Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: Relationships

TD Jakes - Sermon: Marriage Counseling and Relationship Advice - Part 1 

Watch John & Lisa Bevere: Relationship Q&A: Dating, Marriage, & Divorce. This week, join us for part 2 of the Relationships Q & A as John and Lisa answer questions submitted by you, our listeners! They tackle tough questions like: Why is Christian dating so weird?! What does it look like to submit to one another in marriage? What if I never get married? Whatever season you find yourself in, this conversation is sure to provide you with tools to make the most of it.

Jentezen Franklin (February-23-2024) Daily Devotional: Build a relationship with your children.

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Ps 127:1

How would you describe your relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heartbreaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you and their home. But be warned—what they say might not be to your liking! And having a Christian home doesn’t necessarily exempt you. The old nature in us still rears its ugly head from time to time, and habits set in concrete can lead to broken communication. When biblical principles are ignored, the result is pain and strain in the family. Three illustrations come to mind: (1) Rebekah loved her son Jacob more than his brother Esau, so she used him to deceive their father, Isaac, and cause division in the family (See Ge 27). (2) Eli, the high priest, let his boys run wild, and in the end it cost him his life (See 1Sa 3-4). (3) David preached one thing but practiced another, and his children (as kids are apt to do) were more influenced by what he did than by what he said.

(See 2Sa 11, 13, 15-16; 1Ki 11). Nobody is immune; not David, not Rebekah, not Eli—not you! But evaluation is pointless if it leads to guilt without action. So what should you do? Take time to get close to your children. Deal with the barriers between you. You can’t change anything unless you’re willing to acknowledge it—and sometimes change must begin with you. For example, does your attitude need adjusting? How about your priorities? What about the example you have been setting lately? Before you try to deal with your children, ask God to deal with you.

Rick Warren (February-22-2024) Daily Devotional: How to Grow Your Relationship With God - Daily Hope.

“To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.” - John 1:12 (TLB)

Yesterday we talked about why it’s important for you to know the purpose of your life so that God can use you while you’re here on Earth. This life is preparation for eternity—but what does that mean in practical terms? How do you use your life here to prepare for eternity?

First, you get to know Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them” (John 1:12 TLB). Notice that not everybody’s a child of God—just those who receive him into their lives. God wants you to establish a relationship with him by trusting in him.

You grow a relationship with God the same way you grow any relationship—through time and conversation.

For example, if I want to grow my relationship with my wife, Kay, what do I have to do? First, I have to spend time with her. I have to show her that I’m invested in getting to know her by making time for her and making the time count. You cannot have a relationship with someone you never spend any time with.

That’s the same way you develop a relationship with God. You make time in your schedule for him. One way to make him the most important part of your is day through a daily quiet time. You get alone with God and worship him and learn from him. You spend regular, significant time with him.

The second thing you can do to have a relationship is to talk. In a relationship with God, this means prayer. There are many ways to be more intentional about your prayer life. Maybe you need to start a prayer journal of requests and answered prayer. You could make a prayer card using Scripture and put it on your bathroom mirror, on your desk at work, or on your phone so that you are reminded to pray God’s Word. Or maybe your family needs to have a set time of prayer together each day. Whatever it is you need to do to increase your conversation with God, do it!

You will never regret investing your time, your energy, and your life in getting to know God better. Take the first step in getting ready to be used by God by spending time with him and talking to him today.

Talk It Over

  • Is your relationship with God the most important one in your life? What evidence in your life shows that this is true?
  • What do you need to change about your schedule so that you can be more consistent in having a daily quiet time with God?
  • Think of two practical ways you can increase or improve your conversations with God. How can you put those ideas into practice today?

God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, pray this simple prayer: "Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."

Charles Stanley (February-04-2024) Daily Devotional: Embracing God’s Love in Our Relationships.

God offers wise guidance for relationships: Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

Ephesians 4:25-32 - Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 is a heartwarming invitation from God: “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” These words serve as a loving blueprint for our relationships and urge us to mirror the Father’s love in our interactions.

