12pm Sunday Service

Main message: Pastor John K. Jenkins began a sermon series on relationships, using Philippians 1:9-11 to argue that discernment and growing in the knowledge of God's will are essential for healthy relationships—especially marriage. He taught that marriage is a God-ordained covenant with spiritual and practical benefits and gave biblical guidance for how to discern whom to marry.

Key points:

• Philippians 1:9-11 frames the call to let love abound in knowledge and discernment so believers can approve what is excellent and bear fruit in righteousness.
• Knowledge = being in God’s perfect will; discernment = understanding where you are and what God expects.
• Marriage is a covenant (not a contract), models Christ and the church, and brings spiritual, emotional, and physical stability.
• Three biblical reasons to marry: to give glory to God (model Christ/church), to obey God (sexual purity; 1 Thess. 4:3-5), and because marriage can be preferable to uncontrolled sexual passion (1 Cor. 7:1-2, 7-9).
• Practical guidance for choosing a spouse: seek parental blessing and honor parents (Proverbs 21:1; Exodus 20:12), address parents’ concerns rather than ignore them, avoid cohabitation ("shacking"), and don’t marry for wrong reasons (appearance, money, etc.).
• Discernment is developed through time spent with God; it’s a byproduct of an active relationship with Him.

Scriptures mentioned: Philippians 1:9-11, Proverbs 21:1, Exodus 20:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 1 Corinthians 7:7-9