PREPARED BY GOD
Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:22
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Matthew 19:4-6
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
(Cf. The People’s Bible p. 40-42, 45-49)
- God established marriage
- God brings couples together
- Marriage is to be a life long union between one man and one woman
PURPOSES DETERMINED BY GOD
Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Psalm 127:3
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
There are three blessings in marriage. They are-
C-
C-
C (S)-
PERMANENCE DIRECTED BY GOD
Matthew 19:3-9
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Romans 7:1-3
1 Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 15
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
WEDDING VOWS
Asked of husband: Will you take _____ to be your wife? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and love your wife as Christ loved the Church? Will you be faithful to her, cherish her, support her, and help her in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?
Asked of wife: Will you take _____ to be your husband? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and submit to your husband as the Church submits to Christ? Will you be faithful to him, cherish him, support him, and help him in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?
Spoken by both husband and wife: I, _____, in the presence of God and these witnesses, take you _____, to be my (wife/husband). I promise to be faithful to you as long as we both shall live.
For thought and discussion (God Designed Marriage)
- +/- Since God brings a man and woman together, they should not seek or listen to the advice of their parents or others about the marriage.
- +/- One’s spouse should he his/her best friend. (Why or why not?)
- +/- Opposites attract.
- +/- Children are a burden to a marriage.
For thought and discussion (Permanence)
- Marriage: a human arrangement or a Divine ordinance? Why is it vital to be clear on this?
- God reserves the right to end a marriage. How does he do this?
- Just what is “divorce”? Is it ever permissible? What if I no longer love my spouse—wouldn’t it be better in that case to get a divorce?
- Why does God require permanence in marriage?
- What makes this permanence difficult?
- What if it seems clear to me that I made a mistake in my choice?
- Is there forgiveness with God for breaking a marriage?
- What are some of the high “costs” of divorce? Who suffers the most?
- How do the wedding vows compare with the prevailing attitude of the world regarding marriage? How should these vows affect my attitude toward marriage?
- What feature of how God treats me should help me to be faithful in my marriage?