Sermon
What God Has Joined
Theme
Marriage and Family
Object
A nail puzzle with two bent nails connected which you try to separate. (These are usually available where toys and novelties are sold. See image below)
Scripture
"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Mark 10:6-9).
Activities + Resources
Have you ever seen one of these puzzles? This is really great. These two nails have been joined together, and the object is to get them apart. Watch, I'll show you how it's done.
Let's see now...you turn them this way and then you pull. No, that isn't it. Let's see...maybe you turn them this way and then that way...and then you pull. No, that wasn't it either. I know I can do this, let me try again. (Keep on trying -- without success -- and perhaps even let one of the children try it.)
Well, I give up. Do you know what I think? I think that once these two nails are joined together like this, they are just supposed to stay that way!
You know, that is what Jesus said about marriage. One day some men asked Jesus if it was all right for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus told them that God created man and woman to be joined together as man and wife. When they are, Jesus said, they are no longer two, they become one. Then he told them that what God has joined together, man should not try to separate.
In our world today, families are being twisted, turned, and pulled in all directions -- just like this puzzle. Many families are coming apart, but the simple truth is, when God puts a family together, it was just meant to stay that way!
Even though God meant for families to stay together, it doesn't always happen that way. There are some here today from families that have been "pulled apart." If you are one of those, there is good news for you, because God still loves you just the same!
Dear Jesus, we pray for our families. Some of them are coming apart. Help our families to stay together, the way you meant for it to be.
