Read: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 1 Peter 3:1-7
“Tertullian (160–230AD), the theologian of Carthage, wrote about heathen husbands being angry with their Christian wives because they wanted to kiss martyrs’ bonds, embrace Christians, and visit the cottages of the poor.”
Ever since the first century Christians have had to deal with the difficulties of having a non-Christian spouse. Although the practical details of the struggles have changed (I don’t know many Christian’s who are kissing martyrs’ bonds) the difficulties associated with these situations have not changed. Fortunately God has provided specific guidance for those who find themselves in this situation.
Paul’s words in today’s passage from 1st Corinthians are fairly straightforward and easy to understand. However two things deserve special attention. Firstly, God provides for desertion by an unbelieving spouse as a Biblical ground for divorce. Paul tells us that the reason behind this provision is that God has called us to live in peace. If you have been in this situation and your unbelieving spouse has left you, take comfort in the fact that God desires that you live in peace and you are no longer bound to that marriage.
The second item that deserves special attention is even more important. Despite God allowing desertion by an unbelieving spouse it is not required or compulsory. Rather Paul (and Peter in 1st Peter) encourages the believing spouse to live with their spouse in such a way that the gospel is proclaimed and the unbeliever may come to faith in Christ.
If you are married to an unbeliever spend time today praying for their salvation and praying that God would help you to be a witness to them. Consider the words of Peter and Paul in today’s readings and how you might be able to practically apply them to your situation. How can you be a good witness to your spouse?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for the salvation that you have in Jesus Christ and that you have come to faith in Jesus Christ by His mercy and choosing. Pray for those Christians all over the world who are married to non-Christians. Pray that God would grant them strength and patience and that they would be a witness to their spouse.
¥ Pray for GRUNT and Girl Chat as they gather together this afternoon in order to deepen their faith in Jesus and to encourage each other. Pray that God would continue to raise up young men and women who are passionate about their faith. Pray that God would help them to grow in holiness and faith and that they would be challenged to share their faith with others.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. According to today’s passages how does a Christian spouse win over a non-Christian spouse?
2. Practically how could you support a fellow believer who is married to a non-believe? Is there anyone you know who you could do those things to support?
Friday, 8 March 2013
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Thursday March 7
Read: Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:7-9
According to a 1999 study done by the Australian Institute of Family Studies about a fifth (20.1%) of divorces occur due to marital infidelity or an affair. If that wasn’t enough, more than 443,000 Australians are actively seeking an affair online using just one website. That means that 1 in 25 married people are currently looking to have an affair.
It is interesting to consider these statistics after reading today’s passage from Matthew 5. Jesus clearly establishes that marital unfaithfulness is a valid, Biblical grounds for divorce. Imagine if all of these marriages divorced. That would potentially be 443,000 divorces! That is nearly 10 times the number of divorces which were granted in 2011! The toll of such a large number of divorces would be massive.
In order to properly understand how Jesus’ provision for marital infidelity should be applied, we must remember that marriage is instituted by God and is therefore very important. We should never undervalue marriage. Whilst Jesus does allow a provision for marital unfaithfulness in divorce it is not a command. This means, difficult as it may be, we must fight for our marriages as much as possible. If there is marital unfaithfulness in the marriage a divorce should never be the first resort of default solution.
Instead we should work our hardest to restore the marriage and to bring the forgiveness of Jesus to bear on the situation. This will often be costly and difficult but is no less important. If you have been the victim of an affair I encourage you to pray that God would help you to forgive and that you would seek to reconcile with your spouse.
If you aren’t in that situation have a think about some of the things that you can do to protect yourself and your spouse (or future spouse) from having an affair. Everyone is a sinner and everyone is potentially vulnerable to this type of sin. No one is exempt. Considering this, what are some of the things that you can put into practice now to protect your marriage? How can you be radical and costly in seeking to prevent an affair? (Matthew 5:29-30)
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the 443,000 Australians who are currently seeking an affair online. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin and that if they don’t know Jesus that they would come to a relationship with Him. Pray that they would seek to heal and grow their marriages and that God would work in the hearts of their spouses.
