Insights on Marriage and Divorce on Oneplace.com

No study on the subject of grace would be complete without addressing its importance in the home, especially between marriage partners. We have spent considerable time examining God’s grace in His offering salvation to those who are lost, spiritually dead, and unable to do anything to earn divine acceptance. We’ve called that “vertical grace.” We have also searched Scripture for insight in the realm of “horizontal grace,” our attitude toward and treatment of one another. But we have not specifically considered the essential value of grace in the husband-wife relationship. As we shall see in this lesson, grace is the oil that decreases domestic friction, the one ingredient that prompts us to release our partners to be all God would have them be, all the while affirming one another in an atmosphere of unconditional love.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

The last stage of marriage is that period of time when the nest is empty—either empty of the children or of one of the mates . . . or both. This is a critical stage in the home. All sorts of strange and unpredictable feelings transpire, and we find ourselves in need of stabilizing thoughts and direction. God gives that to us in this passage from Hebrews. Though it was not originally written regarding marriage, it has practical overtones that perfectly apply to the domestic scene: pursue spiritual maturity.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

The last stage of marriage is that period of time when the nest is empty—either empty of the children or of one of the mates . . . or both. This is a critical stage in the home. All sorts of strange and unpredictable feelings transpire, and we find ourselves in need of stabilizing thoughts and direction. God gives that to us in this passage from Hebrews. Though it was not originally written regarding marriage, it has practical overtones that perfectly apply to the domestic scene: pursue spiritual maturity.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Everybody gets older. Admit it or not. The question is, “Will we grow sweeter, or will we rot?” Once all the children have left the nest and two people who honeymooned together twenty-five or thirty years ago are left to “start over,” how can they resist negative tendencies and stay young at heart? How can they support each other’s growth toward spiritual maturity? Solomon, in the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes, set forth five reminders that couples must heed if they want to get better as they get older.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Everybody gets older. Admit it or not. The question is, “Will we grow sweeter, or will we rot?” Once all the children have left the nest and two people who honeymooned together twenty-five or thirty years ago are left to “start over,” how can they resist negative tendencies and stay young at heart? How can they support each other’s growth toward spiritual maturity? Solomon, in the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes, set forth five reminders that couples must heed if they want to get better as they get older.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Everybody gets older. Admit it or not. The question is, “Will we grow sweeter, or will we rot?” Once all the children have left the nest and two people who honeymooned together twenty-five or thirty years ago are left to “start over,” how can they resist negative tendencies and stay young at heart? How can they support each other’s growth toward spiritual maturity? Solomon, in the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes, set forth five reminders that couples must heed if they want to get better as they get older.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

As bombs dropped and enemies threatened to take over his country, Britain’s prime minister, Winston Churchill, understood that the war would not be won by giving up the fight. Surrender is not an option if you plan to win. In a world where marriage is under attack by pressures outside and inside the Christian church, God’s people cannot abdicate. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to our world, and to our God to stand strong in our marital commitment. But how can we do that? Let’s take a look at what the Bible says we can do to bolster our marriages.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

As bombs dropped and enemies threatened to take over his country, Britain’s prime minister, Winston Churchill, understood that the war would not be won by giving up the fight. Surrender is not an option if you plan to win. In a world where marriage is under attack by pressures outside and inside the Christian church, God’s people cannot abdicate. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to our world, and to our God to stand strong in our marital commitment. But how can we do that? Let’s take a look at what the Bible says we can do to bolster our marriages.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

As bombs dropped and enemies threatened to take over his country, Britain’s prime minister, Winston Churchill, understood that the war would not be won by giving up the fight. Surrender is not an option if you plan to win. In a world where marriage is under attack by pressures outside and inside the Christian church, God’s people cannot abdicate. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to our world, and to our God to stand strong in our marital commitment. But how can we do that? Let’s take a look at what the Bible says we can do to bolster our marriages.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

It’s a dangerous world out there! Every which way you turn, the culture, through the ever-present media, launches a new attack on our dedication to the biblical view of marriage. Pornography diminishes our passion for our spouses. Homosexuality demands equal standing in law and ethics as a new form of marriage. Individualism drives our already selfish natures into seeking our own good first before the good of our spouses and family. How can Christian marriages survive such onslaughts? Only through commitment. The good old-fashioned hard work of sticking it out!Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

It’s a dangerous world out there! Every which way you turn, the culture, through the ever-present media, launches a new attack on our dedication to the biblical view of marriage. Pornography diminishes our passion for our spouses. Homosexuality demands equal standing in law and ethics as a new form of marriage. Individualism drives our already selfish natures into seeking our own good first before the good of our spouses and family. How can Christian marriages survive such onslaughts? Only through commitment. The good old-fashioned hard work of sticking it out!Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

