Such a reviled word, submission. Given a different worldview, which concerns itself for others, we set aside our desires and rights for the benefit of another. Now, this is part of following Jesus because He did the same for us. The rights and privileges of being God, He put away, becoming human, walking the road […]
Genesis 2:18-24: 50th Wedding Anniversary Service for Bob and Karen Sands
June 13, 2015 by
The next time you want to hear a good love story, you don’t have to rent a “chick flick” DVD or watch it on Netflix. Neither do you have to buy one of those romance novels that you find at the drugstore. Just read the Old Testament. There, you’ll find some of the most dramatic […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 9: Marriage and Divorce; the Gift of Celibacy and Sexuality
February 22, 2015 by
Paul still continues to deal with the topic of sexuality, but now within the context of marriage. We find that 1 Corinthians chapter 7 is in a chiastic structure: A 7:1-16 Sex relating to those who are or have been married . B 7:17-24 Being content within one’s vocation A’ 7:25-40 Sex relating to those […]
Sermon for the Wedding of Richard Bell and Diane Sancken
September 27, 2014 by
Our pastor had the joy of joining Rick Bell and Diane Sancken in holy matrimony at Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Missouri. They are members of an LC-MS congregation in northern Illinois and received all their marriage counseling there. Then, wanting to be married amid the beauty of the local area, the actual marriage rite took […]
Ephesians 5:22-33; John 2:1-11: The Church as the Bride of Christ
August 26, 2012 by
Who, are what, is more significant, Christ or the Church? Who is to have the greater glory and honor? I know that’s a trick question. For if you are to honor Christ, you are also to honor His Bride, the Church. And when you honor His Church, you also honor the head of the Church, […]
Holy Matrimony of Brandon Ponce and Jessica Marmon
June 18, 2011 by
This is a beautiful wedding story. Both Brandon and Jessica are members of a sister congregation, Holy Cross in Collinsville, Illinois. However, they wanted to be married here in Kimberling City. So this what happened: they received all their marriage counseling and preparation there and I, as a pastor in a sister congregation, married them […]
God’s Purposes in Marriage
June 15, 2011 by
As I prepare to marry a young couple, I contemplate again God’s reasons for marriage. Marriage is for companionship. It is also for the procreation of children. But largely forgotten is its role in our salvation. Here’s a 50th-wedding anniversary sermon I preached from the archives on that topic. You have an oriental rug, old, […]