¥ Pray for the South Toowoomba Presbyterian Church as they do not currently have a full time Senior Minister. Pray that God would raise up a minister to be called to the church and to minister to God’s people there. Pray that the congregation would be challenged to be generous and to actively and passionately seek to share the Gospel with the lost.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think it is possible to reconcile a marriage after an affair? Why or why not?
2. How could you support a couple who is working through the consequences of an affair?
3. What can you do to protect your marriage from unfaithfulness?
According to a 1999 study done by the Australian Institute of Family Studies about a fifth (20.1%) of divorces occur due to marital infidelity or an affair. If that wasn’t enough, more than 443,000 Australians are actively seeking an affair online using just one website. That means that 1 in 25 married people are currently looking to have an affair.
It is interesting to consider these statistics after reading today’s passage from Matthew 5. Jesus clearly establishes that marital unfaithfulness is a valid, Biblical grounds for divorce. Imagine if all of these marriages divorced. That would potentially be 443,000 divorces! That is nearly 10 times the number of divorces which were granted in 2011! The toll of such a large number of divorces would be massive.
In order to properly understand how Jesus’ provision for marital infidelity should be applied, we must remember that marriage is instituted by God and is therefore very important. We should never undervalue marriage. Whilst Jesus does allow a provision for marital unfaithfulness in divorce it is not a command. This means, difficult as it may be, we must fight for our marriages as much as possible. If there is marital unfaithfulness in the marriage a divorce should never be the first resort of default solution.
Instead we should work our hardest to restore the marriage and to bring the forgiveness of Jesus to bear on the situation. This will often be costly and difficult but is no less important. If you have been the victim of an affair I encourage you to pray that God would help you to forgive and that you would seek to reconcile with your spouse.
If you aren’t in that situation have a think about some of the things that you can do to protect yourself and your spouse (or future spouse) from having an affair. Everyone is a sinner and everyone is potentially vulnerable to this type of sin. No one is exempt. Considering this, what are some of the things that you can put into practice now to protect your marriage? How can you be radical and costly in seeking to prevent an affair? (Matthew 5:29-30)
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the 443,000 Australians who are currently seeking an affair online. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin and that if they don’t know Jesus that they would come to a relationship with Him. Pray that they would seek to heal and grow their marriages and that God would work in the hearts of their spouses.
¥ Pray for the South Toowoomba Presbyterian Church as they do not currently have a full time Senior Minister. Pray that God would raise up a minister to be called to the church and to minister to God’s people there. Pray that the congregation would be challenged to be generous and to actively and passionately seek to share the Gospel with the lost.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think it is possible to reconcile a marriage after an affair? Why or why not?
2. How could you support a couple who is working through the consequences of an affair?
3. What can you do to protect your marriage from unfaithfulness?
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Wednesday March 6
Read: Matthew 19:1-9
In 2011 there were 48,935 divorces issued across Australia. I wonder how many of these divorces occurred due to a spoiled dinner? It may seem like a silly question but this was actually the debate going on amongst the Pharisees at the time they came to Jesus. There were two main schools amongst the Pharisees in relation to divorce. One group argued that divorce was only allowed in the case of sexual immorality, the other group argued that a man could divorce his wife even if she spoiled a dish for him. There is no way to know any divorce statistics in Israel at the time Jesus was on earth but, if the Pharisees had this attitude, I imagine the rate would be very high!
In Matthew 19 the Pharisees come to Jesus to trap Him in their debate but Jesus, in His typical style, deftly avoids their trap and turns the situation around. By beginning with the origin of marriage in God Himself, Jesus takes the Biblical standard for marriage, remarriage and divorce to its intended conclusion: that divorce on any grounds except for those outlined in Scripture will result in adultery.
Imagine the horror and offence of the Pharisees at Jesus’ teaching. How many of them had become adulterers because of a spoiled dish? Jesus’ teaching leaves us no room to negotiate on the subject of divorce. Clearly divorce and remarriage on any ground except for those outlined in scripture are sinful.
What does this mean for us? Firstly, for anyone who has had a divorce and has remarried this passage can be particularly difficult. We must remember that our response to being shown our sin before God is to repent of our sin, to turn to God for the forgiveness that we can find in Jesus Christ and to trust that because of what Christ has done on our behalf we are forever pardoned for our sin.
