A Place For
All Matt
19:1-15 November 11, 2007
Introduction
Have you ever been part of a church that tried to care for all people?
When I was saved at
Tower Grove Baptist Church they worked to try to reach all kinds of
people. They had classes
for Single Adults, Single Again Adults, those with hearing, and sight
problems. We were really
concerned about reaching everyone, and I grew up thinking that attitude
ought to be the norm for
all churches. Yet through the years I have heard of people that did not
want some others being a
part of their church because of their social standing, or sinful
backgrounds. That is wrong, and
the church needs to be a haven for the saints, and a hospital
for sinners, A Place For All.
1. A Place For All
Including . . Married People. 19:4-6
A. Recognizing The . . Plan For
Marriage. 19:4-5
4 "Haven't you read," He replied, "that He who created them in the
beginning made them male and female, 5 and He also said:
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?
B. Recognizing The . .
Permanence Of Marriage. 19:6
6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God
has joined together, man must not separate."
Married couples need fellowship with other
couples and the church is a great place for that
to happen. The church holds up a biblical standard for the plan, and
permanence of marriage. It
is not unusual to hear of several couples in the church celebrating
many years of marriage. That
needs to be encouraged. Let us invite all married couples.
2. A Place For All
Including . . Divorced People. 19:1-3, 7-9
A. Recognizing The . . Possibility Of
Divorce. 19:1-3, 7
1 When Jesus had finished this instruction, He departed from Galilee
and went to the region of
Judea across the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed Him, and He healed
them there. 3 Some
Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a
man to divorce his wife on
any grounds?" 7 "Why then," they asked Him, "did Moses command us to
give divorce papers
and to send her away?"
B. Recognizing The . . Permitting Of
Divorce. 19:8
8 He told them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of
the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that
from the beginning.
C. Recognizing The . . Problem
Of Divorce. 19:9
9 And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
Divorce can be a devastating time. Someone
needs to express concern. Several churches
have divorce care ministries, and I have heard good things from those
ministries. In the text
Jesus permitted divorce for one reason. A divorce for any reason is not
pleasing to the Lord. My mom divorced my dad after several years of
trying to make it work so I know first hand of
the difficulties couples can have. Our church always seemed to be ready
to give a helping hand. Let us try to help all divorced persons.
3. A Place For All
Including . . Single People. 19:10-12
A. Recognizing The . . Election Of
Marriage And
Singleness. 19:10
10 His disciples
said to Him, "If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this,
it's better not to marry!"
B. Recognizing The . .
Eunuch And Singleness. 19:11-12
11 But He told them, "Not everyone can accept this saying, but only
those it has been given to. 12 For there are eunuchs who
were born that way from their mother's womb, there are
eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made
themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. Let
anyone accept this who can."
I heard the largest unreached people group
is single adults. If the church does not help to
bring them together where will they meet Christians? The world has many
singles bars, and
night spots. The church also must recognize the biblical reason for
singleness. Some may
believe it is a gift from God. All need to wait until God gives them a
mate. Let us try to help all
single persons.
4. A Place For All
Including . . Children. 19:13-15
A. Appreciating The . .
Needs Of Children.
19:13
13 Then children were brought to Him so He might
put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples
rebuked them.
B. Appreciating The . .
Nurturing Of Children. 19:14-15
14 Then Jesus said, "Leave the children alone, and don't try to keep
them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is
made up of people like this." 15 After putting His hands on
them, He went on from there. (HCSB.)
Too many children today do
not have their
needs met. That is especially true in relationship
to spiritual needs. Jesus is willing to receive the children; are we in
our churches? It takes work. The bus ministries died out
primarily because of a lack of workers on the routes and in the
Sunday Schools. Jesus wants to nurture the children in all of their
needs and allows us to be
involved in reaching out to implement the nurturing effects. Let us try
to help all children, and
truly be A Place For All. Amen? Amen!
