YouTube -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 3rd Petition (July 27, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Family Fun Night at Good Shepherd

Come join us on Thursday, August 7 (6:00 - 8:00 PM).

Sermon -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 3rd Petition (July 27, 2025)

LUKE 11:1-2

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

In the name + of Jesus.

    Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are often left to wonder what God’s will is for us.  Many people claim to know what God’s will is when certain events happen or when they want certain events to happen.  They may claim that it was God’s will that some proposed bill was passed by Congress.  They may claim that it is God’s will that their team will win a championship.  When these claims are made, people are confusing God’s will with their own will.  Just because you want it to happen does not make it God’s will.

     Sometimes, plans or actions are defended as God’s will.  I had heard about a couple at a Reformed college in western Michigan who were dating.  The man told his girlfriend, “It is not God’s will that we keep dating.”  I suppose he was trying to deflect her anger: “Blame it on God, don’t get mad at me.”  Now, he was free to not date her just as he was free to date her, but to say that the break-up was God’s will meant that it was a sin to date her.  You can consult the Commandments; that is not in there.

     Perhaps the most common time for people to try to decipher God’s will is when a tragedy or a crime happens.  When those children died in the flash flood at Camp Mystic in Texas, was that God’s will?  Or the stabbings that happened yesterday in Traverse City—was that God’s will?  In one sense: Yes, because it happened.  Some will insist that these cannot be God’s will because they were bad.  But nothing happens apart from God’s will.  For example, day and night will endure until the end of time because that is God’s will.  He promised so in Genesis 8:22.  As for evils or tragedies, these do not happen apart from God either.  He never loses control.  And while God can prevent any of them, we should be careful not to confuse what God can do with what God does. 

     God does not sponsor evil.  Since he is holy, he cannot be the author of evil.  On the other hand, God uses evils to fulfill his own purposes.  The Bible reminds us, “In your book all of them were written.  Days were determined, before any of them existed” (Psalm 139:16).  So, the Lord has determined the length of our days.  If he uses a flash flood, a murder, or a car accident to achieve this end, God’s will is done.  God uses the flawed world and the wicked acts of men to fulfill it.  If you are having trouble trying to wrap your head around this, that’s no surprise.  That’s why the Bible says, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how untraceable his ways” (Romans 11:33)!  When we try to figure out God’s will in every tragic event, the best that can happen is that we get a headache.  The worst is that we blame God for everything that has gone wrong and forsake the saving faith.  But remember: God did not bring sin into the world.  Mankind did, and we are reaping the rewards for it.

     We pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  The only way to know God’s will is for God to tell us want he wants.  He has revealed that in his word.  The Ten Commandments are a summary of what God wants you to do and to not do.  The Commandments also show us, however, that we have not followed God’s will.  The Commandments show us what is good, but they also show us that we are not.  The Commandments define what is evil, but they also convict us of evil because we have done it.  In his explanation of this petition, Martin Luther wrote, “God’s good and gracious will certainly is done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Lord’s Prayer: 3^rd Petition).  If we oppose God’s will, God will still do what he desires.  God’s will is done with or without us.  Our prayer is that we would not be forsaken by God and his will.  Therefore, we repent and seek his mercy.

     We pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and we learn from God that he has not forsaken us because of our sins.  Rather, he has revealed his will to save sinners.  What is God’s will?  We heard it in our epistle reading earlier: “God our Savior … wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).  This has always been God’s will.  As soon as sin entered the world, God promised a Savior to deliver mankind out of their sins and all its consequences.  He did not destroy Adam and Eve and say, “Well, that was a failure.  Let’s try this again.”  The Lord does not write anyone off as a lost cause.  The Lord makes his will clear: “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the LORD God.  So repent and live” (Ezekiel 18:32)! 

