1. Presenters Thomas and Tamarra Mason

2. Godly Couples Glorifying God

3. Embracing the Biblical Marriage Sustaining Fire of Passion Affirming Marriage Partner Till Death Do Us Part “1 0ut of every 3 marriages will end in divorce, this includes Christian Couples”

4. EMBRACING THE BIBLICAL MARRIAGE “THE TOOL BOX”

5. Embracing the Biblical Marriage Most of us have the tools in front of us(being saved as a Christian); yet do not know how to use it The key to a successful relationship is not love, it is knowledge (information), understanding, wisdom, truth based (application) (Proverbs 24:3-5- “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established…through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures”.)

6. Embracing the Biblical Marriage Marriage is to prepare us for living in the kingdom A biblical marriage depends on the application of knowledge- knowing and understanding God’s principles Our marriage builds in us exactly what we need to grow our relationship with Christ

7. Embracing the Biblical Marriage Marriage is one of the ways God is shaping us in the image of his son Marriage does not depend on spouses committing themselves to each other as much as committing themselves to the institution of marriage according to God

8. SUSTAINING FIRE OF PASSION “HOW FULL/EMPTY IS YOUR CUP?”

9. Sustaining Fire of Passion “Don’t Leave Home Thirsty” When our needs are unmet, we leave home in trouble, thirsty. Our most important spiritual, physical, and emotional needs should be met through our relationships with God and our spouse. Affection, affirmation, communication, acceptance, sex. We thirst for these things when we don’t find them at home. However, only God can meet those needs of acceptance, identity, security, purpose, self-worth- that’s why we must keep Him first. People cannot take the place of God.

10. Sustaining Fire of Passion Agape love- a marriage must reach this type of Godly love to sustain fire of passion Sustaining fire of passion means that both man and woman understands and respects their bodies as made in God’s image, understands and embraces the truth of the value of commitment, love, intimacy, selflessness, and the fulfillment within a one-man, one-woman marriage

11. Sustaining Fire of Passion The emotional, physical and spiritual needs must be satisfied first in Christ followed by an extra blessing of joyful intimacy in marriage. When we get beyond seeing our needs as the end result, we will become less susceptible to the attacks of the enemy, our marriages will grow stronger, and our joy will be greatly increased by the love and passion we feel for Christ and each other (our beloved)

12. Sustaining Fire of Passion God loves us intensely and our love can only come as a response. Through the crucifixion and resurrection, God shows the intensity (passion) of his love for mankind. Agape is creative. God does not love that which is already in itself worthy of love, but on the contrary, that which in itself has no worth acquires worth just by becoming the object of God's love.

13. Sustaining Fire of Passion Love must be intelligent and morally discerning, if it is to be truly "Agape". What is encouraged here is not a heedless sentiment, but an "Agape" love based on knowledge - the intellectual perception that has examined principles from the Word of God as illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual knowledge, gained from an understanding of divine revelation - God's Word, the Bible, enables the believer to love and obey what God commands."

14. Sustaining Fire of Passion EROS LOVE NATURAL EMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATORY CONDITIONAL PLEASURE DELIGHT LIKING BECAUSE OF FAILS AGAPE LOVE LEARNED VOLITIONAL NON-DISCRIMINATORY UNCONDITIONAL TREASURE HONOR PRIZING IN SPITE OF NEVER FAILS

15. AFFIRMING THE MARRIAGE PARTNER “DO YOU HAVE MY BACK?”

16. Affirming the Marriage Partner Once there are two of us it makes a community, therefore man and woman are accountable for each other and accountable to God My spouse husband is my brother and my wife is my sister who Christ is using to shape our character

17. Affirming the Marriage Partner The best way you can love God is loving the person you are married to Marriage is one of the most important decisions a human will make so choosing a life’s partner must not be taken without careful and prayerful consideration (include God in your decision)the other person or get from them…you do not give because you need something… be an asset, not a deficit

18. Affirming the Marriage Partner When cups are filled the relationship is no longer based on what I can take from you Marriage is not about you…you are married for Him

19. Affirming the Marriage Partner Are most of us asking more of our marriages and partners today, more than God designed them to give or be? Then it is not your marriage or your partner’s fault We expect our partner’s to fill a whole, when we should be cultivating a relationship with God

20. Affirming the Marriage Partner Marriage is the beautiful accommodation of another for a lifetime Be grateful that your spouse is willing to walk thru this process with you

21. TILL DEATH DO US PART “IS OR WILL YOUR MARRIAGE BE A TREASURE?”

22. “Gems, diamonds and marriages are products of heat, pressure, time, and fusion”

23. Till Death do us Part Marriage is more important than the married; marriage is unchanging but the married (people in it) change If you marry in God’s name- God was there- He was a witness, He was taking note-until death do you part

24. Till Death do us Part Marriage is the fusion of two distinct human elements into one Marriage requires a lifetime for fusion to compete/ true marriage becomes stronger under pressure (bills, demands children, etc.)

25. Till Death do us Part We need a new understanding of what God created marriage for: Marriage is a covenant (commitment, promise/agreement under God) Love is a commitment to meet the needs of another for life without expectation, unconditional (Agape love)

26. Till Death do us Part God anticipates our need before we can even ask for it (before we pray)… God anticipated the fall of the world before it fell (He loves us and He cares just that much) When you care for your spouse, you study their need for tomorrow and give it to them today. You anticipate a need that may be needed next week, but you meet it this week.

27. Till Death do us Part If I married you, commit to you, I decided to commit to your needs without expectations from you…Christ did not just save us, he supplies our every need Value is what you are willing to pay for it (the more valuable it is the more you feel endeared, obligated to take care of it), Till Death do us Part

28. References Gary Chapman. Covenant Marriage; Building Communication and Intimacy: 2003; B & H Publishing Group Loveless, Bill. The Key To A Christ-Centered Marriage: 1996; Tyndale House Publishers Gary Thomas. Sacred Marriage; What if God Designed Marriage To Make Us Holy More Than To Make Us Happy: 2000; Zondervan

29. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD KEEP YOU IN THE GARDEN