1. Bible 101 Dean Biebert, Pastor Shepherd of the Hills Church

2. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family

3. 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.

4. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family The creation account shows 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: What is God’s design for marriage? Genesis 2:18-24: “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

5. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family From this verse we learn the three ingredients that make a marriage valid: “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.” 1. One ______ and one ___________. manwoman (From the beginning God intended marriage to be heterosexual.) 2. “A man will ________ his father and mother”: leave 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.

6. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family From this verse we learn the three ingredients that make a marriage valid: “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Marriage is the public promises couples make to each other to keep their marriage vows until death separates them. 3. “Be united to his ________, and they will become ____________. COMMITMENT COMMITMENT is the glue of marriage. wife one flesh

7. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Mutual Companionship What needs does marriage address? 1. Genesis 2:18-24: God designed them to need each other. God designed them to need each other. 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.God gave us perfectly coordinated genders to meet those needs. God designed them to meet each other’s needs. God designed them to meet each other’s needs.

8. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Sexual Satisfaction What needs does marriage address? 2. Genesis 2:24c and 1 Corinthians 7:3-4: Sex is giving as much as it is getting.Sex is giving as much as it is getting. Marriage is a gift that God designed as the right way to satisfy our sexual needs.Marriage is a gift that God designed as the right way to satisfy our sexual needs.

9. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Children What needs does marriage address? 3. Genesis 1:28 and Malachi 2:15: Children are a blessing.Children are a blessing. (Psalm 127 & 128) Children are an asset.Children are an asset. (Psalm 127 & 128) Children are a responsibility that God may give.Children are a responsibility that God may give.

10. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family God Hates Divorce Does God allow a Christian to get a divorce? Malachi 2:16: 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.

11. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family God permits divorce if a spouse has committed _________. Does God allow a Christian to get a divorce? Matthew 19:3-9: adultery God permits divorce if a spouse ___________ the marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16: deserts

12. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family ____________ is the key to a happy marriage. For a happy marriage and for help overcoming marriage troubles, God gives: Ephesians 4:32: forgiveness __________ to hang in there when times are tough. 1 Peter 4:12-19 & 1 Peter 5:7-11: strength _________ ________ give encouragement to support us when we are struggling. Hebrews 10:23-25: Christian friends

13. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family ___________ guides you to be the right kind of role model as a husband or wife. 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 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)

14. Lesson Fourteen: Christian Marriage and Family Men and women enjoy equal status in their re-established relationship with God. He promotes them to identical positions in His family of believers. Additional Comments on the Roles of Men and Women: 1. Galatians 3:26-29: 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.