     The Lord has not only revealed his will for the salvation of all mankind, he has also revealed how he secured it.  The Father sent his own Son to make himself a sin offering for you.  Jesus knew exactly what that meant.  He would suffer the hellish torment which has been earned by every sinner in the history of the world.  No sinner was left out.  No sin was overlooked.  Jesus was in anguish as he was facing this sacrificial death.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39).  The cup is what God gives to people.  In Jesus’ case, it was the cup of God’s wrath, the full judgment of God against all sinners.  Jesus prayed that, if there were any way possible, salvation could be won another way.  But in the end, Jesus prayed, “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).  Jesus conformed his will to the will of his Father.  He consumed the cup of God’s wrath in order to take away your sin and its judgment.  This is God’s will, and it has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

     “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Our prayer is that God’s will is done among us.  That means not only that our status is exalted from sinner to saint, but also that our lives are changed from sin to righteousness.  We want to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.  We want all our thoughts to be captive to Jesus Christ.  We want all our motives to be pure, our words to be gracious, and our deeds to be helpful.  We want God’s will to be done among us and by us.  And God is the one who produces all of that in us.  St. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “It is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).  By his word, he directs you.  By his sacrament, he strengthens you.  By giving you a cross to bear, he puts to death your desires for anything but God’s gracious promises.  So, even if you lose your health, your money, your freedom, or your loved ones, you still have the only thing that saves you.  And finally, this is the goal of the Christian life—to live as a child of God now and forever.  This is God’s will, and he works in your life to crave nothing else.

     “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  God has revealed his will to you in his word.  That is how you know what God wants.  But God does not reveal everything.  God does not tell you where to live, what job to take, what car to buy, or what color to paint your bedroom.  Where God is silent on these things, you are free to do whatever you want.  Some of these issues will involve wisdom—recognizing any decisions which could threaten your faith and avoiding them.  The devil usually offers a fun alternative to faithfully attending church, or a lucrative to attending a faithful church.  Lot chose to live next to Sodom because of its lush meadows for his flocks.  It was a good business decision, but a destructive move for his faith.  Other choices are totally a matter of opinion.  If you paint your bedroom black, some might question your sanity but they cannot say that you are sinning, because God does not care what color you paint your bedroom. 

     “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  God has revealed his will to us in his word.  There God reveals why he does much of what he does.  But again, God does not reveal everything.  So, when he has you bear a cross or allows a tragedy to come into your life, you want to know why.  “Why has God afflicted me this way?  Why has God withheld this blessing from me?”  But God does not give you a specific answer. 

    Think of the patriarch Job.  God had blessed Job with great wealth, a large family, many servants, and a position of prominence and respect in his community.  The devil challenged Job’s faithfulness, claiming that Job only served the Lord because the Lord had so richly blessed him.  God allowed the devil to strike Job.  And in short order, Job lost all ten of his children, all his wealth, his servants, his reputation, and his health.  Job was at a loss to know why he was suffering as he was.  His friends came to comfort him, but they only made Job’s sufferings worse.  One claimed to know the will of God in Job’s sufferings.  He declared, “Who has ever perished if he was innocent?  Where were the upright ever erased?  This is what I have observed: Those who plow evil and sow trouble will reap the same” (Job 4:7-8).  In other words, “Job, you are only getting what you deserve.  God is punishing you for something you did.”  He claimed to know God’s will, but he only inflicted more misery by making faulty judgments.

     God ended up relieving Job of his misery and blessing the end of Job’s life more than the beginning, but God never told Job why he had to endure what he did.  This happens to us, too.  When it does, our comfort will not come from trying to figure out what God has not revealed.  Our comfort comes from trusting what God has revealed.  And this is what the Bible teaches us: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  You may never know how or why, but you do know that the Lord is still your good and merciful Father in heaven.  You may not feel like it, but you have his word on it.  His will for you remains—that you would be forgiven of all your sins, that you would be a child of God, and that you will partake in the glories of the eternal kingdom.

     “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  “God’s will is done when he breaks and defeats every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, which try to prevent us from keeping God’s name holy and letting his kingdom come.  And God’s will is done when he strengthens and keeps us firm in his Word and in the faith as long as we live.  This is his good and gracious will” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Lord’s Prayer: 3^rd Petition).  Our prayer is that God’s will includes us.  The Father desires your salvation.  He sent his Son to secure it.  The Son sends his Holy Spirit to strengthen and keep us in it.  That is God’s will, and he will fulfill it.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (July 24, 2025)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes resume in September.

