Newsletter January 24, 2025
Newsletter | January 24, 2025
Dear Church Family and Friends,
The late scholar F.F. Bruce once wrote a book entitled, The Hard Sayings of Jesus. Some of the teachings that we have been exploring in The Sermon on the Mount certainly fit that category.
Last week we looked at Jesus' teaching on adultery and his heart-piercing teaching that even lust in our thoughts and imaginations is adultery in God's sight. This week we will study another hard topic that has virtually touched every family in our society ... divorce.
There is so much that can be said and there is so much that we need to learn when it comes to the Bible's teaching on marriage and divorce. We will look at just one specific teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:31-32, but we will also need to understand that this is not all the teaching of the Bible on these topics. It will be important for us to use the "rule of faith" and interpret Scripture with Scripture as we examine all the Bible's teachings on these things.
As we prepare to study this important teaching, I want to highlight two resources that can be helpful to us in summarizing the Bible's teaching on these matters. The first the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 24, Of Marriage and Divorce.
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, at the same time.
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness.
It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden by the Word. Nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce: and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.
Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage: yet, nothing but adultery, or such willful desertion as can no way be remedied by the church, or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage: wherein, a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it not left to their own wills, and discretion, in their own case.
Of course, the WCF does not address every possible case or every possible situation that may arise in marriage or divorce. The Church has wrestled with these issues for thousands of years. The PCA has an official position paper. It is quite long but has some helpful and pastoral guidance on dealing with these issues if you want to take the time to read it. At the very least, you can scroll to the end and read the summary suggestions adopted by the 1992 General Assembly.
I present all this information to you so that you can understand our church's official position on these matters as we seek to understand the Bible's teaching on divorce and marriage. Let's all be in prayer for our families, for our marriages, for future marriages, and for the Lord's wisdom to teach us as we work through these soul-piercing passages.
See you Sunday!
by His grace and to His praise,
Pastor Wilson
Wilson’s Weekly
Pastor Wilson does not personally endorse everything said or written in these links but hopes these articles and/or podcasts will be helpful for Christians in cultivating a biblical worldview.
Preparation for Worship
January 26, 2025
This Sunday's Sermon:
“The Sermon on the Mount: The Marriage Covenant”
Matthew 5:31-32
Click here to access the latest bulletins, listen to sermons, and watch the live stream.
NEW! Prepare your heart for Praise and Adoration with our Spotify playlist.
Cornerstone Prayer Requests
Pray for church members caring for family - Diana Akridge, Susan Dupré, Kyle Mosier, Randy Petcher, Mike and Carol Wellfare, and the Barkleys (foster child).
Pray for healing - Susan Hoyt, Bob and Kathy Cassis, Dawn Chenault, Earl Myers, Tim and Gayle Ricks, Ruby Petcher, Marc Goldmon, Diane Brown, Jon Wren, and others.
Pray for our homebound friends - Ruby Petcher, Betty Baldwin, Bill and Suzi Bolton.
Pray for our expectant mothers - Abigail Wood (February), Ashley Colette (March), Abby Junen (April), Andrea Mace (May), and the Kawell family (adoption).
Praise God for the birth of Samuel Stone Sullivan, born to Stone and Bre Sullivan on January 20!
Pray for our students and leaders on the Roots retreat this weekend.
Pray for our Missional Partnerships - InFocus and Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, AL (Pastor Scott Phillips).
Announcements
Foundations - Resumes this Wednesday, January 29. Dinner begins at 5:30 pm, and discipleship classes for children, students, and adults start at 6:15 pm. “What is a Presbyterian, Anyway?” This adult class taught by John Summers will introduce the topic of Presbyterian Government and History and why it is important for the local church. Officer training will take place in the FLC Classroom. RSVP here.
New Members Class - Begins February 2 and meets during the Sunday School hour. If you’re interested in becoming a member or learning more about Cornerstone, please email office@cornerstonehuntsville.org to sign up!
Valentine’s Visits - It’s time for us to encourage our widows and homebound ladies with gift bags and visits. Please view the sign-up for the different ways you can be involved. Bring your donated items to the church by Tuesday, February 11 - we will also assemble the bags that day at 11:45 am. There will be a collection box/area available in the Gathering Room. Click here for more information and details.
Men’s Retreat 2025 - February 21-23, 2025 at Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, AL. Learn more and register online at cornerstonehuntsville.org/events.
Quiet Waters Family Retreat - June 8-13. This is a camp to serve families affected by disabilities. Please email morgan@cornerstonehuntsville.org for more information and to sign up.
New Devotionals - We are thrilled to announce that a variety of free devotional resources are now available in the Gathering Room.
Lost and Found - Are you missing items? Check our Lost and Found on the west side of the building, across from the kitchen.
Hurricane Helene Donation Information - To donate to affected churches, you can give to our benevolence fund or directly to MNA Disaster Response here.
Missions Moment
Each week we want to highlight one of our missional partnerships. Please take a moment to learn about these wonderful ministries that Cornerstone has the privilege of serving alongside.
This week's highlighted ministry:
The Mission of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church is to be a community of Christ's followers who worship, grow, and serve together to glorify God in Huntsville and throughout the world.
Please contact the church office by Thursday for changes or additions to prayer requests.
The Cornerstone Newsletter is a weekly publication emailed each Friday. To notify the church office of church members in the hospital or of births and deaths, or if you have a change of address or name, please contact office@cornerstonehuntsville.org or 256-489-4625.
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