Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

DIVORCE

1. Some facts about divorce that are saddening:
   1. We are told that a divorce takes place every forty five minutes in the U.S.A.
   2. Over 6,000,000 children are without the united care of their parents by reason of divorce.
   3. The church is, seemingly, powerless against this tragedy in our society.
2. If the church of God is powerless to stem the divorce wills, who will do it?
   1. Marriage is a Bible ordinance - Gen. 2:18, 19; Matt. 19:1-3
   2. Instruction in the matrimonial relationship is a primary concern for the church.
   3. The sacredness of this institution should be emphasized by the teachers of Christianity.
   4. If the church of God neglects this important institution, it fails its Lord and society.

1. There may be different causes that lead to this tragedy, but there are some basic reasons which I want to touch upon:
   1. A flagrant disregard of the author of the marriage institution.
      1. God is the author of the marriage institution.
      2. Marriage was instituted in the Garden of Eden, when sin had, as yet, not marred the home - Gen. 2:18, 19; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:1-3
      3. The overthrow of the antediluvians was the result of men disregarding the marriage as God had instituted - Gen. 6:1-3
   2. Ignoring the original purpose of marriage is another contributory factor of divorce -
      1. The woman was given to man for a helpmeet.
      2. The pair was to bring an holy seed into the world - Mal. 1:15
   3. Hasty unions also contribute to family disorders.
2. But the main mischief maker is incompatibility:
   1. People do not take time to get to know each other sufficiently to determine their compatibility.
   2. Outlook upon life - religiously and otherwise has a lot to do with the marriage relation.
3. The third party has, in some instances, a lot to do with breaking up a home:
   1. It may be the "in-laws" that cause divorce.
   2. Or it might be an intruder.

1. In our civil courts, a number of reasonable grounds are considered:
2. But the Bible recognizes only one ground for the divorce:
   1. Infidelity or fornication - Matt. 19:1-9
   2. Adultery or unfaithfulness to the marriage vows.
3. In such a case, the innocent party of the broken marriage relation is free:
   1. There are some who think that if a husband or a wife is untrue, a divorce may be proper for the innocent; but in that case, the innocent must remain single all their remaining life.
   2. That I cannot see; for why punish the innocent for the crime of the guilty? Why make the innocent suffer for the sin of the guilty?
   3. It is my humble opinion that when one of the contracting parties breaks the mutual vows, and the other one is true, the original relationship has been broken, and the guilty party is as good as dead to the innocent party.
4. What about these factors that break up homes:
   1. Cruelty? The answer is that when cruelty makes it difficult for two to live together, separation may be the only solution, but that is not sufficient cause for divorce.
   2. Non-support is another experience that breaks up homes, and it may be that the woman that does not receive the support of her husband may be forced to make her own living, but that is not sufficient ground for divorce.
   3. Two or more living husbands. What shall a person do that has two or more husbands or wives living? Should a person leave all and live alone? The answer is, begin your Christian life with the one you live with, and make the best of your situation. Running away from your mistakes will not alter the situation.