Category Archives: Marriage and Family

How to Do What Can’t Be Done (Philippians 4)

Posted on May 14, 2023 by salooper57

Some of the things that need to be done to make our relationships healthy are things we cannot do. But they are things we could do if we learned how to live “in the Lord.” The New Testament uses that … Continue reading →

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Living Apart Together: Is Less Commitment Really the Key to Longevity?

Posted on May 6, 2023 by salooper57

Thirty years ago, a teacher in a small town near us was scrutinized and nearly fired when it was discovered that he was living with a partner to whom he was not married. The school board considered their living arrangement … Continue reading →

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The Next Great Awakening: From a “Me Society” to an “Us Community”

Posted on April 29, 2023 by salooper57

In 1976, Tom Wolfe published, “The Me Decade and the Third Great Awakening,” in New York Magazine. I find Wolfe’s style painful to read (there are 103 exclamation points in this article) but his cultural analysis was impressive. He detected … Continue reading →

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ASK: Following Christ Today (Matthew 7:1-8)

Posted on November 9, 2022 by salooper57

This class is about how Christians can obey Jesus and stop judging. Instead of placing themselves above of others, they can take a position of humility and ask. Asking is the rule of the kingdom.

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Why Abortion Is So Intractable

Posted on November 5, 2022 by salooper57

Thirty years ago, Bill Clinton stated that “Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.” The issue of its legality is still up in the air, but abortion has never been safe – especially for the developing fetus – and no … Continue reading →

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Having Integrity in an Evil World (Following Christ Today)

Posted on October 5, 2022 by salooper57

I (Shayne) remember preaching through Matthew and coming to chapter 19 and the section on divorce. When I announced my text, and told people it was about divorce, you could hear a pin drop. I looked out to see friends … Continue reading →

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Communities of Love and Belonging

Posted on October 1, 2022 by salooper57

The people of this generation are living through a sea change but as is often the case, those on the sea are liable not to notice it until it is too late. The term “sea change” has had two primary … Continue reading →

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How Did Jesus Treat Women?

Posted on September 10, 2022 by salooper57

To read some Bible scholars, one would think that Jesus viewed women through a twenty-first century feminist lens. Other equally-well regarded scholars, seem to think that Jesus looked at women through a pre-Nineteenth Amendment lens. It seems to me that … Continue reading →

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Getting Married This Summer? You Need to Know This

Posted on July 2, 2022 by salooper57

When I was a kid, I hated to go to the doctor’s office. My doctor was a tall man who always wore a white coat and seemed to have an affinity for hypodermic needles. The only redeeming value I could … Continue reading →

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Is Christian Lifestyle Instruction Odd?

Posted on June 21, 2022 by salooper57

It is easy to forget how odd some of the things serious Christians say and do must seem to people who are not familiar with the faith. I suspect there are times when people think Christians must be from another … Continue reading →

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