Sunday Morning and Evening, July 27, 2008, 

As some of the saints were unavailable for meetings today due to a variety of legitimate reasons, we decided to met together in a home. This also helps to break any routine that we may get back into. As one sister said, "He is who flexible will not get bent out of shape". Truly, we enjoy getting together with the saints, no matter where the location.

Sometimes, when you have a diverse set of individuals working together, you have different subjects and various issues that surface from time to time. This is a healthy part of growth. Some of these issues are easily resolved and others are more difficult to deal with. Thank God, we are working with saints who are very cooperative and understanding. They love each other, and they love the Lord! It is so refreshing to work with people like that! People that genuinely love God supremely and love each each other as much as they do themselves. When this is the case, everything tends to get worked out smoothly.

In the past few months, a doctrinal issue has surfaced among us. It was not brought up by anyone who regularly attends our meetings, but by others whom we know and love. As it is our practice to work together in resolving any issues from a scriptural perspective, we decided to conduct an in-depth study on this subject and openly discuss it among the saints. The issue revolved around the teaching of marriage, divorce and remarriage.

As we have a wide variety of people who frequent our meetings, all with their own backgrounds and personal experiences, we felt it necessary to address this subject. Be it far from us to be divisive over this teaching as we fully recognize that each one of us will stand before God and give an account of our own individual actions and motives.  When you begin to work in Gospel Outreach ministry, you quickly come across many different circumstances where sin has caused much hurt in people's lives. This subject area is no exception, and there are no quick fixes or formulas that will make the pain go away. However, the scriptures have not left us without a solid foundation on which to build, or in some cases rebuild, our lives.

It is with this burden that we conducted our study and discussion. We first focused on the sanctity of marriage and God's standard of one husband, one wife, for life. Marriage is intended to be a life long commitment. That is why we admonished the young people to seek God's face for a companion. Divorce is not an option and a marriage should never be entered into with the thought that a divorce can be sought if the marriage doesn't work out.

After we discussed the rule, we took a look at the exception to the rule. Most rules have exceptions. When one breaks the marriage vow by an act of sexual immorality, they have broken the oneness that God ordained between a man and a woman. While reconciliation should be the goal, sometimes it is not possible and God has made room for a remedy in such cases.

We studied the difference between the Old Testament law and the New Testament standard. While the OT law was harsh and rigid, even merciless at times, the NT is much more compassionate and merciful.

At the end of the study, it was evident that those in attendance were in general agreement and were appreciative of the study. Several commented that we are in need of practical lessons that deal with every day life situations. As the scriptures teach, we should have an answer for anyone who asks of the hope that is within us.

You may click here to read and study the complete outline that was used for this lesson. You may also order a copy of the tape by e-mailing Bro Joe Coons.