          The summer schedule will run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class. Divine Services will be at 10:00 AM.
          If you will be away for the weekend, alternative local options include St. Paul's (17810 Farmington Road, Livonia) which offers a service on Thursdays at 6:30 PM; St. Peter's (1343 Penniman Ave., Plymouth) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM; and Peace (9415 Merriman Ave., Livonia) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM.
          If you are traveling, consult the WELS Church Locator to find a WELS church near your destination. You may want to call to confirm the worship time(s) as their schedule may change for the summer months.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

SUMMER SERMON SERIES
          On the Sundays in July and August, we will meditate on the Lord’s Prayer.  You can find the schedule here.

BBQ THURSDAYS
          We are looking for people who are willing to host an evening of summer fun and fellowship on Thursday evenings. While the host family provides burgers, hotdogs, or your preference, other members are encouraged to bring other dishes to round out the menu. Contact the host family to indicate how you can help.
          So far, we have the following hosts:
                    August 7 -- Family Food & Fun Night at Good Shepherd. (We will have a food truck and yard games.) 

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
          Be aware that west-bound traffic on 9 Mile Road is closed between Haggerty and Meadowbrook. There is no known date for the end of this project. Paving on west-bound 9 Mile Road continues.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (July)

>    Here are some dates for upcoming events.  Please join us and invite friends to enjoy these events too.

          Family Fun Night with a Food Truck – August 7 (6:00 – 8:00 PM)
          Church Picnic -- Sunday, September 7 (place TBD)
          BBQ Thursdays – We are looking for some people to host an evening in your backyard with members of Good Shepherd. It is a relaxing evening among friends.

We welcome members to join us and to help plan these various events. Even if you take charge of one event, that will benefit us all.

>  We will be looking for more estimates to replace the windows in the chapel. 

>  Photos for our pictorial directory will be taken on four different Sundays after church.  The dates will be: August 10; August 24; September 7; and September 21.  A sign-up sheet has been posted at church for you to select a date.  We encourage all our members to take part in this to make our pictorial directory as useful as possible.

STEWARDSHIP & EVANGELISM MEETINGS
          We will be meeting after church on Sunday, July 27 to plan and organize events that will take place through the rest of 2025. If you can offer ideas or help out with any one of these events, please join us.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from  June 22, 2025: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, June 22, 2025

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

 SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

Something from ... Gottesdienst on the importance of womanhood and motherhood

Rev. Larry Beane writes a commentary about the importance of womanhood and motherhood in particular.  He highlights a few articles about how motherhood is despised, and that "important" women are the ones who eschew motherhood for careers.  Somehow, our nation has adopted the idea that children are oppressive and to be avoided.  That spirit is not limited to women; men have bought into it as well.  Daughters are urged to have careers, but rarely are they urged to get married, have babies, and stay at home to raise them.  If that last sentence made you cringe, you have adopted the spirit of our age.  

Rev. Beane also highlights the predictable result of Christian women avoiding having babies.  By way of contrast, Muslim women are having many.  If anyone is lamenting the shrinking of the Chrisian church in America, please note that we are doing it to ourselves.  Why?  Because that's what our society has taught us to do.

What do the Scriptures say?  "God blessed (the man and the woman) and said to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it'" (Genesis 1:28).  This is a blessing that extends to all mankind.  Multiplying, that is, having babies, is God's blessing.  It is not a curse or an oppression.  King Solomon wrote, "Indeed, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3).  Again, children are a reward, a blessing. 

The most important job a man and a woman have is raising their children.  They should give great care and attention to this and welcome children as the blessings God says they are.  Is it a lot of work?  Yes.  Everything worthwhile is.  Is it expensive?  Yes.  Life-long investments usually are.  Does it involve sacrifice?  Yes.  Parents give up a lot for the sake of their children.  But that's because children are the blessing, far more than money, travel, hobbies, and career.  Raising children is the most important work there is.