It’s a dangerous world out there! Every which way you turn, the culture, through the ever-present media, launches a new attack on our dedication to the biblical view of marriage. Pornography diminishes our passion for our spouses. Homosexuality demands equal standing in law and ethics as a new form of marriage. Individualism drives our already selfish natures into seeking our own good first before the good of our spouses and family. How can Christian marriages survive such onslaughts? Only through commitment. The good old-fashioned hard work of sticking it out!Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Like giant containers of volatile gas, money must be managed with great care. Because most of us don’t have more than we need, we must be wise and faithful with what we have. Our tendency in marriage, however, is to procrastinate. “Tomorrow we’ll get organized,” we lie to ourselves and our mates. Or we try to maintain an unrealistic and impractical financial system which ultimately discourages us. No home can escape the clutches of coin and currency—so we must learn how to implement wise policies of earning, giving, spending, saving, investing, and borrowing.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Like giant containers of volatile gas, money must be managed with great care. Because most of us don’t have more than we need, we must be wise and faithful with what we have. Our tendency in marriage, however, is to procrastinate. “Tomorrow we’ll get organized,” we lie to ourselves and our mates. Or we try to maintain an unrealistic and impractical financial system which ultimately discourages us. No home can escape the clutches of coin and currency—so we must learn how to implement wise policies of earning, giving, spending, saving, investing, and borrowing.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

Like giant containers of volatile gas, money must be managed with great care. Because most of us don’t have more than we need, we must be wise and faithful with what we have. Our tendency in marriage, however, is to procrastinate. “Tomorrow we’ll get organized,” we lie to ourselves and our mates. Or we try to maintain an unrealistic and impractical financial system which ultimately discourages us. No home can escape the clutches of coin and currency—so we must learn how to implement wise policies of earning, giving, spending, saving, investing, and borrowing.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

“The first nine years of our marriage were constant hand-to-hand combat,” admitted a husband. If the truth were known, not some but most marriages are marked by periodic skirmishes—and occasionally all-out war! Frequently, marital warfare occurs in the trenches of belligerence or moodiness or both. Some battles are night ambushes or surprise assaults. Others are cold wars of stoic silence. Cruel methods of torture are also employed: public criticism, fearful threats, intimidation, ugly sarcasm, and hateful remarks designed to put down one’s mate. Such tactics are popular . . . but wrong, because they are unfair and never lead to domestic peace. In this message, we will take a look at why couples fight, as well as the rules that can keep any fight clean, good, and beneficial.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

“The first nine years of our marriage were constant hand-to-hand combat,” admitted a husband. If the truth were known, not some but most marriages are marked by periodic skirmishes—and occasionally all-out war! Frequently, marital warfare occurs in the trenches of belligerence or moodiness or both. Some battles are night ambushes or surprise assaults. Others are cold wars of stoic silence. Cruel methods of torture are also employed: public criticism, fearful threats, intimidation, ugly sarcasm, and hateful remarks designed to put down one’s mate. Such tactics are popular . . . but wrong, because they are unfair and never lead to domestic peace. In this message, we will take a look at why couples fight, as well as the rules that can keep any fight clean, good, and beneficial.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

“The first nine years of our marriage were constant hand-to-hand combat,” admitted a husband. If the truth were known, not some but most marriages are marked by periodic skirmishes—and occasionally all-out war! Frequently, marital warfare occurs in the trenches of belligerence or moodiness or both. Some battles are night ambushes or surprise assaults. Others are cold wars of stoic silence. Cruel methods of torture are also employed: public criticism, fearful threats, intimidation, ugly sarcasm, and hateful remarks designed to put down one’s mate. Such tactics are popular . . . but wrong, because they are unfair and never lead to domestic peace. In this message, we will take a look at why couples fight, as well as the rules that can keep any fight clean, good, and beneficial.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

It is a proven fact that termites destroy more structures each year than fire does. Incredible as it may seem, tiny, silent, unnoticed insects create greater havoc than lashing, brutal, destructive flames—but it’s always the fire that makes the headlines, not the termites. This is also true in a marriage. Most homes are not destroyed because of enormous, headline-making fires . . . but because of the quiet, gnawing, unnoticed, irritating insects that eat away at the troth, or trust, in a relationship year after year. This message exposes five of the more common species of relational termites that weaken and ruin the inner walls of a home.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111

It is a proven fact that termites destroy more structures each year than fire does. Incredible as it may seem, tiny, silent, unnoticed insects create greater havoc than lashing, brutal, destructive flames—but it’s always the fire that makes the headlines, not the termites. This is also true in a marriage. Most homes are not destroyed because of enormous, headline-making fires . . . but because of the quiet, gnawing, unnoticed, irritating insects that eat away at the troth, or trust, in a relationship year after year. This message exposes five of the more common species of relational termites that weaken and ruin the inner walls of a home.Download Message Mates To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1118/29?v=20251111