Secondly, we must understand from this passage the immense priority and importance which God places on marriage. As followers of Jesus we are required to view marriage as God views marriage and to fight to protect it.
If marriage is so important how are you guarding your marriage? What are you doing to fight to protect and, if need be, save your marriage? If you are not yet married what can you do now to prepare for and protect your future marriage?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for those in government who are making decisions about marriage and families in Australia. Pray that God would give them wisdom as they make decisions about families and that they would keep the best interests of children in mind as they make their decisions. Pray that God would give them courage to make the best decision even if it is unpopular.
¥ Pray for all the students who are studying at university here in Toowoomba or elsewhere. Pray that God would give them focus and wisdom as they study and that they would be a good witness to those around them. Pray that they would persist and be strengthened in their faith despite secular influences on them.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What do you think is the attitude in our culture towards divorce? Give examples.
2. What should be a Christian attitude towards marriage? How would this look in our culture?
3. Considering this passage what should be our response to a Christian person who has had a divorce?
In 2011 there were 48,935 divorces issued across Australia. I wonder how many of these divorces occurred due to a spoiled dinner? It may seem like a silly question but this was actually the debate going on amongst the Pharisees at the time they came to Jesus. There were two main schools amongst the Pharisees in relation to divorce. One group argued that divorce was only allowed in the case of sexual immorality, the other group argued that a man could divorce his wife even if she spoiled a dish for him. There is no way to know any divorce statistics in Israel at the time Jesus was on earth but, if the Pharisees had this attitude, I imagine the rate would be very high!
In Matthew 19 the Pharisees come to Jesus to trap Him in their debate but Jesus, in His typical style, deftly avoids their trap and turns the situation around. By beginning with the origin of marriage in God Himself, Jesus takes the Biblical standard for marriage, remarriage and divorce to its intended conclusion: that divorce on any grounds except for those outlined in Scripture will result in adultery.
Imagine the horror and offence of the Pharisees at Jesus’ teaching. How many of them had become adulterers because of a spoiled dish? Jesus’ teaching leaves us no room to negotiate on the subject of divorce. Clearly divorce and remarriage on any ground except for those outlined in scripture are sinful.
What does this mean for us? Firstly, for anyone who has had a divorce and has remarried this passage can be particularly difficult. We must remember that our response to being shown our sin before God is to repent of our sin, to turn to God for the forgiveness that we can find in Jesus Christ and to trust that because of what Christ has done on our behalf we are forever pardoned for our sin.
Secondly, we must understand from this passage the immense priority and importance which God places on marriage. As followers of Jesus we are required to view marriage as God views marriage and to fight to protect it.
If marriage is so important how are you guarding your marriage? What are you doing to fight to protect and, if need be, save your marriage? If you are not yet married what can you do now to prepare for and protect your future marriage?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for those in government who are making decisions about marriage and families in Australia. Pray that God would give them wisdom as they make decisions about families and that they would keep the best interests of children in mind as they make their decisions. Pray that God would give them courage to make the best decision even if it is unpopular.
¥ Pray for all the students who are studying at university here in Toowoomba or elsewhere. Pray that God would give them focus and wisdom as they study and that they would be a good witness to those around them. Pray that they would persist and be strengthened in their faith despite secular influences on them.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What do you think is the attitude in our culture towards divorce? Give examples.
2. What should be a Christian attitude towards marriage? How would this look in our culture?
3. Considering this passage what should be our response to a Christian person who has had a divorce?
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Tuesday March 5
Read: Mark 10:2-12, Genesis 2:18-24
There are few documents (if any) in Australian Law which are more authoritative and more important than the Australian Constitution. Legal cases in relation to the constitution are considered so important they are taken straight to the High Court. Just think of the movie The Castle. The Australian constitution is the foundation of law and legal process in Australia.
When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus in their debates on the legal reasons for divorce Jesus does not participate in their debate but instead bases His discussion on a similarly important and foundational document: the book of Genesis, specifically the creation account in Chapters 1 and 2. This account sets out the foundations of the universe and humanity: That there is a creator God who rules over the universe; that He created mankind in His own image; and that humanity has a responsibility to steward and tend creation.
