Bible 101 Dean Biebert, Pastor Shepherd of the Hills Church Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family God has always wanted stability for humanity. When He first created the universe and people, He created with the intent that there would be stability. He accomplished this by creating the male and female gender and establishing the basic building block of every society, marriage and the family that springs from it. Nothing has been so misused, abused and misunderstood as the marriage and family. The destruction of family life is a consequence of sin. Let’s look at God’s plan for marriage and family, and see how God wants to help sinners have the stable life He intended. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family What is God’s design for marriage? The creation account shows Genesis 2:18-24: how God created men to correspond to women. He has needs that only she can meet. She has needs that only he can meet. God’s design for marriage is Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.” From this verse we learn the three ingredients that make a marriage valid: man and one ___________. woman 1. One ______ (From the beginning God intended marriage to be heterosexual.) leave his father and mother”: 2. “A man will ________ God intends that both the man and the woman are of age to establish a home independent of their parents. He intends that they be free to marry (not illegally divorced, not still married to someone else). NOTE: The fourth commandment requires us to ask our parents’ blessings for the marriage. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.” From this verse we learn the three ingredients that make a marriage valid: wife and they will become 3. “Be united to his ________, one flesh ____________. Marriage is the public promises couples make to each other to keep their marriage vows until death separates them. COMMITMENT is the glue of marriage. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family What needs does marriage address? 1. Genesis 2:18-24: Mutual Companionship • God designed them to need each other. • God designed them to meet each other’s needs. 1. She is soft where he is rough. 2. She is emotional where he is logical. 3. He is strong where she is weak. • God gave us perfectly coordinated genders to meet those needs. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family What needs does marriage address? 2. Genesis 2:24c and 1 Corinthians 7:3-4: Sexual Satisfaction • Marriage is a gift that God designed as the right way to satisfy our sexual needs. • Sex is giving as much as it is getting. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family What needs does marriage address? 3. Genesis 1:28 and Malachi 2:15: Children • Children are a blessing. (Psalm 127 & 128) • Children are an asset. (Psalm 127 & 128) • Children are a responsibility that God may give. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Does God allow a Christian to get a divorce? Malachi 2:16: God Hates Divorce However, God allows divorce if a spouse has destroyed the essence of marriage. A marriage is not ruined unless one of the partners destroys its essence. This is important to remember, especially when a marriage is falling far short of what God intended. God allows a spouse to divorce if the other has already destroyed the essence of marriage. God doesn’t permit divorce just because the marriage is falling short of what God intended. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Does God allow a Christian to get a divorce? Matthew 19:3-9: God permits divorce if a adultery spouse has committed _________. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16: God permits divorce deserts if a spouse ___________ the marriage. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family For a happy marriage and for help overcoming marriage troubles, God gives: forgiveness is the key Ephesians 4:32: ____________ to a happy marriage. 1 Peter 4:12-19 & 1 Peter 5:7-11: __________ strength to hang in there when times are tough. Christian Hebrews 10:23-25: _________ friends give encouragement ________ to support us when we are struggling. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family For a happy marriage and for help overcoming trouble in marriage God gives: Ephesians 5:22-33 & 1 Peter 3:1-7: God’s Word guides you to be the right ___________ kind of role model as a husband or wife. A. Husbands are the lead role model for Jesus’ loving service and sacrifice in the family. (Ephesians 5:25) B. Wives role model Jesus’ serving and submitting example. (Ephesians 5:22) Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Additional Comments on the Roles of Men and Women: 1. Galatians 3:26-29: Men and women enjoy equal status in their re-established relationship with God. He promotes them to identical positions in His family of believers. 2. Genesis 2:7,18,22: God established the roles for men and women in a perfect world. 3. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 1 Timothy 2:12,13 These roles also apply as we do God’s Work in church groups. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Jesus wants to be the head of the house. He is the invisible third party in Christian marriage. It is a healthy marriage when He gets top priority. The closer we get to Jesus the closer we get to each other. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Homework: Read 1 Corinthians 13 (the entire chapter). Be ready to tell how you would answer a friend who said she was divorcing her husband because she didn’t love him anymore.