpice Hurts and Needs Bundle Time: 1:46 The economy, loss of jobs, illness, divorces, personal struggles... We all deal with real hurts and real needs. These videos are designed to soften the heart and hopefully facilitate people giving over their hurts and needs so that God can speak to them. Click to watch »

This Week's Sermon Illustrations

Divorce in America
Contributor: Rob Morton

In 1993 2.3 millions couples married and 1.3 million couples divorced. In 1993 the Bureau of the Census projected that 4 of 10 first marriages will end in divorce. People between the ages of 25 to 39 make up 60% of all divorces. Over one million children are affected by divorce each year. 70% of all children born in 1980 will spend some time of their childhood in a single parent family.…

God Gave Me Insight
Source: Gary R. Collins, Family Shock: Keeping Families Strong in the Midst of Earthshaking Change (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Pub., Inc., 1995), 195-197.

For seventeen years, [Grethel] Beyah survived in an abusive marriage. The family moved repeatedly, usually after they were evicted when they had no money to pay the rent. One cold Chicago winter, Beyah was trying to help her husband load their furniture from the street into a truck. “I just went to the back and started crying,” she said, “and the tears were freezing to my face it was so cold out.” The couple went for counseling, but that didn’t help. They eventually called it quits and got a divorce. The young mother was left with nine children, several of whom were too young to go to school. “God gave me insight to do things I didn’t know how to do,” Beyah reflected recently. …”

U.S. Divorce Statistics
Contributor: Brian Mavis

(1997 except where noted) Total divorces granted: 1,163,000 Rate per 1,000 population (1999): (excluding CA, CO, IN and LA) 4.1 State with the lowest divorce rate: Massachusetts. Rate per 1,000 population: 2.4 State with the higest divorce rate: Nevada. Rate per 1,000 population: 9.0 Current number of divorced adults (1998): 19,400,000 (9.8%) Median age at divorce: Males: 35.6 Females: 33.2 Median duration of marriage: 7.2 years…

Continue reading this FREE illustration»

How Much is Barbie?
Contributor: Andrew Chan

A man was driving home from work one evening when he suddenly realized that it was his daughter’s birthday and he hadn’t yet bought her a gift. So, the man rushed off to the nearest toy store and asked the sales clerk, "How much is that Barbie in the window?" The sales clerk replied in a condescending tone, "Which Barbie?…

Study Shows Divorce Won’t Make You Happier
Source: Family News from James Dobson 9/02, commenting on a study done by The Institute for American Values. From a sermon by Jeff Strite, “Til Death Do Us Part” 2/15/2009

One research team studied the responses of over 5,000 married adults who were first interviewed in the 1980s. Five years later, the survey re-contacted those people. Even though the study really wasn’t centered on divorce, they found that some of the original group had gotten divorced or separated during that time...and their responses on their state of happiness took the experts by surprise. What they found was that the divorce RARELY made anyone’s life happier.…

Barna on Divorce
Contributor: Thomas Monroe

Barna research shows: That divorce in the church is just as common as outside the church. In the church 33%, outside the church 34%. Also, the south is second in the nation in divorce. The south has a divorce rate of 35%, just behind the west (38%), and leading the Midwest (32%) and Northeast (28%). Another striking percentage for us as Baptists is that we lead the nation’s major denominations in divorce rates at 29%...

Divorce Costs Us All
Source: Marriagecommission.com 3/07

Each year about 1.2 million couples divorce in the U.S., costing taxpayers an estimated $30 billion in federal and state expenditures. Each divorce costs society $25,000 to $30,000…

Divorce and Communication
Contributor: Michael Semon

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, “What are the grounds for your divorce?” She replied, “About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by.” “No,” he said, “I mean what is the foundation of this case?” “It is made of concrete, brick and mortar,” she responded. “I mean,” he continued, “What are your relations like?” “I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband’s parents.”…

Divorce Rate for Police
Source: Foster Letter 4/10/07

“The national divorce rate for police officers…”

Marrying All Over Again
Source: The Celebration of Love by Pastor Glenn Pease

As monogamists we think we only marry one mate, but the fact is we all marry a number of people because our mates keep changing, and we have to adjust to these changes and learn to love a different person than the one we married. …

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Single Divorce

Divorce

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