Sermon Extras
A LOVE THAT LASTS
Week 2: Homework
Step 1: Personal Reflection and Prayer
Spend a few minutes in personal reflection, asking God to reveal areas where your view of marriage might be shaped more by culture than by Scripture. Use these questions as a guide:
Am I walking in God’s design for marriage, or have I adopted cultural philosophies without realizing it?
In what ways can I better align my role in marriage with God’s order—either as a sacrificial leader or a supportive, honoring partner?
Am I depending on God as my ultimate source of strength, or am I placing unrealistic expectations on my spouse or future spouse?
Pray for God’s wisdom and grace to walk in His plan for your life and relationships.
Step 2: Discussion
For Married Couples:
Set aside 20-30 minutes to discuss these questions together:
How well are we functioning as a team? Are we living in healthy dependence on each other, or have we become too independent or even co-dependent?
Are there any areas where we need to realign our marriage with God’s order?
What is one practical step we can take this week to serve or support each other better?
For Singles:
Journal your answers to these questions and pray for God to prepare you for a future marriage that honors Him:
What qualities of Biblical leadership and support do I want to cultivate in myself?
How can I grow in my dependence on God and my readiness for healthy relationships?
Step 3: Practical Action
Husbands:
Find ways to lead sacrificially this week—whether it’s praying with your wife, taking on a tasks that help the family, or encouraging your wife with words of affirmation (or whatever her “love language” may be).
Wives:
Look for opportunities to honor and support your husband this week—whether it’s through verbal encouragement, respecting a decision he makes, or simply expressing your appreciation.
Step 4: Meditate on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Each day this week, read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and reflect on how it applies to your marriage. Ask God to help you become a partner who builds others up, stands strong in unity, and reflects His love and grace.
A LOVE THAT LASTS
Week 1: Homework
General Reflection Questions:
What stood out to me the most from this message? Why do I think that is?
Have I been influenced more by cultural philosophies about marriage than by God’s Word? If so, in what ways?
What is my current view of marriage? How does it align (or not align) with God’s design?
Am I building my marriage (or future marriage) on biblical truth or on worldly expectations?
How have I seen the enemy attack marriage in my own life or in the lives of those around me?
What steps can I take this week to align my thinking about marriage with Scripture?
Am I treating marriage as a covenant or as a contract? What mindset shifts do I need to make?
What lies from the culture about marriage or relationships have I believed, and how can I replace them with biblical truth?
For Married Couples:
Do I see my marriage as a reflection of Christ and the Church? If not, what needs to change?
In what ways have I treated my marriage as something meant for my personal happiness rather than as a tool for holiness?
How can I serve and love my spouse sacrificially this week?
What are some practical ways I can strengthen my marriage and make it thrive rather than just survive?
Are there any areas in my marriage where I need to seek forgiveness or extend grace?
Am I praying for my spouse regularly? If not, how can I start?
Do we have a vision for our marriage that aligns with God’s design? If not, how can we develop one?
For Singles & Those Preparing for Marriage:
How am I preparing myself now for a God-honoring marriage in the future?
Am I seeking God's vision for marriage before I step into it, or am I relying on cultural ideas?
What qualities am I looking for in a spouse, and are they aligned with biblical principles?
How can I use this season of singleness to grow in holiness and deepen my relationship with God?
Am I being intentional in surrounding myself with godly examples of marriage?
What unhealthy expectations about marriage do I need to surrender to God?
For Those Who Have Experienced Divorce or Loss:
How can I allow God to bring healing and restoration to my heart in this area?
How can my experiences, whether good or painful, be used to encourage others in their marriages?
Are there any wounds from my past marriage that I still need to surrender to God for healing?
Do I believe that God still has a purpose for my life, whether I remarry or remain single?
Questions to Ask God in Prayer:
God, how do You want to shape my view of marriage according to Your Word?
What areas in my life do You want to refine to prepare me for a stronger marriage (or future marriage)?
How can I better reflect Christ’s love in my relationships?
God, are there any lies I have believed about love, relationships, or marriage that You want to replace with truth?
How can I encourage and pray for the marriages around me, even if I am not currently married?
IS CHRISTMAS PAGAN?
Let’s cut straight to the chase. No, Christmas is not pagan. But every year, you will hear well-meaning Christians claim that it is. So here are some arguments you might hear against Christmas, and we’ve included the short facts to help debunk all of the misinformation about Christmas being pagan…
"Christmas is the Roman feast of Saturnalia."
Saturnalia, honoring the Roman god, Saturn, ran from December 17 to 23. Christmas on December 25 doesn't even overlap. There's no evidence the early Church chose this date to compete with Saturnalia.
"Christmas is actually the feast of Sol Invictus?"