God’s instruction is clear: Be kind. Compassion must be the foundation of our actions. It helps us to be tenderhearted and empathetic. Understanding the joys and sorrows of others enables us to create spaces where love thrives and wounds are healed. Christ also taught us to be forgiving—holding a grudge only weighs us down and blocks the freedom that comes with extending forgiveness. But by following God’s example, we break the chains of bitterness and embrace the liberating power of love.

In our daily life, we encounter countless opportunities to practice this divine kindness. A smile to brighten someone’s day, a listening ear to ease a burden, or a gentle word of encouragement—these simple acts can transform hearts and deepen connections. Let us not forget that we are called to love others as God loves us. His love is unconditional, extravagant, and all-encompassing. Today, let Ephesians 4:32 be our guiding light, reminding us to live as we are meant to: full of kindness and love.

Daily Devotional (February-01-2024) THE PRINCIPLE OF RELATIONSHIP IN THE PLACE OF PRAYER.

Scripture Reference: “I love those who love Me; and those who seek Me early and diligently will find Me.” Proverbs 8:17 (AMP)

The very Fabric of our existence is interwoven with Prayer, which is the Sacred Thread that binds mortals to the Divine. It serves as the Conduit through which humanity connects with its Creator, a Testament to our inherent dependency on God rather than an independent existence. Adam, in communing with God daily in the Serene Garden of Eden, echoes the very Essence of this Relationship: "And they heard the Sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day..." (Gen. 3:8). This Relationship stands as the Gateway into God's Kingdom upon accepting the Lord Jesus and forms the Foundation of Eternal Destiny, whether in union with God or apart from Him to a place of damnation prepared for the devil and his cohorts according to Matthew 25:41(AMP) “Then He will say to those on His Left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the Eternal Fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons).”

Our Lord Jesus, the Epitome of this Foundational Principle, instructed His disciples, saying, "When you pray, say, “Our Father..." (Lk. 11:2). Addressing God as Father signifies an Intimate Connection akin to the Bond that exists between the Lord Jesus and God the Father. Even after His Resurrection, Jesus continued referring to God as Father, inviting us into a Deeply Personal Relationship with the One Who resides within our hearts through His Spirit. The Endearing Love and Nurturing Care of a Father is evident, and as we approach God, it's with a heart full of Love, acknowledging His Profound Affection for us (Jn. 3:16).

The Potency of Prayer intertwines with Intimacy with God. Through Prayer and Immersion in His Living Word, ignited by the Holy Spirit, we unlock New Dimensions of God. It reveals Deeper Insights into His Character, provides a Profound Understanding of ourselves through His Lens and unveils His Unique Purpose for our lives. Relationships, indeed, form the Bedrock of Effective Prayer. As we capture God's Heart and become His Delight, He graciously bestows upon us the Treasures of His Kingdom, reaffirming: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s Good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom" (Lk.12:32).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we express gratitude for the privilege of being Your cherished children and Your Dwelling Place. Guide us to live lives that bring You Joy, fostering continual Communion with You and extending this Beautiful Relationship to others just as You extended Your Love to us through Sacrifice in Jesus' Mighty Name we pray. Amen.

Joel Osteen (January-30-2024) Daily Devotional: Your Most Important Relationship - Today's Inspiration Word

Today’s Scripture: Mark 12:31, CEV - "The second most important commandment says: 'Love others as much as you love yourself.'"

Today’s Word: The most important relationship you have is the relationship with yourself. Too many people don't like who they are. They focus on their faults, weaknesses, mistakes, and failures. They wish they were taller, had a better personality, and looked like their cousin instead of accepting themselves as a masterpiece, made in the image of God. Then they wonder why they're not happy, and why they don't have good relationships. It's because they don't like themselves. If you don't get along with you, you're not going to get along with other people.

