Marriage and the Kingdom

Join us this Sunday at CrossWinds Church in Spencer as we consider Jesus's teaching on marriage.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. Our sermon began by highlighting the importance of preaching through a book of the Bible verse-by-verse. Why is this an important commitment at CrossWinds?
2. What is one highlight from the sermon and one question that you had after hearing the sermon?
3. Read Mark 10:1-12; Matthew 19:3. How were the Pharisees trying to trap Jesus? How did Jesus avoid the trap and catch the Pharisees in their own snare? 
4. How is this passage relevant for today?
5. Read Mark 10:5. Why does Jesus refer to the Pharisees’ hard hearts? In what ways are our hearts often hardened against the truth of God’s Word? How can we combat hardness of heart?
6. Read Genesis 1:27; 2:24. Our sermon said that we have to understand God’s plan for marriage before we understand God’s stance on divorce. Why does Jesus refer back to Genesis? What is God’s plan for marriage?
7. Read Ephesians 5:25–33. Here we see that from the very beginning, God instituted marriage as a way to show his level of commitment and union with his people. How does this truth transform your view of marriage?
8. Consider this statement: “The reason why God loves marriage is because it is meant to remind us of his love for us.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
9. Read Revelation 19:6–8. The Bible ends with a wedding, showing us what all earthly marriages point toward. How is this good news, no matter your relationship status?
10. How would you counsel a friend considering divorce after what you learned from today’s study?
11. In Ephesians 5, Paul says the permanence of our earthly marriages are a picture of the permanence of Jesus’s relationship with us. How can we better live out that picture in our marriages today? If you are married, what things could you do to change? If you are single, what things should couples do to better align their marriages with this heavenly reality?