We Will Not Bow: John MacArthur

MacArthur’s sermon from this past Sunday was a look at the continued moral deterioration of the United States fueled by the Supreme Court. In this message he talks about his perception of the nation’s situation before God and then directs his attention to 2 Thessalonians 1. In his introduction he said this:

The two greatest attacks of terror on America were perpetrated by the Supreme Court. Not by any Muslim, but by the Supreme Court of the United States. The first one was the legalizing of abortion. Subsequent to that, there have been millions of babies slaughtered in the wombs of their mothers. It’s incalculable to even comprehend that. The blood of those lives cries out from the ground for divine vengeance on this nation.

The second great act of terror perpetrated by the Supreme Court was the legalization of same-sex marriage. The destruction of human life in the womb—in a sense, the destruction of motherhood—and now the destruction of the family itself. No bomb, no explosion, no attack, and no assault on people physically can come anywhere near that kind of terrorism. Our country is being terrorized by the people most responsible to protect it—those who are to uphold the law.

Just a few comments beyond that. No human court has the authority to redefine morality. But this human court has said murder is not murder; and marriage is not marriage; and family is not family. They have usurped the authority that belongs only to God, who is the creator of life, marriage, and family.

We Will Not Bow >>>

God, the Gospel and Your Marriage: Art Azurdia

At Grace & Truth Bible Church’s 2009 Couples Conference, Art Azurdia gave 3 stirring messages on marriage.  If you’ve not heard Art speak on marriage before, don’t miss these.  Art takes a hard look at what commonly passes for marriage instruction and shows how much of it actually undermines our marriages rather than builds it up.

God, the Gospel & Your Marriage >>>

Raising the Bar: Biblical Manhood Summit

First Baptist Church in Killen, Alabama hosted Paul Washer for a summit to speak to the men.  Washer challenges men not with the challenges the world or the common challenges that most men’s conferences do.  Washer challenges men to do what the plain reading of Scripture says.

Men need to get their jobs and ministries in sync with a true belief in God’s sovereignty.  This means we don’t sacrifice our wives or children on the altar of career or ministry.  To do so is a denial of God’s sovereignty over your life.

Men are called to serve and sacrifice.  Do you care for your wife?  Do you sacrifice for her good?  Do you truly love her without condition?  Are you washing her with the Word.  Washer says, “If you’ve been married for 10 years and your wife is not any more presentable to you than she was in the first year of your marriage, you are to blame.”  Husbands must be ministering the Word of God to their wives and children, not using Scripture to prop you up as a privileged officer.

Washer also suggests that Christian dating organizations are not God’s will, because God’s will is not that you find someone who is compatible.  Very often the wife God has for you is far from compatible.  Because God’s goal for your life is Christ-likeness, not compatibility in marriage.

Paul also looks at men as fathers, and considers how our society is loosing our children because we are more concerned about socializing them with other children their age while we completely neglect having them around us while we are with other adults.  Children need to be around adults.

This is a very challenging and much needed series of 3 addresses to men.  I highly recommend them.

Paul Washer is the founder of Heart Cry Missionary Society.

Raising the Bar Session 1 mp3>>>

Raising the Bar Session 2 mp3 >>>

Raising the Bar Session 3 mp3>>>

Kostenberger: God, Marriage & Family

Does your understanding of marriage point to God and the Gospel?  I’m currently preparing a marriage course for my church and in the process, I’m devouring a lot of good resources. 

Andreas Kostenberger, who authored of one of the best books I’ve found on marriage, God, Marriage & Family, also presented a discipleship class on marriage and the family at Richland Creek Community Church. 

Kostenberger is an incredibly sharp theologian, and has written a number of very good commentaries.  He was also picked by Don Carson to author two books for Carson’s New Biblical Studies in Theology series

Kostenberger is disarmingly unremarkable as a speaker, but once he gets warmed up his material is very helpful.   This was not a preaching situation, but rather more of a classroom type of setting.

These courses are all on wma video (a hateful format) unfortunately, so not compatible with iPod’s or iTunes. 

God, Marriage & Family course >>>

Passionate Partners for Life

This is an excellent series of messages on marriage, given at a marriage retreat for Sovereign Grace Fellowship.  The speaker is Steve Shank, pastor of Sovereign Grace Fellowship, Gilbert Arizona.

Steve brings a great mix of deep truths seldom brought forth in marriage courses, and practical application mixed with humor.  This is very enriching instruction and exhortation. 

Passionate Partners for Life page >>>

Mike Bullmore on Marriage

Andy Naselli, a member of Mike’s church, wrote a brief bio of Mike calling him an ‘exemplary’ husband and father.  Always on the lookout for good marriage material, I searched the archives of CrossWay Community Church and found a number of messages and a conference on the subject of marriage given by Mike.  The conference messages contain some very useful PDF.  Print them out and take notes on them. This is excellent material from a gifted preacher and practitioner of his subject.

2006 Marriage Conference

Session 1:  God’s Instruction for Husbands and Wives mp3

Session One Notes PDF

Session 2: Building Your Relationship mp3

Session 2 Notes PDF

Session 3: Your Speech and Your Marriage Part 1 mp3

Session 3: Your Speech and Your Marriage Part 2 mp3

Session 3 Notes PDF

Other Marriage Messages and Retreats

Marriage According to God mp3

God, the Gospel and Your Marriage mp3

Marriage in God’s World mp3

Messages for Wives and Mothers

Colin Adams wife Nicki has posted links to 12 messages specifically relating to being a wife and mother.  The post is on Titus2Talk.

The speakers include Carolyn Mahaney, Barbara Hughes, Noel Piper, Susan Hunt, John Piper, Voddie Baucham and Ted Tripp.  I’ve heard a number of these messages by Piper and Baucham, and they are fantastic.  Visit the page and check out the titles. 

Messages of Wives and Mothers page >>>

Marriage, Christ and Covenant: One Flesh for the Glory of God

John Piper’s series on marriage has one defining feature that few other series on marriage have:  it demonstrates the exalted glory of covenant marriage as a reflection of God himself.  And I’m not just talking about how it’s an example of Christ and the church.  He resets marriage on the high mantle of God’s glory.  This series is sweeping in scope.  A very valuable series.

Marriage, Christ and Covenant page >>>