Jesus also draws another foundational truth out of this passage: that God’s intention is for man and wife to become one flesh together at marriage. We cannot argue the importance of marriage or dismiss it as merely a manmade concept. Marriage was established by God Himself at the very beginning of mankind. God is the one who decided that marriage was important and necessary. God is the one who decided that marriage should be between one man and one woman. God is the one who makes marriage the closest possible human relationship, so much so that a husband and a wife become one flesh. Just like the constitution establishes the foundation of the law, God’s intention at creation establishes the foundation for marriage.
What does this mean for divorce and remarriage? Jesus teaching is clear: “What God has joined together, let man not separate.” If God has chosen to make marriage so important and has chosen that the marriage relationship is so close then we must place the same importance on protecting it and preserving it. Have a serious look at your own life, what importance do you place on marriage?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for all the couples in the church who are dating, engaged or married. Pray that God would impress upon them the importance of marriage and the priority that God places upon it. Pray that they would be challenged to fight for their relationships.
¥ Pray for the cell groups as they gather during the week. Pray that as they study the word together that they would grow in relationship, that the would grow in holiness and that they would be challenged to share their faith with others.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What do you think it means that a husband and a wife become one flesh?
2. What are some of the practical way that this works out in their relationship and in their lives?
3. If marriage is so important what should we do to protect it?
There are few documents (if any) in Australian Law which are more authoritative and more important than the Australian Constitution. Legal cases in relation to the constitution are considered so important they are taken straight to the High Court. Just think of the movie The Castle. The Australian constitution is the foundation of law and legal process in Australia.
When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus in their debates on the legal reasons for divorce Jesus does not participate in their debate but instead bases His discussion on a similarly important and foundational document: the book of Genesis, specifically the creation account in Chapters 1 and 2. This account sets out the foundations of the universe and humanity: That there is a creator God who rules over the universe; that He created mankind in His own image; and that humanity has a responsibility to steward and tend creation.
Jesus also draws another foundational truth out of this passage: that God’s intention is for man and wife to become one flesh together at marriage. We cannot argue the importance of marriage or dismiss it as merely a manmade concept. Marriage was established by God Himself at the very beginning of mankind. God is the one who decided that marriage was important and necessary. God is the one who decided that marriage should be between one man and one woman. God is the one who makes marriage the closest possible human relationship, so much so that a husband and a wife become one flesh. Just like the constitution establishes the foundation of the law, God’s intention at creation establishes the foundation for marriage.
What does this mean for divorce and remarriage? Jesus teaching is clear: “What God has joined together, let man not separate.” If God has chosen to make marriage so important and has chosen that the marriage relationship is so close then we must place the same importance on protecting it and preserving it. Have a serious look at your own life, what importance do you place on marriage?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for all the couples in the church who are dating, engaged or married. Pray that God would impress upon them the importance of marriage and the priority that God places upon it. Pray that they would be challenged to fight for their relationships.
¥ Pray for the cell groups as they gather during the week. Pray that as they study the word together that they would grow in relationship, that the would grow in holiness and that they would be challenged to share their faith with others.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What do you think it means that a husband and a wife become one flesh?
2. What are some of the practical way that this works out in their relationship and in their lives?
3. If marriage is so important what should we do to protect it?
Monday, 4 March 2013
Monday March 4
Weekly Challenge
What can you do this week to deepen your relationship with your spouse and to fight to protect your marriage or your future marriage? Write it down and do it!
Read: Matthew 5:31-37, James 5:12
There are few issues as touchy amongst Christians as the issues of remarriage and divorce, issues made even tougher by the number of people all of us know, even in the Christian church, who have been divorced and/or remarried. As a result some in the church will merely brush over the issue, trying to pretend that the Bible’s teaching on the topic isn’t there. Others in the church will make too big a deal of the issue, turning Jesus words into legalism and strict rules to judge others by.
So how do we understand these issues of remarriage and divorce from a Biblical perspective? How do we treat people with grace but not compromise on the Bible’s teachings? What does all this mean for how we live? This week we will be answering these questions. However to do so, we must lay some groundwork first.