You can't love others if you don't first love yourself. The best thing you can do for your family and friends is to be good to you, be kind to you, be merciful to you, be forgiving to you, be loving to you. You're good to others, so why aren't you good to you? You don't criticize your friend, so why are you criticizing you? You compliment your coworker, so why not compliment yourself? Start being good to you-that's not being selfish, that's loving yourself.

Prayer for Today: Father, thank You for making me in Your image with gifts, talents, and abilities to enjoy life and accomplish Your will. Help me to love myself, with all my weaknesses and shortcomings and things I wish were different. I declare that I am happy to be who You made me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Watch Bill Johnson Sermon: Reignite Your Relationship with God. Bill Johnson talks about how to reignite your relationship with God and position yourself for revival. Sharing an example from the movie, ‘Rocky 3’, Bill teaches the need to go back to the ‘old gym’, remembering the sacrifices and ‘training’ that brought you into the favor and breakthrough you walk in today. Remember your first love and refuse to level off in your relationship with the Lord. Breakthrough brings favor, but with favor can come the temptation to become complacent and comfortable in your relationship with God. If you will keep your heart yielded to the Lord and hungry for Him, you will be positioned and ready for revival.

Jentezen Franklin (January-20-2024) Daily Devotional: How To Enrich And Strengthen Your Relationships.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…” Gal 5:22 NKJV

You can enrich and strengthen any relationship by developing and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible speaks about being filled with the Spirit (See Eph 5:18) and walking in the Spirit (See Gal 5:16 AMPC). To be “filled” with God’s Spirit means you’re a receptacle, whereas “walking” in the Spirit means you’re a dispenser—a vessel God can fill and pour out into the lives of others. “What’s this ‘fruit’ you’re talking about?” you ask. The Bible describes it this way: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23 NKJV). Look carefully at these nine different character qualities. The first three—“love, joy, peace”—are atmosphere-changing fruits. As you yield to the Holy Spirit, He will throw a wet blanket on the unkind words you may want to say. He will build a fire in your heart that will bring warmth to a cold atmosphere and love to a bitter, revengeful atmosphere. The next three fruits—“longsuffering, kindness, goodness”—are attitude-changing fruits. Each of us has the potential to have a bad attitude. God sometimes lets us go through difficult situations to reveal what’s really inside us. When we see our own helplessness, weakness, and despair, it causes us to cry out, “God, I need you!” The last three fruits—“faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”—are attribute-changing fruits. Through the Holy Spirit, you have strength and ability that you can’t attribute to anyone but God. And you have peace that transcends human understanding (See Php 4:7).

Rick Warren (January-17-2024) Daily Devotional: Life Is All About Relationships - Daily Hope. 

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

Contentment does not come naturally to human beings. By nature, we are restless sheep. Yet we can learn contentment. To learn contentment, we need to stop incessantly grabbing for more.

Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (NIV).

If you go to the beach in Southern California, you’ll see some over-the-top, beautiful homes, but the owners are often never around to enjoy them. They’re always at work, making money to pay those massive mortgages. They, like many people around the world, get overwhelmed with the desire to acquire. This desire pushes you to buy something you really can’t afford, like a mortgage that’s over your head. Then you get overextended financially, and then you have to constantly hustle to make ends meet. Soon, you’re emotionally and physically exhausted, and your relationships start to deteriorate. Then you don’t even have a purpose for that fancy home.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind” (GNT).

The greatest things in life aren’t things.

In America it’s considered a tragedy to “die penniless.” But there’s no better time to go! If you were out of here the moment you spent your last cent, I’d call that wise, not foolish.

Nobody ever asks for things in the final moments of life. They always ask for people, because eventually everyone learns that life is all about relationships. Why not learn that sooner? It sure would relieve a lot of stress.

Life is not about achievements, accomplishments, or acquiring more things.

Life is about relationships.

Talk It Over

  • Which is more important to you—acquiring things or building relationships? Would your family and friends agree with your self-assessment?
  • What do you think it means to leave a legacy? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
  • Paul says in Philippians 4:13 that he can do all things through Christ, who gives him strength. What kind of things do you think he is talking about?
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