Men are responsible for the spiritual depth and protection of their marriage. Even so, many begin married life woefully unprepared to lead the family, or even manage basic resources. This is not a problem as long as a husband is willing to learn. Marriage is an opportunity from God to mature into the role we are called to fulfill, and He provides the wisdom and providential circumstances necessary for us to grow. The difficulty comes when men are unwilling to love sacrificially, or to apply themselves to a life of wisdom, hard work, and discipline. The marriage will inevitably weaken in such cases, but the damage doesn’t stop there. The Church and the family are closely linked. The Church will not thrive when families are falling apart, nor will families thrive when the Church is weak and impure. This is why the Church needs to be concerned about family ministry, and why husbands need to encourage their family to feed on the vibrant spiritual community found in the local church.
A Marriage Unto God: The Husband's Role, Part 3
Passage: Ephesians 5:25–5:33
May 17, 2015 • Pastor Marc Wragg
Living as Citizens of the Kingdom of God, Part 1
November 23, 2014 • Pastor Marc Wragg
Sexual sin is a deadly serious matter, and we shouldn’t even joke about it for fear that it may lead us to treat these sins lightly. More than merely abstaining from immoral conduct and speech, we must address immorality when it is found in our midst. Left unchecked, its corruption will stain the body of Christ and make us complicit because of our failure to confront it. Those who practice such things expose themselves to great danger, including early death from disease, drug and alcohol abuse, and crimes of passion. Yet the greatest danger of sexual sin is not in the temporal consequences, but the eternal ones, as Scripture is clear that those who practice immorality have no place in the Kingdom of God. Even so, there is hope in Jesus Christ. Is your life dominated by sexual sin? Repent today, and entrust yourself to Christ. Through His sacrifice and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, you can be free to pursue a life of peace and righteousness.
Living as Citizens of the Kingdom of God, Part 2
January 11, 2015 • Pastor Marc Wragg
How can we remain unstained in the midst of an increasingly sinful and godless culture? The answer is to seek God’s sobering perspective on immorality. The Scriptures pull no punches with regard to dangerous sensual sins. They are deadly and not even to be named among us, and those who practice such things are marked for destruction. To escape their downward pull, we must draw clear lines that keep us far from immoral entertainments. We must guard ourselves against beguiling lies that lull us into believing that immorality hurts no one, that fleshly desires cannot be overcome, or that God’s grace allows us to sin with impunity. Don’t be deceived by such empty words! Flee from sin, and listen carefully to those who bring God’s Word to you out of concern for your soul. Are you practicing immorality? Confess it to God, repent, and align yourself with His wise commands. You’ve been called to live as a light in a sin-darkened world. Demonstrate your love for Christ and walk in that light before God and men.
How to be a Kingdom Witness
January 18, 2015 • Pastor Marc Wragg
Sin is the foremost threat to Christian fellowship. It robs us of spiritual power, and causes us to live selfishly instead of acting with godly concern for others. To guard our fellowship with God and demonstrate Christian love, we must walk in newness of life, seek what is good, separate ourselves from wordly passions and practices, confront sin, and call others to the glorious truth of the gospel. When we live as children of light and speak the truth in love, our lives and our message will expose the deeds of darkness around us. This is the Kingdom witness that God has called us to, and God can use our faithful witness to encourage another believer to greater fruitfulness, or even bring an unbeliever to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Do you want to live a life of power and usefulness for the Kingdom of God? Then walk in the love, light, and wisdom of the Lord.