We have already discussed over the past weeks that the sermon on the mount is delivered to followers of Jesus as a manual, a standard for what life looks like in the Kingdom of God. We have seen that Jesus is not only interested in external behaviour but is more interested in changed hearts. So why does Jesus consider the issue of divorce so important? The answer is revealed in today’s reading: the heart of this issue is about keeping our word.
All of the teachings of Jesus about how His people are to live are intended to make us a more accurate reflection of God’s character and image. Throughout the Bible we see that God does what He says, stands by all His words and always keeps His promises. If God’s people are to truly reflect God’s character then we must also keep our word, ALWAYS. This is why Jesus considers divorce so important, because there are few greater, more life changing promises we make than our marriage vows.
As we study divorce and remarriage this week think about your own life. Do you keep your word? If you say you will do something do you do it? If you want to convince someone do you have to say “I promise”, or is your word enough?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God that He is a God who keeps His word and is always faithful to deliver His promises. Praise God that we can always rely on Him regardless of our own failings. Pray that God would help you to better reflect Him by keeping your word this week. Pray that those around you would see your integrity and turn to faith in Jesus Christ.
¥ Pray for all those who gathered together as God’s people yesterday morning or evening. Pray that they would be challenged from God’s word and that they would put into practice the things that they have learnt. Pray that those who came who did not know Jesus would be changed by what they have heard and challenged to follow Him.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some other important vows, promises or agreements people make where their word is important?
2. How does this principle of keeping our word change the way that Christians should view these things?
What can you do this week to deepen your relationship with your spouse and to fight to protect your marriage or your future marriage? Write it down and do it!
Read: Matthew 5:31-37, James 5:12
There are few issues as touchy amongst Christians as the issues of remarriage and divorce, issues made even tougher by the number of people all of us know, even in the Christian church, who have been divorced and/or remarried. As a result some in the church will merely brush over the issue, trying to pretend that the Bible’s teaching on the topic isn’t there. Others in the church will make too big a deal of the issue, turning Jesus words into legalism and strict rules to judge others by.
So how do we understand these issues of remarriage and divorce from a Biblical perspective? How do we treat people with grace but not compromise on the Bible’s teachings? What does all this mean for how we live? This week we will be answering these questions. However to do so, we must lay some groundwork first.
We have already discussed over the past weeks that the sermon on the mount is delivered to followers of Jesus as a manual, a standard for what life looks like in the Kingdom of God. We have seen that Jesus is not only interested in external behaviour but is more interested in changed hearts. So why does Jesus consider the issue of divorce so important? The answer is revealed in today’s reading: the heart of this issue is about keeping our word.
All of the teachings of Jesus about how His people are to live are intended to make us a more accurate reflection of God’s character and image. Throughout the Bible we see that God does what He says, stands by all His words and always keeps His promises. If God’s people are to truly reflect God’s character then we must also keep our word, ALWAYS. This is why Jesus considers divorce so important, because there are few greater, more life changing promises we make than our marriage vows.
As we study divorce and remarriage this week think about your own life. Do you keep your word? If you say you will do something do you do it? If you want to convince someone do you have to say “I promise”, or is your word enough?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God that He is a God who keeps His word and is always faithful to deliver His promises. Praise God that we can always rely on Him regardless of our own failings. Pray that God would help you to better reflect Him by keeping your word this week. Pray that those around you would see your integrity and turn to faith in Jesus Christ.
¥ Pray for all those who gathered together as God’s people yesterday morning or evening. Pray that they would be challenged from God’s word and that they would put into practice the things that they have learnt. Pray that those who came who did not know Jesus would be changed by what they have heard and challenged to follow Him.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some other important vows, promises or agreements people make where their word is important?
2. How does this principle of keeping our word change the way that Christians should view these things?
Saturday, 2 March 2013
Saturday March 2
Read: Ephesians 5:1-15,
Matthew 5:27-30
How much does something have to be worth before taking it would be considered theft? If I took your $100 watch, would that be considered stealing? If I took your $10 iTunes voucher, would that be considered stealing? What if I went into your wallet and took a 10 cent coin? Of course all of those things would be considered stealing. What makes something stealing is not the dollar value of the item but the intention of taking something which belongs to someone else.