Rev. Larry Beane makes this point, and it is worth your reading.  Here is Something from ... Gottesdienst.

Sermon -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 2nd Petition (July 20, 2025)

LUKE 11:1-2

THY KINGDOM COME.

In the name + of Jesus.

     “After (Jesus) had suffered, he presented himself alive to the apostles with many convincing proofs.  He appeared to them over a period of forty days and told them things about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).  When we hear about God’s kingdom, we think of countries and palaces and armies.  That’s what a kingdom is to us.  Perhaps the apostles were also hanging on to this flawed understanding, too.  Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6)?  They had in mind a political entity—a great country, a luxurious palace, and a powerful army.  They were wrong.  We are, too.

     We have been taught to pray, “Thy kingdom come,” so I think we are stuck with the word “kingdom.”  Perhaps a better word would be reign or rule.  God’s kingdom is about how he governs the world and its events—both triumphs and tragedies.  It is about how God sustains life and all creation.  The kingdom of God is especially about how God deals with us through his word.  Martin Luther summarized the meaning of this petition in this way: “God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven. (Luther’s Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, 2^nd Petition).   

     Many people think the petition, “Thy kingdom come,” is about the heavenly kingdom, and that our prayer is for God to bring us there.  It is partly about that.  But if that is all it is, that suggests that the kingdom of God is not here.  It also suggests that you are not in the kingdom of God right now.  But, of course, you are.  You live under God who lives and reigns over all things.  His word stands firm.  His kingdom endures.  No one and nothing can dethrone him, ever. 

     The Lord is King of heaven and earth, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t opposed.  The devil is the prince of this world because he took humanity captive back in the Garden of Eden.  God had given his word to Adam and Eve, but the devil convinced them that God’s word is not good and that God’s reign is evil.  He convinced them that rebelling against God would set them free from God.  In a sense, that was true.  By eating the fruit which God had forbidden them to eat, they asserted their own rule.  Now they were free—free from God’s mercy and God’s love; free from peace and gladness and life.  By their rebellious act, they became captives to the devil, to sin, and to death. 

     This is the sinful condition which has been passed down to all people.  And it does not have to be taught.  It is a rebellious spirit that can be seen in the youngest of people.  Tell a child, “Eat your vegetables,” and you will get a defiant, “No!”  Tell a child, “Clean your room,” and you will get an eyeroll and something muttered under his breath.  Tell a teenager, “Do your homework before you turn on the PlayStation,” and you may hear a slamming door or a sarcastic reply.  What parent responds glowingly, “I am so glad my children are free to express themselves that way?”  None.  We never outgrow this sinful rebellion, and we cannot escape it.  We are captive to it, and the devil wants you to believe that this is freedom. 

     What does the devil’s freedom look like?  St. Paul wrote that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23).  So, the fruits of the devil are the opposite of these.  Sin robs you of peace so that you continually wonder if God is pleased with you.  Your conscience will tell you that he is not.  Sin makes you impatient and unkind.  You are annoyed by people because they are in your way.  This impatience results in insults, threats, and even violence.  Sin perverts love.  Your sinful condition insists that love is about you—that you should always get praise and priority.  Love for others comes with conditions, and it is withdrawn when those conditions are not met.  Sin also teaches you to reject self-control.  Instead, you are to be swept away by drunkenness, anger, jealousy, promiscuity, and the like.  The devil claims: This is freedom!  He would have you believe that you are accountable to no one, and he stirs up your anger against anyone who would rein you in or rebuke you.  But sin produces death and judgment and hell.  If you are captive to sin, you are bound to death and hell.  Oh, did the devil forget to tell you that? 

     When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” our prayer is that God would set us free and keep us free from this captivity.  The kingdom of God was ushered into this world by Jesus.  In establishing this kingdom, Jesus did what the prophet Isaiah had foretold: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me … to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Isaiah 61:1-2).  In order to release you from your captivity to sin, death, and the devil, Jesus enlisted himself in the great prisoner exchange.  Jesus exchanged himself for all mankind, the innocent one on behalf of the guilty, the Son of God on behalf of all mankind.  Jesus bound himself to your sin and guilt, taking on the curse that you deserve.  Jesus bound himself to your death, dying under the wrath of God that you have earned.  And when the devil had the chance to kill the Son of God, he seized his opportunity to do his worst. 

