METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA WEEKLY ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL/TONIC MANUAL FOR OCTOBER 6, 2024: TOPIC - DIVORCE

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA WEEKLY ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL/TONIC MANUAL FOR OCTOBER 6, 2024: TOPIC - DIVORCE

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METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

WEEKLY ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL/TONIC MANUAL

WEEK/TONIC 40

TOPIC:    DIVORCE

TEXT:   MARK 10: 2-12, MAL. 2: 1

MEMORY VERSE

For the Lord God says, I hate divorce and him who covers his garment with violence. Therefore, keep a watch upon your spirit that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly. Malachi 2: 16

OBJECTIVE

To remind the Church of the standpoint of God on Divorce.

INTRODUCTION

Divorce is a termination of marital oath/agreement. It is both a legal and spiritual matter that challenges marriage hence, it must be carefully handled.

Marriage is for a lifetime as God intended, so spouses have no right to dissolve it, although unhappy marriage makes a soul vulnerable and causes divorce. Infidelity, arguments and lack of commitment are some of the reasons for divorce today. Most of these things are preventable if we put our hearts to it. Divorce is only biblically considered under the exceptional circumstance of sexual immorality, although there are some life- threatening cases in some homes today that the Spirit of God alone can judge. Christian couples need to develop matured resistant as our inbuilt device to checkmate marital crisis before it grow out of control. Matt. 18: 21-22.

POINTS FOR CONVERSATION

1. Does the Bible approve divorce? Malachi 2: 15-16, Matt. 19: 6-9, Heb. 13: 4, 1 Cor. 7: 13-15.

2. What are the consequences of Divorce? Discuss the following: (a) Depression in the affected partner (b) Change in Economic Status (c) Children upbringing (d) Temptation for immoral living (e) Mention others.

3. How can Christian spouses clamp down the endemic nature of divorce today? Gen 2: 24, Matt 18: 15-16, 1 Cor. 6: 8-9, Eph 5: 33, 1 Pet 4: 8.

CONCLUSION

The Christian faith does not promote or encourage divorce. The church may in some peculiar circumstances look away to allow it especially when a spouse suffers mental or physical abuse from within. Rather than divorcing to end a marriage as a result of toxic co-existence in a home, giving each other space for a while is advisable until issues are resolved, if they are resolvable. Not all chaos in marriage should be crowned with divorce. Separation for sometimes, to heal up, may be allowed at early stage to clamp down deterioration that might result in divorce.

ACTION POINT

God's command is the standard for Christian homes.