At this point you might be quite confused. Of course those taking those things is stealing but why bring up stealing when we are talking about sexual purity? Unintentionally teenagers (and adults) often ask a very similar question with regards to boundaries in relationships with the opposite sex. That question is generally “How far can we go?”, or “How far is too far?”.
Let me explain. Our question about stealing revealed a simple but powerful truth: that what makes something stealing is not the value of the item but the intention or thoughts of the person doing the stealing. That is what Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 5 about our sexuality. Adultery and sexual sin is not just about our physical actions, it is about our intentions and about our hearts. To look at another woman with lust is to commit sexual sin according to God’s standard. Paul shows us this even more clearly in Ephesians 5: there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality amongst God’s people (see v3) and God’s people are to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness (see v11).
How does this look in a relationship? Rather than ask the question, “How far can I go?”, the question has to be, “How do I keep my heart pure?” This is a much, much greater standard. Think about how you might put this into a boundary in your relationship. Rather than “we won’t do XYZ”, a boundary based on this principal would have to be “we won’t do anything that would cause us to lust or would result in even a hint of sexual immorality.”
Now that is a boundary worth keeping! Think today about what things you might need to do to keep such a boundary.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the church as we gather together tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening to celebrate the Lord’s Day. Pray that God would stir a spirit of joy and celebration amongst his people as they gather together and that they would desire to grow in holiness together as they are taught His word.
¥ Pray for those in our community and around the world who don’t know the joy and freedom of having a relationship with Jesus. Pray that tomorrow God’s people would be stirred up to reach the lost and to share the good news and that unbelievers would be drawn to come to church.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some boundaries that you could put in place in your life to help you to maintain a standard of “not a hint” of sexual immorality?
2. What are some practical boundaries that unmarried couples could put into place to maintain that standard and protect their hearts?
Matthew 5:27-30
How much does something have to be worth before taking it would be considered theft? If I took your $100 watch, would that be considered stealing? If I took your $10 iTunes voucher, would that be considered stealing? What if I went into your wallet and took a 10 cent coin? Of course all of those things would be considered stealing. What makes something stealing is not the dollar value of the item but the intention of taking something which belongs to someone else.
At this point you might be quite confused. Of course those taking those things is stealing but why bring up stealing when we are talking about sexual purity? Unintentionally teenagers (and adults) often ask a very similar question with regards to boundaries in relationships with the opposite sex. That question is generally “How far can we go?”, or “How far is too far?”.
Let me explain. Our question about stealing revealed a simple but powerful truth: that what makes something stealing is not the value of the item but the intention or thoughts of the person doing the stealing. That is what Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 5 about our sexuality. Adultery and sexual sin is not just about our physical actions, it is about our intentions and about our hearts. To look at another woman with lust is to commit sexual sin according to God’s standard. Paul shows us this even more clearly in Ephesians 5: there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality amongst God’s people (see v3) and God’s people are to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness (see v11).
How does this look in a relationship? Rather than ask the question, “How far can I go?”, the question has to be, “How do I keep my heart pure?” This is a much, much greater standard. Think about how you might put this into a boundary in your relationship. Rather than “we won’t do XYZ”, a boundary based on this principal would have to be “we won’t do anything that would cause us to lust or would result in even a hint of sexual immorality.”
Now that is a boundary worth keeping! Think today about what things you might need to do to keep such a boundary.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the church as we gather together tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening to celebrate the Lord’s Day. Pray that God would stir a spirit of joy and celebration amongst his people as they gather together and that they would desire to grow in holiness together as they are taught His word.
¥ Pray for those in our community and around the world who don’t know the joy and freedom of having a relationship with Jesus. Pray that tomorrow God’s people would be stirred up to reach the lost and to share the good news and that unbelievers would be drawn to come to church.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some boundaries that you could put in place in your life to help you to maintain a standard of “not a hint” of sexual immorality?
2. What are some practical boundaries that unmarried couples could put into place to maintain that standard and protect their hearts?
Friday, 1 March 2013
Friday March 1
Read: Romans 8:5-9,
Psalm 119:9-16
We cannot talk about the issue of sexual purity in the 21st century without discussing fantasy. Many popular figures in our culture and even celebrity medical professionals are not only okay with sexual fantasy but even advocate it. The Biblical truth about fantasy and our thought life is radically different.