     Although the devil did his worst to Jesus, Jesus overcame death in his resurrection.  In exchanging himself for you, Jesus took your sins away.  You are free from your sin—its curse and its control.  In overcoming the grave, Jesus set you free from death.  The grave may hold you for a season, but Jesus will bring you back.  You are free from death.  And the devil may still try to convince you that he owns you.  He will tempt and taunt and try to deceive you.  But Jesus overrules anything the devil says.  Jesus has set you free from his grasp.  He has brought you into a kingdom that brings life and peace and hope and joy.

     The kingdom of God is not a political entity.  It is not limited to one country or people.  God’s kingdom is wherever his Gospel is preached and sacraments are given.  Where these are, the Holy Spirit bestows God’s grace and sets the captives free from sin and death.  Sadly, Satan still convinces many that God’s word is bad and that his reign is evil.  Many still live in rebellion.  They prefer their schemes, their sins, and their sentiments to the word of the Lord.  The Lord will treat them as they choose to be treated—as rebels who have no use or love for God’s word.  If they want nothing to do with Jesus now, Jesus will not make them spend eternity with him, either.  They will be allowed to go as they wish, forever free from God’s mercy and goodness.

     But the kingdom of our God will endure no matter how many are left outside of it.  That is why we pray, “Thy kingdom come.”  Our prayer is to be included in God’s kingdom.  In his explanation of this petition, Martin Luther wrote, “God’s kingdom certainly comes by itself even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us. (Luther’s Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, 2^nd Petition).   It is more than being delivered from hell.  It is more than being set apart for heaven.  It is a kingdom that is here and now and takes up its place in your heart and mind and body.  If you have been made God’s people, then you also desire to be godly people. 

     “Thy kingdom come.”  What does this mean?  “God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven. (Luther’s Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, 2^nd Petition).  Our prayer is that we would grow in faith and that, more and more, we live godly lives.  This prayer is not for someday; it is for today.  It is as St. Paul wrote to the Colossians: “We keep asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you might live in a way that is worthy of the Lord.  Our goal is that you please him by bearing fruit in every kind of good work and by growing in the knowledge of God, as you are being strengthened with all power because of his glorious might working in you.  Then you will have complete endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

     Our Lord has convinced us that his word is good and true and right.  Just as God’s command to Adam and Eve was for their good, so God’s commands to us are for our good.  We trust this because we know our Father in heaven is good and merciful.  Therefore, we pray our Father would continue to pour out his Holy Spirit upon us to guide us in godly living.  Our comfort is that God is pleased with our works because Jesus Christ has made us pleasing to him.  And our prayer is that we will be confirmed in godliness forever.  Although we are in God’s kingdom now, we are not yet in glory.  We long for that glory—to be with Jesus, to be perfected in body and in mind, and to be free from every struggle, every pain, every weakness, and every foe.  That is the freedom we long for, and that is the freedom which is found only in Jesus Christ.

     We pray, “Thy kingdom come.”  And that prayer extends beyond us.  We pray that God would add to his kingdom many more.  This is done as his word is preached and taught throughout the world.  Once again, this will be done even without our prayers.  The Church of God will endure despite all attacks, and God will advance his kingdom with or without us.

     Our Lord graciously includes us in this blessed work.  We provide the answer to our own prayer as we support the training and sending of more pastors into this world.  Granted, you will probably not go to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel, but you can support those who do with prayers, offerings, and letters of encouragement.  So, you don’t go to Viet Nam, Saudi Arabia, or Nigeria.  That’s okay, but you can go to your family, friends, and neighbors to invite them to church.  You can encourage them to study God’s word with you.  You can tell them what Jesus has done to save sinners.  This is how God’s kingdom comes to them.  This is how God sends his Holy Spirit so that, by his grace, his word is believed, lives are changed, and people are saved.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Something from ... Christian Life Resources about cohabitation before marriage

It has become commonplace for couples to move in together before they even consider marriage.  It is so common that even Christians have adopted this as a normal order of a relationship.  This is NOT what God has designed.  

