I’m sharing another message series – this one from Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. It’s based on the book he and his wife recently wrote called Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship and Life Together. After I saw the book featured at Family Christian Bookstore a few weeks ago, I went online to get more information about it and found that Driscoll had preached the accompanying message series earlier this year. It’s one of the best on marriage that I’ve listened to – perhaps ever (as I say frequently)!
The title of the book sums up the 11-week series. It’s a candid, biblically based treatment of marriage that is still beneficial for both married and single people. He really does preach the truth of God’s Word, without compromise, so expect to hear it! Every message is worth listening to, but there are a few that stood out for me:
Part 3: Men and Marriage – I really like the perspective this message provides about the role of the man as head of the family and how he should treat his wife. It also presents a beautiful picture of marriage as God intends.
Part 4: The Respectful Wife – Provides very good advice about submission in marriage, that loaded topic that never ceases to cause a stir. It addresses the meaning of women respecting their husbands – and ways to disrespect him that are not always addressed. I really benefitted from the teaching!
Part 6: Sex: God, Gross or Gift? - This one is perhaps my favorite! Driscoll presents three views of sex, embodied by the sermon title. Sex as God is when we make it an idol and engage in it outside God’s boundaries. Gross is when we see it as something disgusting that God did not create. Sex as a gift is when we have a healthy view of it and save it for God’s boundaries (my pastor actually referred to this chapter the day after I had listened to it in another great message on the topic – to me confirmation that God was really speaking to me through it!). As I listened, I felt Driscoll’s preaching on sex as a gift goes with my testimony that I’ve shared many times here about the importance of learning to embrace God’s design for sex in a world where it is distorted, even among Christians. I thank God I am still learning about the meaning of sex as a gift!
I also appreciate the statement Driscoll makes that, in marriage, God does not give you a “type,” but a spouse. That person is then your standard of beauty, and that’s what you have to be into (e.g., if he or she is short, you’re into short; if tall, tall; if he or she “used to be skinny,” then that’s what you’re into. Love that!). The message is a great way to gain insight into how to renew your mind in the area of sex!
Part 8: The Porn Path – Yes, it’s about pornography, and the teaching is awesome. The message is actually intertwined with the testimony of a woman formerly in the porn industry. Several sad statistics about Christians and pornography are also included – which I had also just come across a couple days before while researching for an upcoming sexual purity event that I’m hosting with some friends (another reason I felt God brought this series to my attention). Driscoll gives very sound biblical advice for overcoming porn addiction – and addiction to other sexual sin. He notes that it’s about much more than just changing a behavior, but changing your desires by learning to worship Jesus wholeheartedly. He uses a line that I totally believe in and will probably be saying forever: “Your theology can conquer your biology.”
Part 10: “Can We____________?” - Practically, this message is for married people, but principally is for everyone. It addresses how couples should set sexual boundaries in marriage. I appreciated the theological framework presented for approaching these issues in marriage. Embracing the teaching as insight into God’s design for sex, but also filing it away…
Okay, I pretty much mentioned half of the series, more than I intended, but it’s that good!
Almost all of the messages also include a Q&A with Pastor Driscoll and his wife, Grace, during which questions from churchgoers are answered. I appreciate their honest and biblically sound responses to the inquiries.
In John 8: 31-32, Jesus said: “...If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When we follow Jesus wholeheartedly, He reveals His Truth to us. And oh, it is liberating…
Check out the messages online here, or on iTunes for free, Podcasts > Mars Hill Church : Mark Driscoll Audio > January 16 – March 25, 2012.
Happy listening!
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