March 25, 2019 ● 19-19
This “primer” on marriage has been taken from five sermons I preached on marriage and relationships at Bethel Baptist Church in Feb-Mar 2019.
I. The BASICS of marriage (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-33)
One man and one woman for life
It all begins with an understanding of Matt. 6:33: if we are truly seeking God and his kingdom first, their our marriages will be what God desires them to be.
Wives are to be the picture of respect;
Husbands are to be the picture of love;
Marriage is the picture of the church
- God wants to bless your marriage; honor Him with it.
- Marriage takes work; be 100% committed to it.
- Strong marriages equal strong churches; be part of it.
- Satan is after your marriage – protect it!
II. BOUNDARIES in our marriage (Job 38:1-11)
Boundaries PAINT a picture of what a marriage looks like;
Boundaries PRESERVE the marriage;
Boundaries PROTECT the marriage;
Boundaries PROMOTE the marriage
You and your spouse must take responsibility for your marriage.
Use this guideline when determining boundaries;
Boundaries must be;
- GROUNDED in a relationship with the Son of God
- DEFINED by the Word of God
- LED by the Spirit of God
Healthy marriage relationships thrive on two important facts: mutual respect for each other and selfless living with one another.
4 types of boundaries in your marriage:
- Faith
- Fellowship
- Fidelity
- Finances
III. The BANDITS of our marriage (Phil. 4:1-7)
Bandits are anything we allow into our lives or marriages that can wreck them.
Bandits that can wreck your marriage:
Disharmony, imbalance, complaining, selfishness, lack of prayer, ungratefulness,
IV. The BOOKS of our marriage (1 Cor. 13:1-13)
Every marriage goes through seasons (books). Here are the five main “books” in our marriages and their corresponding challenges:
- New life: the beginning of the marriage after the honeymoon. This “book” has the challenge of KNOWING, learning to live together as husband and wife.
- New look: children and all that involves. This “book” has the challenge of GROWING, raising children, juggling jobs and schedules.
- New lessons: children growing up and moving out of the house. This “book” has the challenge of GOING – adjusting to children growing up and moving out of the house, college, marriages, etc.
- New love: the empty nest, getting reacquainted with your spouse all over again. This “book” has the challenge of FLOWING – learning to just go with it as part of the empty nest. You are on no one’s schedule but your own now.
- New location: retirement. This “book” has the challenge of BESTOWING – leaving a legacy of faithfulness for the next generation.
Ask yourself this question about your marriage right now: What kind of marriage legacy do I want to leave my family?
However you answer this question is what you need to be living right now.
V. The BLESSINGS of marriage (Gen. 2:18-25)
- BEING (companionship) – sharing life together.
- GROWING. Learning more about each other and growing together as you walk together with the Lord through the years.
- LEARNING what true love is all about. When we learn that love is about sacrifice, about giving all, then it makes marriage that much more beautiful.
- ADDING the extended family.
- MODELING faithfulness and God’s plan for the family. Marriage is also a model and picture of the church.
Strong marriages make strong churches – never forget that.