Our culture would consider fantasy harmless because it only occurs in the mind, no action is actually being made by the person. This is so different to the Biblical standard described by Jesus in this week’s passage from Matthew 5:27-29. Jesus actually extends the concept of Biblical morality to actions which occur only in the mind and heart. This is because Jesus is not only interested in a change of behaviour but in a change of our hearts.
Is the issue of our thought life really so important? In Scripture we are exhorted to think in a manner which is glorifying to God rather than a manner which is not (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8). Paul takes this idea even further in today’s reading from Romans 8. Paul tells us that if our thoughts are consistently sinful then it is proof that we are not even in Christ!
We clearly need to be wary of allowing ourselves sinful sexual thoughts or fantasies. We need to protect our minds by replacing our sinful thoughts with Godly thoughts. This is what the Psalmist did when he says that he has hidden God’s word in his heart and that he meditates on God’s precepts. This is what Paul suggests in Colossians 3:2 and Philippians 4:8. We need to practice combating our sinful thoughts with thoughts of God’s word and what God has done on our behalf.
Along with guarding your eyes, consider how you might be able to keep your thought life more pure. Memorise Philippians 4:8 and whenever you have an impure thought today repeat the verse and pray that God would help you to think on those things.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God that even though we so often sin against Him in our thoughts and in our hearts that He has made a way for us to come into relationship with Him and to be made more like Him. Pray that today God would keep your thoughts on Him and on His word and that when you struggle with sinful thoughts that He would give you strength and desire to counter those thoughts.
¥ Pray for the youth group as they gather together tonight. Pray that God would give wisdom to Brad and all of the leaders as they seek to lead the youth. Pray that God would stir in the hearts of the youth a passion for holiness and a deeper relation ship with God.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Read Philippians 4:8. What are some things that you can focus your thoughts on which are true, noble and pure?
2. What are some practical ways that you can refocus your thoughts today onto the things you have discussed?
Psalm 119:9-16
We cannot talk about the issue of sexual purity in the 21st century without discussing fantasy. Many popular figures in our culture and even celebrity medical professionals are not only okay with sexual fantasy but even advocate it. The Biblical truth about fantasy and our thought life is radically different.
Our culture would consider fantasy harmless because it only occurs in the mind, no action is actually being made by the person. This is so different to the Biblical standard described by Jesus in this week’s passage from Matthew 5:27-29. Jesus actually extends the concept of Biblical morality to actions which occur only in the mind and heart. This is because Jesus is not only interested in a change of behaviour but in a change of our hearts.
Is the issue of our thought life really so important? In Scripture we are exhorted to think in a manner which is glorifying to God rather than a manner which is not (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8). Paul takes this idea even further in today’s reading from Romans 8. Paul tells us that if our thoughts are consistently sinful then it is proof that we are not even in Christ!
We clearly need to be wary of allowing ourselves sinful sexual thoughts or fantasies. We need to protect our minds by replacing our sinful thoughts with Godly thoughts. This is what the Psalmist did when he says that he has hidden God’s word in his heart and that he meditates on God’s precepts. This is what Paul suggests in Colossians 3:2 and Philippians 4:8. We need to practice combating our sinful thoughts with thoughts of God’s word and what God has done on our behalf.
Along with guarding your eyes, consider how you might be able to keep your thought life more pure. Memorise Philippians 4:8 and whenever you have an impure thought today repeat the verse and pray that God would help you to think on those things.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God that even though we so often sin against Him in our thoughts and in our hearts that He has made a way for us to come into relationship with Him and to be made more like Him. Pray that today God would keep your thoughts on Him and on His word and that when you struggle with sinful thoughts that He would give you strength and desire to counter those thoughts.
¥ Pray for the youth group as they gather together tonight. Pray that God would give wisdom to Brad and all of the leaders as they seek to lead the youth. Pray that God would stir in the hearts of the youth a passion for holiness and a deeper relation ship with God.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Read Philippians 4:8. What are some things that you can focus your thoughts on which are true, noble and pure?
2. What are some practical ways that you can refocus your thoughts today onto the things you have discussed?
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