In the letter to the Hebrews, the inspired writer states God's will: "Marriage is to be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed is to be kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers" *(Hebrews 13:4).  Jesus repeated God's design which was established back in the Garden of Eden: “Haven’t you read that from the beginning their Maker ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).  We note that Jesus does not promote a move-in-and-try-it stage, but a union, that is, marriage.  Since this is God's design, it is good.  And within the union of marriage, sex is good.  Some translations even use the expression "pure" (e.g., NIV).  Any deviation from God's design is sin.

Cohabitation does not honor marriage or the marriage bed.  This deviation from God's word is not only sinful, it is also destructive.  God blesses those who honor his word.  People bring grief and a curse upon themselves for rebelling against God's word.  It does not matter how well-intentioned people are or how nice they are.  Cohabiting couples are sinning against God and his design for marriage.  And before anyone pleads about how committed they are in their live-in situation, I would ask, "If you are so committed, then why haven't you gotten married?"  That would proclaim before God and all the world how committed you are to each other.

The destructive nature of cohabitation was recently documented in an email from Christian Life Resources.  The statistics do not make any moral judgments about cohabitation (God's word does that); but they do show that cohabitation results in far more damage to families and children than most people would realize.  As a rule, it does not produce strong families.  

These statistics can be ignored to the detriment of children.  God's word can be ignored to the detriment of one's eternal well-being.  Take heed to the stats and to God's word.  Repent if it is necessary.  Reserve yourself for marriage if you are single.  Do not adopt worldly attitudes and behavior.  Jesus lived and died to pay for our sins and to set us apart from wickedness.  We rejoice in his gracious forgiveness, and we devote ourselves to his designs because they are good.

Here is something from Christian Life Resources:

The Plight of Harmed Children

Over the years, it seems that stories of neglected and abused children have increased. Some have suggested that the increasing numbers indicate better reporting. Others have argued that it represents a decline in the societal value of human life, particularly the value of children. Regardless of where you stand on that debate, the numbers are significantly alarming and provide valuable insight.

• About 1 in 4 American children today are born to cohabiting parents. The number of cohabiting couples with children under 18 nearly tripled from 1.2 million (1996) to 3.1 million (2014). 
• Children of cohabiting parents are three times more likely to experience the breakup of their family during their parents’ twenties than children born to married parents. Nearly half (about 50%) of parents cohabiting at the child’s birth break up within five years, compared to only 20% of married parents.
• Children living with married parents are less likely to be abused/neglected. A CDC study found single-parent children had more than double the risk of being physically abused or neglected.
• Children of single parents are twice as likely to have emotional and behavioral problems (8%) as those from two-parent households (4%).
• Children in divorced homes were twice as likely to be absent from school for 11+ days in a year because of illness or injury, compared to children in two-parent homes (6% vs. 3%).
• In Sweden, children raised by single parents were twice as likely to experience severe psychiatric disorders, suicide attempts, or alcohol addiction.
• Children in married-couple households: 11% poverty rate. Children in cohabiting opposite-sex couple households: 47% poverty rate. Children in single-mother households: 48% poverty rate
• Data from the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect indicate that children living with biological cohabiting parents are over four times more likely to be physically, sexually, or emotionally abused than those living with married biological parents.
• Children living with cohabiting biological parents show worse social, psychological, and educational results compared to those with married parents, even after controlling for race, income, and parental education. Outcomes include higher rates of drug use, depression, and school dropout.[1] 

Takeaway: While cohabitation may superficially resemble marriage, it does not provide the same level of safety, stability, or well-being for children as married-parent families. To put it another way, based solely on statistics and the understanding that children are needed to perpetuate the human race, it is in the best interest of children to be born into a traditional two-parent marriage rather than the alternatives.

[1] Source: https://tinyurl.com/yskupu92; https://tinyurl.com/yvxl2qdj