Mt. Celo Church

06/15/2026

Marriage Q #10 What does the Bible say about in*******al marriage?

Marriage Q #11 What does the Bible say about polygamy?

A #10: Interethnic (IE) Marriage

1. IE Marriage Comments in General
2. My Marriage (US & Canada)
3. Examine 4 Scriptures

A. Israel Forbidden by God to intermarry (Deut 7:3-4)
B. Gen 16:3 Abram takes Hagar as a wife
C. Num 12:1-12 Moses marries an Ethiopian (Cush*te) woman
D. Solomon marries various women

4. Acts 17:26 All humans are from one race / one blood. And all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples will be represented in heaven (Rev. 7:9)

5. Conclusion: The Bible does not specifically encourage or oppose IE marriage. Humans are free to marry male and female.

A #11:
1. Examine the human heart by looking at the 10th Commandment

* Power: Neighbor’s servants and animals
* Pleasure: Neighbor’s wife
* Purse: Neighbor’s house (Deut 5 adds, “field”)
* Coveting: driven by Pride which has many roots, one of which is dissatisfaction with what one has.

2. Polygamy is illegal in the United States, but practiced deceitfully.

3. Love is faithful commitment to the best for the other person. The best must be defined by God. Are we seeking God's permissive will or His heart?

4. Polygamy in the Bible
A. Genesis 4 Lamech took for himself two wives compared to Enosh who called upon the name of the Lord.
B. Gen 16:3-4 Abram & Sarai & Hagar
C. God's Law forbid polygamy for Israel's kings (Deut 17:19)
D. Christians are called kings and priests in 3 places in the NT (1 Peter 2:9 & Rev 1:6; 5:10)

5. Matt 19:8 Jesus reveals the heart of men and returns to the Garden of Eden to reveal God's heart's desire.

6. What happens if a polygamist becomes a Christian? He does not have to divorce his wives, but cannot serve in a titled role in the church.

7. Conclusion: Polygamy may be God's permissive will for non-Christians (He seems to leave the natural headaches and problems to themselves) but polygamy is not His desired purpose, plan, or heart for His people. A mature Christian pursues God's heart, not what s/he can get away with.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AAe9Ke8NQcC98OFrHMmMwwRSMZ9uUzcq/view?usp=drive_link

06/09/2026

06/08/2026

Marriage Q&A #7-9

Ques #7: Marrying Outside Christ

1. Forbidden by God in OT & NT (2 Cor 6:14-18; Num 33:51-56).
2. Practiced at times by men (Abram & Hagar; Joseph; Judah; Boaz; and others)
3. Warning from God not to be done, but if it is, the church graciously receives the couple afterward.

Ques #8: The Interfering Mother-in-Law

1. In-laws can have a positive or negative affect on family
2. Society needs more positive onfluences from Godly people (Titus 2:3-5)
3. Always seek to move the gospel from words in a book and thoughts in the mind to the heart.
4. Build relationships with younger family and don't get involved in the details
5. Love In-laws, which may include drawing healthy and clear lines

Ques #9: Is Sickness a Reason for Divorce?

1. The one who wants to leave the sick or infertile person, who are they focused on? (Ephesians 5 calls men to love their wives like Christ loved the church; wearing the crown of thorns)
2. Focus on the Heart of God
3. Many Examples Around Me in the Past
4. "Til Death Do Us Part" (1 Cor 7:39-40)
5. Address the Issue with the Gospel (Matt 9:35-38)
• Compassion for the hurting
• Pain & suffering cause Jesus and His followers to help and serve the hurting
• Jesus sees the hurting as harassed and scattered
• The enemy is not the person, but an outside influence (sin, self, world, devil)
• Suffering and Sickness set Christians on mission out from deadly pleasures (1 Tim 5:6).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_9aOjJeuMzOz2VeOE7oFGqQRtx5V0EcC/view?usp=drivesdk

06/04/2026

Marriage Q&A #5-6

Audio link is below.

This topic contains various issues which affect marriage both in the States & Uganda. If dowry is not an issue, there are certainly other lessons in this audio message which pertain to marriage which a person may find very helpful.

Topic: Dowry or Bride Price

Q5A. Is bride price biblical?
Ans: Biblical in the sense that the topic is mentioned, but not commanded

Q5B. If the dowry is biblical, how should it be conducted?
Ans: N/A biblically. Depends upon the culture or tribe.

Q5C. If it is not biblical, how would someone secure a woman from a family without respecting the bride price and it not appearing like they have stolen the woman?
Ans: Win the lady's heart and the heart of her family.

