The audio of the thirtieth message from the SCREWED-UP SAINTS series, “The Shattered Portrait” (1 Cor. 7:10-11) and Q&A are now online.

A key definition and seven applications:

PB’s Definition of Divorce: “Divorce is the catastrophic shattering of the covenant of marriage and of the portrait of the love between Christ and his church that marriage is designed to display.”

Seven Applications:

1. Recognize that divorce is a tragedy, no matter what the grounds or cause.

2. Love divorced people well and do not treat this as the “deal-breaker sin.”

3. Single people: Feel the gravity of the marriage commitment.

4. Happy married couples: Do not “assume” happiness. Invest deeply in your marriage and do the small things that make marriage great.

5. Unhappy married couples: Don’t view divorce as an option. Save your marriage, just as Christ went to the extent of death to save you.

6. Divorced people: Seriously consider reconciliation. Not because it will be easy or because it will make you happy in the short run, but because of the portrait it will paint.

7. Everyone: Decide to be the sort of person who says, “It’s tough, but it’s right,” rather than, “It’s tough, so it can’t be right for me.”

Here are the small-group discussion/personal application questions:

Getting to know you: What would you say is the most painful thing you’ve ever experienced?

Have someone in the group read 1 Corinthians 7.10-11 out loud.

1. What in the sermon or Q&A time was encouraging, convicting, or eye-opening?

2. What did PB say about why divorce is so catastrophic? (Hint: Think “horizontal” and “vertical” consequences.)

3. PB talked about the difference between saying “It’s tough, but it’s right” and “It’s tough, so it can’t be right.”  In what areas of your life are you saying, “It’s tough, but it’s right”?  Are there areas where you’re saying, “It’s tough, so it can’t be right”?

4. At the end of the message PB gave seven applications.  Which one or two were most important for you to hear, and what do you need to do in response to it/them?

Prayer: Be sure to pray for divorced people and troubled married couples in the Fusion Community.

Next Week: “The Shattered Portrait” (Part 2) : 1 Corinthians 7:12-16