Couples that pray together, stay together. It’s a common saying among Christians. And it turns out there is some truth to it. However, we’ve all heard the statistic that divorce rates are not different between Christian and non-Christian couples. However, these statistics are based on a study that may be flawed. The flaw perhaps is in the definition of a “Christian”. Had the study differentiated between “Jesus follower” and “Not a follower of Jesus”, the results would have been entirely different.

Many people claim “Christian” as their religion, but they make no apparent effort to follow Jesus (actually be a disciple; live out their faith on a daily basis). A study published in 2004 by University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox  titled Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands (Chicago, 2004), reports that there are several variables that greatly reduce the probability of divorce. He found that couples who practiced their Christian faith (not just people who claimed to be Christian) had a divorce rate of 50% lower than the rest of the population.

Here are the 3 variables that reduced the probability of divorce by 50%:

1. Regular, joint church involvement: Couples who were members of the same church, regularly attended the same church, and were involved in serving in the same church.

1. Shared theology: Couples who shared the same biblical beliefs about God, marriage, family, etc.
2. Living out their faith at home: Couples who didn’t just “go to” church on Sundays, but who lived it out in their homes with their families 7 days a week. Living it out means praying together, living with integrity, loving one another, reading the bible together, etc.

So, if you are interested in reducing the probability of getting a divorce by 50%, you should first not marry someone who doesn’t want to do the 3 things above. And if you are already married, you need to make sure you’re doing those things.

Bottom line: There is hope for marriages!

• I was out of town last week on the 20th so Eric Beeson spoke on tuning in to God. I heard it was great but they had recording difficulties, so you’ll just have to come and hear him live next time!
• We’ve been doing a new song (new for us) called You Deserve by Hillsong United. It’s high energy and a bunch of fun to worship to!
• Last night I spoke on When Dreams Die. We looked at the dream that God gave Joseph, and how that dream appeared to die several times during his life.
• However, sometimes God allows dreams to die. We looked at the Lazarus story in John 11 and saw that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that he could be resurrected for the glory of God.
• Sometimes God allows our dreams to die. He does this so that we don’t take credit for them when they come to pass. He wants the resurrect them for his glory.
• If you’ve had a dream that seems to have died, then have a listen and be encouraged that God wants to resurrect it!

• We finished up our Wherever You Go series with The Enemy of Mission
• The battle for mission is won or lost in relationships
• Since the beginning, the enemy has targeted relationships
• He knows if he can take out our relationships, that he can cripple our mission
• On another note, we’ve almost met our goal for our move to the Lifestyle Fitness building!
• Our move date is April 17th!

Here’s what I’ve been reading the past 4 months, in no particular order or preference:

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
The Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani
Essential Church? by Thom and Sam Rainer
Church in the Making by Ben Arment
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch
Stories of the Supernatural by Tyler Johnson
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
The Joy of Home Brewing by Charlie Papazian

• Wow. Jesus was off the hook last night!
• Seriously, the Holy Spirit did something during our worship time that was amazing!
• You can listen to the sermon below, but you have to understand that after the sermon is when God really started to move.
• I don’t think we dismissed until at least 7:30. Most stayed later than that.
• We prayed for a number of people last night and really feel that God did an amazing work.
• Here’s the sermon: If you aren’t living in tension, then you’re probably not living on mission.

• We continued on with our “Wherever You Go” series.
• However, I felt that God wanted to take us in a different direction this week.
• Although I had a sermon prepared, God wanted us to understand that we can be on mission and still miss the main point.
• The main point being, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”
• So rather than a sermon, we spent the night in worship, allowing God to check our hearts, returning to our first love.
• It was a good night.