Bible Verses for Sunday Service March 6, 2022
Hebrews 12:2
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Timothy 1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Announcements:
Deacon Steve, seemed to have some fun today in that his first announcement was about our chance to meet Mae’s fiance. He will be attending a music concert at the Shepherd School on March 15th. Gaylene also let us know that on April 9th, the church ladies will be hosting a bridal shower for Mae. More details will follow. Once again we remind you about the event in March, La Vie will host an event with Tim Tebow. Youth may attend for free, but adults are $20. If you are interested in attending, please see Brianne Hofer. Also, another reminder about the AWANA Grand Prix. On March 25th, a Friday, from 4-6PM, the children will have a chance to test and tune their cars. Racing is next day on March 26, where volunteers like you make this happen by setting up and running the race. More greeters are needed beyond our faithful four. If any members that wish to serve in this position, please contact Phil Witschi.
Sermon:
Pastor continued his review of the beatitudes in Matthew, 5:27-32 Jesus’ proclamation of the arrival of the Kingdom of God with a message titled “Living Joyfully with the One We Love.” In these verses Jesus progressively elucidates the problem of our fallen nature, and His explanation of the correct standard that we must live by. In this sermon on the dangers of Lust and Divorce, Pastor preached on its danger, leading to divorce just like anger leads to murder. Sins are always a problem of the heart.
For an introduction, Pastor reminded us of an anecdote from Henry Ford. Asked for his opinion on success in marriage, for he had been married for 50 years, he remarked that “the formula was the same as in manufacturing, stick to one model.” And, that is certainly Jesus’ advice too.
Pastor preached that Jesus knew about temptation, lust being an example. Jesus’ experience shows that there is nothing wrong with temptation itself. The problem is entering into the temptation allowing it become desire, which in turn leads to sin. King David is a classic example of this with Bathsheba. While the Bible has bad examples of what Jesus is warning and explaining God’s standard, it also has good ones, like Joseph who rejected the advances of Potiphar’s wife, and Job who talked of his covenant with his eyes. In concluding the warning about lust, Pastor explained that in Matthew Jesus is using hyperbole, gouge your eye out, cut your hand off, not to request that we do that, but to remind us how seriously God takes sins. So we should too.
God strongly condemns lust of the eyes given free reign to become desire and sin because He has such a high view of marriage that He instituted in Genesis 2 in the Garden. Pastor explained that no divorce is God’s plan. This is the standard Jesus announced when the Pharisees asked him about the standard for a certificate of divorce. God only allowed Moses to make a provision for it due to the hardness of people’s hearts. And even then, there is a limit on God’s permission respecting divorce, only allowing it for marital infidelity
In closing, pastor reminded us that we cannot change the past, but we can commit ourselves to the one person that God provided. If you are unmarried, then patience is God’s plan while you maintain purity. Pastor asked for these things in prayer as he closed the sermon.
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