Tomorrow, I’m preaching on Divorce. Here’s the outline. See http://jmm.org.au/articles/4972.htm

for the full text.

DIVORCE: A CHRISTIAN VIEW

INTRODUCTION:

a.. Divorce is almost always painful a.. It’s a big industry a.. Three broad Christian views (Conservative, Progressive, Liberal)

a.. The situation today FOUR APPROACHES:

1. LAW / BIBLE – Genesis 2:18-25, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Matthew 5:27-32, Matthew 19:5ff., Mark 10:12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. Summary: divorce is possible, permitted, but never enouraged. God hates divorce.

2. GRACE/LOVE – ‘Taking the Bible literally’. David and the ‘Bread of the Presence’ (Matthew 12:1-8; Jesus and the adultrous woman John 8, the Samaritan woman John 4, etc. Summary: with God there is always the certainty of grace and the possibility of a new beginning.

3. COMPASSION/MERCY – Matthew 23:23. Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees. ‘Love sees the need, and not the cause!’

4.JUSTICE/ADVOCACY – legal, moral, social. ‘Justice sees the cause, and asks “Who misused power against whom?’ CONCLUSIONS:

a.. Choosing the lesser evil a.. How can God allow Moses the murderer, David the adulterer/ murderer, Saul the murderer to occupy high office? b.. What would Jesus do? And Paul? Romans 15:7

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher