In Sickness and in Health

There is profound beauty and sacredness in all relationships, anchored in the enduring promises of God. Join us for our transformative series, 'In Sickness and In Health,' where we delve deep into the intricate dynamics of relationships. From the sacred covenant of marriage to the journey of singleness, from the joys and challenges of parenthood to the complexities of intimacy and conflict resolution, we will uncover the secrets to fostering enduring bonds and experiencing the fullness of love, grace, and unity in every season of life.

This sermon addresses how conflicts often reveal our idols and misplaced passions, explaining that the root cause of relational strife is typically our desire for things we value more than God. Pastor Ryan then outlines five principles of Christ-centered confrontation (overlooking offenses, being quick to hear, owning our part, forgiving quickly, and resting in gospel identity), emphasizing that true reconciliation is possible through Christ who reconciles all seemingly irreconcilable differences.

This sermon explores God's divine design for sex and the body, emphasizing that sex within covenant marriage was created to be a physical example of the intimacy, love, and safety experienced in our spiritual union with Christ. The sermon also teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, joined to Christ, and meant for eternal purposes, which should guide how we handle sexual temptation and pursue sexual purity through fleeing from immorality rather than trying to fight it.

Pastor Jason addresses the topic of singleness, arguing against common cultural misunderstandings and lies. He emphasizes that both singleness and marriage are good and unique gifts from God, meant to foster a person's relationship with Him. Pastor Jason encourages both single and married individuals to find their wholeness and true value in their relationship with Jesus, rather than in their temporary life roles or stations.

This sermon primarily focuses on two main biblical topics: 1) The role of parents as gospel ambassadors based on Micah 6:8, emphasizing justice, mercy, and humility as core qualities that reflect God's character. 2) The importance of understanding that parenting should be driven by grace rather than law, with parents recognizing their own need for God's grace while representing His redemptive work to their children.

The sermon explains that God's design for marriage is based on covenant rather than feelings - while human thinking believes love leads to covenant, God's truth is that covenant leads to deep, lasting love. The marriage covenant provides safety that enables honesty, confession, repentance and healing, ultimately reflecting God's covenant relationship with believers.