Hope for a Good Marriage (part 2)
Galatians 5:13
Series on “Our Mission” (part 4)
Galatians 5:13 says “You my brothers were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.” This verse with many others is the foundation for a good marriage. So many have lost hope that it is possible to have a good marriage, but God’s Word tells us otherwise!
DEFINITIONS OF MARRIAGE THAT FALL SHORT
- Traditional marriage (preserve the honor and status of family)
- Evolutionary, biological view (love, romance is a rush of neuro-chemicals)
- Fraternity boys view (hormonally driven, consumer, hedonistic approach)
- Romantic view (“love is all”)
- “Just live together” (commitment is too frightening)
- “Eat, Pray, Love”, Ophrah, New Age (ultimate meaning is in yourself; be in relationship as long as it meets your needs).
- Feminist view (there are no prince charmings, protect your back, have sexual friendships)
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE BASED UPON THE BIBLE
- Love is real because God is love (Father, Son and Holy Spirit even before time)
- Christian marriage is to model the Trinity by being a relationship where two people become one and seek to serve one another more than self with Christ at the center.
WHAT A GOOD MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE
- A place to respect each other (most marriages fail at this point)
- A place where selfishness is exposed and repented of
- A place where we learn to persevere
- A place where we develop Christian character
- A place that fosters good prayer
- A place where we learn to forgive and develop a servant’s heart
- A place to give and receive grace and good humor
Note: See Gary Thomas’ “Sacred Marriage” for a fuller treatment of these issues
TABLE TALK: Get together with someone and discuss how you might apply this in your life.
Listen to the sermon online
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