Category: MDR

In Mark 10, verses 1-12, we find the account of Jesus answering questions from a group of Pharisees. The teaching of Jesus here reveals some simple truths about the importance God places upon the marriage relationship.

The question of the Pharisees was: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (2).  The question was not asked out of a legitimate desire to learn the truth, it was a means of “testing Him” (2). Jesus’ initial response was to ask them what Moses wrote. He did this not to settle the matter of their question, but to point out that the reason for Moses’ response in regulating but allowing some divorce was because of “the hardness of your heart” (5). This has been and still is the big problem that leads to the prolific use of divorcement by men. Continue reading “Simple Truths re: Marriage & Divorce” →

A lesson discussing an aspect of the radical teaching Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount. This section covers Matthew 5:27-32.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

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Our American culture has in the last several decades destabilized the institution of marriage, changing the morals of our nation, and causing great destruction. The Bible calls for the protection and respect for the permanency of Marriage, God’s first institution.

• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

JR Bronger from Blue Springs, MO preached a wonderful series of gospel sermons for the West Side congregation, May 1-6, 2021:

Saturday PM: The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9)

• A discussion of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. A religious terrorist who became a wonderful example of the saving power of God’s grace.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Sunday 1st Service: Evangelizing the World

• In the first century, Christians were able to spread the gospel throughout the known world, despite opposition and challenges. If we have the same mindset today, we can be just as successful!
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Sunday Class: Successful Marriages

• Foundational teaching on the subject of marriage. Principles which, if followed, will guarantee strong marriages existing in accord with God’s desire.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Sunday 2nd Service: The Hate of Christ and Christians

• The world hated Jesus Christ because of His mission and righteousness. He promised that the world would hate his followers as well. In our day such hate is prominent.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Monday PM: Christians Are Running a Race

• A runner himself, brother Bronger uses the Hebrew writer’s imagery in Hebrews 12:1-2 to establish a few important truths regarding the race the Christian runs.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Tuesday PM: A Rebel Returns

• A powerful lesson on rebellion and redemption, based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Young people need to hear this message!
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Wednesday PM: Do You Want to be Made Well?

• If you really wish for spiritual healing, you must stop thinking of yourself as a victim, stop blaming others for your failings, free yourself from fear and recognize the difference between wanting relief, and wanting a cure.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

Thursday PM: Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart

• There were three responsible parties in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. God Himself with His demands. The wicked court magicians. And most prominently, Pharaoh himself.
• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

The Holy Spirit uses comparisons, like comparing the lifetime committment of marriage to the Jews relationship with the law (Romans 7), and Jesus relationhip to the church to establish truths in the husband/wife relationship. The Hebrew writer does the same in Hebrews 9, teaching an important lesson about Christ’s sacrifice.

• Audio
• Powerpoint
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon

In Mark 10, the Pharisees came to Jesus for the purpose of testing Him. Their motivations were impure, but they asked a question of him that is especially important to us today. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (10:2). Matthew records the question in this way, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (19:3).

Continue reading “Is It Lawful?” →

A question I often ask in Bible class, “What is the ‘therefore’ there for?” When you see the word in the Bible, it typically serves to connect a truth with a proper response. In effect, “This is so, therefore do that.”

Such events in scripture help to flesh out the proper response of a child of God to circumstances, scenarios, provocations and blessings. Let me give you a few examples from scripture.

Continue reading “The Patternists: What is the “therefore” there for?” →

A two part lesson. Part one: God Hates Divorce (preached in the morning). Part two: God Loves the Home (preached in the evening. Note: Only the last 14 minutes of the evening lesson were recorded).

• Audio 1 (God Hates Divorce)
• Audio 2 (God Loves the Home)
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon (1 – God Hates Divorce)
• Facebook Live Video of Sermon (2 – God Loves the Home)

John the Baptist’s death teaches us lessons about superstition, marriage and divorce, the importance of virtue, the dangers of seduction and the persecution of God’s people.

Audio

Powerpoint PPTX File

Lesson 5 of 5 in Lectureship Series: Controversy Among the People of God.

Speaker: Josh Cox

This lesson examines God’s law on Marriage (One man, one woman, for a lifetime), and notes the problems that come from man’s emotionalism and willfulness.

Audio

Powerpoint PPTX File

Some people don’t care what God thinks. Others are curious, looking for a loophole, and some accept what God says, no matter the cost of discipleship.

Audio

An examination of the Lord’s teaching on the subject of Marriage and Divorce.

Audio

The sermon is in two parts. Part 1 reviews the concept of patternism in scripture. Part 2 shows the need for common sense in interpreting scripture.

Audio 1

Audio 2

Powerpoint Slides

Fall 2014 Meeting
Speaker: Bryan Gary of Dumas, TX

In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (NASB).

This eighth in a series of 9 lessons emphasizes what the Bible teaches about Marriage, and examines some of the perversions of men on that aspect of God’s will.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Divorce is common. Though the rate in America has lessened slightly in the last few decades, it is estimated that 40-50 percent of all marriages will end in a divorce.

We are not the only ones that suffer from that scourge. In Jesus’ day it was common for Jewish men to divorce their wives. The Pharisees asked Jesus about it in Matthew 19. Note his answer:

“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reasona man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (4-6).

This is God’s pattern for marriage: One MAN, joined to one WOMAN, for LIFE. Those who violate this pattern disobey God. Homosexual marriage is invalidated by Jesus, as is the common practice of divorcing, and remarrying another.

This is borne out by Jesus’ statement in verse 9, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

You may note the single exception to the rule. One may divorce and remarry if they divorce for the cause of sexual immorality. (The greek term indicates any type of illicit sexual intercourse). No other reason is acceptable for divorce.

Men commonly violate this pattern. Some couldn’t care less about God’s pattern. Others offer various rationale to explain why it doesn’t apply to them. It does, to all mankind. One man, one woman, for a lifetime. Only one exception. God’s pattern for marriage.

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