Simple Hard Things Week 1: Love People (Hebrews 13:1-3) Love other Christians Show hospitality to strangers Remember prisoners Remember the mistreated

Week 2: Respect marriage Simple Hard Things Week 2: Respect marriage (Hebrews 13:4) Respect marriage. Keep the marriage bed undefiled. Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28

Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4 marriage: the institution; the covenant relationship should be respected: honored, valued by all: single people, married people

Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4 kept undefiled: kept pure

Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4 God will judge immoral people: pornous; sexually immoral (married or unmarried) adulterers: adultery (married)

9 Whether we are at home (on earth) or away (in heaven), we make it our aim to be pleasing to Christ. 10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Grace: “I’ll forgive you and give you an (undeserved) second chance.” Truth: “Wrong is wrong and I am going to hold you accountable for your sinful behavior.”

3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you knows (learns) how to control his own body in sanctification and honor.  1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

Ways to increase our resistance to temptation: regularly read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit, and submit to godly people.

Ways to increase our resistance to temptation: regularly read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit, and submit to godly people. become proficient at recognizing whether to “stand and fight temptation” or “turn and run from temptation.”

Ways to increase our resistance to temptation: regularly read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit, and submit to godly people. become proficient at recognizing whether to “stand and fight temptation” or “turn and run from temptation.” Add “outer law” to make up for our lack of “inner law.”

Inner law: The inner strength we have to resist temptation. Outer law: The outer strength of people, “public” confession of sin, boundaries, etc. Outer law: 80% Inner law: 20%

Week 2: Respect marriage Simple Hard Things Week 2: Respect marriage (Hebrews 13:4) Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4