In this sermon, Ken Noakes tackles Jesus Christ’s words on marriage and divorce. In Matthew chapter 19, Jesus is asked, ‘can someone get divorced for any reason?’ Ken talks about the meaning behind marriage and what it means to get divorced through how Jesus answers this contentious question, which remains relevant to this day.
Tag Archives: Marriage
Sermon – Psalms of Hope: Hope in the God who is Faithful (Psalm 89)
Read the text – Psalm 89
Even in the midst of the turmoil of this world, God is faithful, God’s promises are rock solid – in Psalm 89 we are reminded that God’s love stands forever; his faithfulness is firmly established. In this talk Ken Noakes looks at how Psalm 89 points us to his appointed, anointed, exalted king – not King David, but King Jesus.
This talk shows the hope that we can have today because we can see how God has kept his promises in his Son Jesus.
Sermon – How to go to Church: Men and Women (1 Cor 11:2-16)
This post, we offer two different (yet complementary) sermons on the same passage – 1 Corinthians 11:2-16…
Read the text – 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
In the letter of 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul has been addressing numerous matters to help the Christians in Corinth consider how they live for Christ – both before the world, and within the church family.
Previously in this series we have considered what Paul has said about Christian freedoms as taught in chapters 8-10. In this talk we turn our attention to how Christians should live together as a church family – and there are several matters which will be addressed from Chapters 11 through to 14 which all relate to what happening in a specific church gathering. We start with the first half of chapter 11 which speaks in particular to those who are married within a church family.
Sermon – Christian Family Matters: Concerning Singleness (1 Cor 7:17-40)
Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:17-40
What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us in 2022.
In this talk, Dave Swan looks at how being in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex should not come before being in a relationship with the Lord – put the horse before the cart when thinking about singleness and relationships. This talk upholds singleness. There is great value for us all (single or married) to recognise the value of singleness and to be given reasons to see that our status before the Lord is first about our relationship with him than it is about our relationship with another. Yet, we also acknowledge the burden/longing that those who are single may feel.
Sermon – Concerning Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-24)
Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:1-24
What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us today.
In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes carefully looks at what 1 Corinthians says about the place of sex in marriage and how it might help us to recognise the gospel importance of the marriage covenant. There are specific matters addressed here and there are specific relationships in view (i.e. – those married, those unmarried and widowed, to Christian married couples, and Christians married to unbelievers). The gospel speaks to each circumstance.
Sermon Series – Wisdom in Relationships (Proverbs)
In every stage of life, what we often need and frequently lack, is wisdom. Whether seeking or being married, relating to our children or relating as adults to our parents, there are potholes that rattle us. Proverbs anticipates our struggles and offers timeless wisdom, warning and instruction that find their zenith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Building Wisdom: Husband and Wife
This sermon looks at the need for faithfulness in a marriage, and the greatest example of this being Christ and the church.
Read the passages – Proverbs 6:20-35 Ephesians 5:21-33
Banking Wisdom: Parent to Child
Proverbs assumes the need to love our children through discipline, as hard as this is in practice. This sermon investigates the idea of discipline, as well as the ways that God loves us through his discipline of us as his children.
Read the passages – Proverbs 14:1-4 Hebrews 12:3-17
(Question time included after sermon)
Honouring Wisdom: Adult to Parent
This sermon looks at our struggle to heed all the wisdom our parents have to offer, often due to pride. We should honour our earthly parents naturally as we live out our faith in honouring our heavenly Father, perfectly modelled by Jesus.
Read the passages – Proverbs 23:22-25 Ephesians 6:1-3
Sermon – The Good News about Love (Song of Songs #5)
In this, fifth and last sermon on Song of Songs, Des Smith explains how this love song between one man and one woman, also points toward the gospel and what the implications of this are for all of us.
Sermon – Married Sex (Song of Songs#3)
In this, third of five sermons, Des Smith shows how Song of Songs teaches us that sex was given by God to enhance marriage rather than marriage being ordained to control sex. Listen to this sermon to hear Des explain this important distinction from Song of Songs.
Read the Bible text: Song of Songs 2:16 – 3:11, 1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Sermon – Good Sex (Song of Songs#2)
In this, second of five sermons, Des Smith shows how Song of Songs vividly endorses God’s positive view of sex within the context of faithful heterosexual marriage. He also explains how God is “pro-creation” – that everything God created is good if it is received with thankfulness.
Read the Bible text: Song of Songs 4:1 – 5:12 , 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Upholding Singleness
Song of Songs is a beautiful book that millions of Christians, both single and married, have read and studied with great profit. However, for some – and in particular those not currently in a relationship – it can be difficult.
In any church family there will be folk who are single – those who have never been married and those who have been married and are now single. Due to a breakdown in relationship, divorce, death of a spouse, a struggle against same-sex attraction, or other reason, Song of Songs may push some unhappy buttons.
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