Q5D. How can bride price be addressed, most especially since the expenses have pushed the youth into cohabitation? These people desire to get married and fulfill commands so that they glorify, unify with, and love God. Yet, they don’t earn enough to fulfill that requirement.
Ans: Isa 58:6 Releasing chains and heavy burdens is the character of God.

Q5E: E. If the couple is cohabitating, could there be a merciful way of looking at them? Or how can this challenge be resolved?
Ans: Take on a case by case basis with the wisdom of elders of the church involved.

Ques #6 Dowry or Bride Price #2

The couple pays and organizes an expensive wedding as the culture has set it. So, they’ve taken on a lot to win this wife, when times of domestic violence happen as some husbands see their wives as property they’ve bought. How should the church, community, and family intervene since this husband takes the woman as their property because they “bought” them from the family?

Ans: Gen 1:28 gives the husband and wife equal standing before God. Later in chap 2, God draws a distinct difference between Adam & Eve in marriage.

To properly answer the question, we must determine if the husband is a Christian.

Addressing the issue of abuse. The beauty and crown the woman symbolizes for men (Prov 12:4). God's bride is referred to as a crown (Isa. 62:3-5).

Men wear the Crown of Thorns: God leads, He does not r**e and oppress (Deut 22:25-27; SS 5:2-8; Luke 1:38). God describes Himself with feminine characteristics (one example: Isa 49:15).

Can a Christian woman leave an abusive situation? 1 Cor 7:12-16 & Matt 10:23

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158f2FgkvRZuQQGU1Jv1HfoDYUB9IxK9z/view?usp=drive_link

06/04/2026

Marriage Question #4
1 Cor 14:34-35 How does this Scripture benefit the church today?

34 "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church."

This passage benefits the church today by teaching us:

1. Context is Important
2. Edification of the Church is the Goal
3. In the midst of confusion establishing Order in the Church is important
4. The Holy Spirit aligns Church Order with God's Design for Marriage
5. Truth of God's Word
6. Origin of Authority
7. All done in voluntary humility, submission, and love.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3cISMsXBs6JCioPlHRG5T-0Ij7FicCo/view?usp=drivesdk

06/04/2026

God's Word is beautiful and rich in meaning. His Word has the power to enrich us!

06/02/2026

Not everything that grows is healthy.

A crowd can be gathered.

A building can be full.

A ministry can be impressive.

And yet Christ can still be absent from the center.

That's why A.W. Tozer warned:

"It's better to have a little church that is real than a big church that is artificial."

God has never measured success the way people do.

He is not looking for the biggest platform.

He is looking for genuine faith.

Not performance.

Not image.

Not religious appearances.

But hearts that truly know Him.

A church may be small and unnoticed by the world...

yet rich in prayer,
rich in truth,
and rich in the presence of God.

And that is worth more than all the crowds in the world.

"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7

What would you rather be part of:

A large church that impresses people...

or a real church that pleases God?

06/02/2026

Marriage Q&A Part 1 of 4.
Below is the outline and audio link for May 24, 2026

1:57 min mark
1. According to 1 Peter 3:7 why does the Bible call wives a weaker vessel, when some women are strong?

A. Wives are both equal and different / weaker.
B. Husbands, your prayers can be hindered.
C. “Weaker vessels” generally means physically.
D. “Weaker” in her role?
So, together, the Christian husband and wife demonstrate Christ’s resurrection power in joyful, voluntary subordination in each of their roles differently.
E. In Christianity, women are not commanded to be submissive to all men.

18:24 min mark
2. Will God reward faithful spouses in marriage?

A. Meeting all the standards in marriage is impossible. Only by Christ living in us, by His resurrection power and a heap load of grace. Our greatest reward will be to behold Jesus, know Him, experience Him for eternity.
B. Are there other rewards? Yes! Great blessings and rewards both on earth and also in heaven.

23:38 min mark
3. How do you advise a family who has constant conflict and outright disrespect for the husband?

A. Pray! Seek God for His attributes and expect answers
B. Let the wife be free in her roles (don’t try to control her);
C. Affirm the wife in what she is gifted in.
D. Dwell with understanding: Identify reasons why the wife or daughter(s) act this way so to know better how to work together. Presumably, a Christian will always want to grow like Christ.
E. Do not use accusations or the words, “always” or “never.”
F. Approach the wife like Jesus with Godly attributes:
G. Address issues calmly. Not arguing.
H. When you must, take calculated risks, and establish rules communicating how you have tried all other options.
I. Bring in the Gospel…always!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xrZYEHiGfy718gs5tRJgN62aCddu4z3a/view?usp=drive_link