Sol Invictus was declared in 274 AD. Bishop Hippolytus linked Jesus's birth to December 25 in 204 AD. If anything, Sol Invictus may have been Rome's attempt to counter Christmas.
"Christmas is the celebration of the winter solstice."
The solstice is around December 21, not December 25. Christians picked December 25 because it is 9 months after March 25, the Annunciation.
"Mithras was born on December 25."
There is no historical evidence linking Mithras to that date. Besides, the celebration of Christmas predates the cult of Mithras.
"Horus was born of a virgin, just like Jesus."
Horus was born to Isis using the dismembered body of Osiris—not exactly a "virgin birth." There's no evidence of virgin-born saviors in pagan mythology before Christianity. The Virgin Birth is rooted in Jewish prophecy that predates most pagan mythology, particularly Isaiah 7:14. Claims of "parallels" with pagan myths are modern speculation, not ancient fact.
"Christmas trees come from pagan worship of evergreens."
The Christmas tree tradition started in 16th-century Germany, long after the death of paganism in Europe. Ornaments and candles symbolize the Garden of Eden and Christ as the light of the world.
"Gift-giving comes from Babylonian traditions."
Babylonians did not invent gift-giving. Hahaha! Christians give gifts on Christmas because of the three Magi.
"Santa Claus is just the Norse god Odin."
This connection is supposedly because Odin rode a flying horse, but that's the only connection. St. Nicholas lived in the 4th century and Odin was not worshipped until the 5th century.
"Yule logs, wassailing, holly, mistletoe, etc. are proof Christmas is pagan."
These are examples of cultural adaptation, not paganism. None of these traditions are inherently pagan, nor are they strictly necessary to celebrate Christmas.
Christmas is not pagan, it is Christian to the core.
Some would say that Christmas grew out of Hanukkah. The earliest Christians were Jews, and they would have celebrated Hanukkah. Here is a brief overview of the origins of Hanukkah, so you will know why it's important to teach children.
The story of Hanukkah is contained in the book of Maccabees, and took place between the time of the Old Testament and New Testament. Maccabees is part of a collection of noncanonical books called the Apocrypha. So how did Hanukkah come to be? Here’s how it happened.
The story begins in 167 BCE during a time when Israel was under the control of a powerful and oppressive ruler named King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was determined to force the Jewish people to abandon their faith and adopt Greek customs, worship Greek gods, and follow Greek laws. Antiochus desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem, banning Jewish worship and even placing idols and pagan sacrifices in their sacred space.
Not everyone was willing to give up their faith. A priest named Mattathias and his five sons, including the famous Judas Maccabeus, refused to obey the king’s commands. Mattathias and his family started a rebellion to defend their faith and their way of life. The family became known as the Maccabees, which means "hammer," a symbol of their strength and determination to fight for God.
Although they were outnumbered and didn’t have the resources of the king’s army, the Maccabees relied on their knowledge of the land, their military strategy, and most importantly, their faith in God. Over time, they achieved incredible victories and drove out the forces of Antiochus. Their faith and courage inspired others to join the fight.
After reclaiming Jerusalem, Judas Maccabeus led the effort to cleanse and rededicate the Temple. When they were ready to light the menorah—the special lamp in the Temple—they found only one small jar of oil, enough to burn for just one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, giving them enough time to prepare more oil. Recognizing this as God's hand delivering them, the Jews began to celebrate a feast not found in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament. It's called the Feast of Dedication. Jesus celebrated it, and it is what we know as Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights.
The story of the Maccabees is about courage, faith, and standing strong in the face of oppression. It’s a powerful reminder that even when the odds are against you, trusting in God and fighting for what’s right can lead to victory.
Can Christians be Possessed by Demons?
The Bible doesn't provide a direct or explicit example of a Christian being possessed by a demon, but several passages offer insight into the relationship between Christians, demonic influence, and spiritual warfare. Here are some Biblical arguments related to this issue:
1. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?"
The argument here is that a Christian, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot also be indwelt by a demon. The idea is that light and darkness cannot coexist (2 Corinthians 6:14).
2. Authority over Demons
Luke 10:19 - "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."
Colossians 1:13 - "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."
These verses emphasize the authority and protection that Christians have through Christ, suggesting that Believers are delivered from demonic control.
3. Victory Over Evil
1 John 4:4 - "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
These verses indicate that Christians have victory over evil forces through the power of the Holy Spirit and submission to God.
Summary
A Christian cannot be possessed by a demon because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the authority and protection provided by Jesus. Possession implies control, which seems inconsistent with the idea of the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
While the Scriptures do not support the idea that Christians can be possessed by demons, it does warn Believers about the reality of spiritual warfare and demonic influence, encouraging vigilance and reliance on the power of God to resist these forces. The distinction between oppression and possession is a key factor on this topic.