1. Straight Questions from the Culture Straight Answers …from God

2. Straight Questions from the Culture Straight Answers …from God I’M UNHAPPY. WHY SHOULD I STAY MARRIED?

3. Genesis 2:18-25 [18] The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." [19] Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

4. Genesis 2:18-25 [20] So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. [21] So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.

5. Genesis 2:18-25 [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. [23] The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,‘ for she was taken out of man."

6. Genesis 2:18-25 [24] For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. [25] The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

8. Matthew 19:1-12 [1] When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. [2] Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

9. Matthew 19:1-12 [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,'

10. Matthew 19:1-12 [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."

11. Matthew 19:1-12 [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.

12. Matthew 19:1-12 [9] I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." [10] The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."

13. Matthew 19:1-12 [11] Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. [12] For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

15. Malachi 2:13-16 [13] Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.

16. Malachi 2:13-16 [14] You ask, "Why?" It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

17. Malachi 2:13-16 [15] Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

18. Malachi 2:13-16 [16] "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

20. STAY MARRIED… YOU MADE A PROMISE THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT

21. STAY MARRIED… DIVORCE COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

22. STAY MARRIED… CONDITIONS IN A TROUBLED MARRIAGE CAN GET BETTER

23. STAY MARRIED… SHOW THE LOVE OF GOD TO YOUR MATE