1. Marriage Problems Though there are no perfect husbands / wives, parents / children, our standard is perfect (2 T.3:16-17) Keeps us going in right direction Love your wife sometimes? Submit to your husband when you feel like it?

2. I I Lack Of Commitment Instant society Instant society: many Americans quit at first sign of trouble No fault divorce “We can always divorce” Gn.2:18-24; Mt.19:3-9 Mal.2:14-16 Marriage vows are mere words to many

3. Self-commitment? Our selfish society encourages self- commitment Pro.31:11-12 1 Co.7:33 Some marry, then quit courting… Marriage is when you agree to spend the rest of your life sleeping in a room that’s too warm, beside some- one who’s sleeping in a room that’s too cold

4. II II Fornication No one is strong enough to let his guard down – (2 Sm.11) Nothing new: Pro.7:9-10 (22-23, 26) Some fantasize that the grass is greener in a new marriage

5. III III Uncontrolled Anger Col.3:19, harsh, irritable Positive: always be considerate People mishandle anger in two ways: 1. Losing it (blowing up) Some encourage it Mk.3:5

6. Some let loose angry words I don't know why I did it. I guess I lost my head. I should have said ‘I love you’ but used angry words instead. Angry words, that were so unfair. Angry words, I should have said ‘I care’

7. Some let loose angry actions A problem since Gn. 4 Some use silent treatment; turns into grudge…finally explodes… Silent treatment is not same as cooling off before talking

8. 2. Keeping it (bottling it up) Ep.4:26-27 We may be angry at evil w/o sin, but anger based on selfish resent- ment is always sinful If it lives beyond a day it cannot be justified One of the hardest things in the world: be angry w/o sin

9. IV Submission Issues as Some women have a hard time submitting. Ep.5:21-24, as... (Lord) Liberation movement as Some men have a hard time leading. Ep.5:25-29, as… (sacrificial love) Some bully to get their way Others view it as a democracy

10. V Disagreements Money – The number one argument Most divorce papers simply list incompatibility (first place) Divorce doesn’t solve money problems; it compounds them! 1 T.6:10

11. Children – Discipline 1. Discipline – pushover vs strict disciplinarian A united front is necessary Lifestyle 2. Lifestyle – pamper and giving vs work and doing w/o Goals 3. Goals – Popularity Wealth Academics