Welcome to
The Meaning of Marriage Timothy & Kathy Keller Happy Valentines Day Sex: The Act of Covenant Renewal (Compliments Ch. 8 in the book, “Sex and Marriage”) Teammates February 14, 2016 Facilitator: Lee Bennett
Valentine’s Day Trivia Quiz 1. What state produces a majority of America’s roses? 2. What is the most popular way to say “Be Mine” - Flowers, Cards, or Candy? 3. What fruit is also know as the “love apple?” 4. On Valentine’s Day in 1876 Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent on what invention of his?
5. What card company is the top seller of Valentine’s cards in America? 6. What percentage of flowers bought on Valentine’s Day are bought by men? 7. Between girlfriends, wives, mothers, and teachers - who receives the most cards? 8. In what Shakespeare play in St. Valentine’s Day mentioned?
9. What state has a town called Valentine? 10. True or False - Valentine’s Day is the largest card giving holiday? 11. The giving of Valentine’s started during which century? 12. Which country began the tradition? 13. What percentage of pet owners give their pets a gift on Valentine’s Day?
14. What does the word Valentine mean or stand for? 15. How much does the average American spend on Valentine’s Day? $25 - 35 - 45 - 55 - 65 - 75? 16. Including children, how many Valentine’s are bought each year? 700 million, 800 million, 900 million, 1 billion, or 2 billion? 17. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. Where was he when he penned this valentine?
18. The name Valentine originated in what cultural language? 19. Approximately how many boxes of chocolates were sold for St. Valentine’s Day in 2003? 20. What is the winged child shooting love arrows at the unsuspected called?
Due to copyright we cannot provide the DVD content here. Video Clip DVD Session 5 (Not available here) See the book: “The Meaning of Marriage” Ch. 8 Copies of the DVD are available online for about $26.95 Amazon Prime price = abt $18.35 (prices as of Jan. 3, 2017) Due to copyright we cannot provide the DVD content here.
The modern sexual revolution finds the idea of abstinence from sex till marriage to be so unrealistic as to be ludicrous . . . But the Bible does not counsel sexual abstinence before marriage because it has such a low view of sex but because it has such a lofty one. The Biblical view implies that sex outside of marriage is not just morally wrong but also personally harmful. If sex is designed to be part of making a covenant and that experiencing that covenant’s renewal, then we should think of sex as an emotional “commitment apparatus.” The Meaning of Marriage, p. 259
Present Cultural Expectations What are the present cultural norms regarding sex? What makes the Christian vows unique? How do they compare to I Corinthians 7: 3- 5? What was helpful in the video response?
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I Corinthians 7: 3 - 5
Table Time
I believe this particular part of I Corinthians 7 is an important practical resource. Each partner in marriage is to be most concerned not with getting sexual pleasure but with giving it. In short, the greatest sexual pleasure should be the pleasure of seeing your spouse getting pleasure. The Meaning of Marriage, pp. 267-268
Keeping this in mind, how is our sexual life with our spouse similar to or dissimilar to the rest of our life with them? What robs couples of a deeper sexual intimacy? Ask your spouse - later - what one thing can I do that would make our sex life better? Tell your spouse - later - one thing they do you truly like and appreciate during your times of intimacy.
Prayer Time