Leaving a Legacy of Love Written by: Willie and Elaine Oliver Directors of the Department of Family Ministries for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters From Revival and Reformation: Building Family Memories. Presented by: (add presenter name here)

Bible Text Therefore a man shall leave his Father and Mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2: 24

Marriage is one of the most challenging and rewarding of relationships. God, the Creator of marriage, has given us very clear instructions on how to make marriage work. Couples can learn specific skills to maintain and enhance their oneness. Introduction

Couples struggle to balance personal fulfillment with relational fulfillment. Modern marriages have an individualistic focus. If two people are to become one, there must be a mutual desire that seeks the good of the relationship not just the needs of the individual. The Dilemma of Modern Marriage

Our relational God created us to be in relationship with Him; then He created us to be in significant and fulfilling relationships with others. God intends for our relationships to be a reflection of Him. God’s Plan For Marriage

1.Covenant God’s intent is that the relationship between husband and wife be modeled after His endless covenant with his people. 2.Grace God wants us to understand that grace is about forgiving and being forgiven. Four Basic Elements Essential to Healthy Relationships

3.Empowerment Empowerment is love in action. It’s about mutuality and unity. 2.Intimacy Couples who base their marriage on covenant love, grace and empowering one another, know each other deeply and intimately. Four Basic Elements Essential to Healthy Relationships

Love imparts to its possessor grace, propriety, and comeliness of deportment. It illuminates the countenance and subdues the voice; it refines and elevates the entire being. Ellen G. White, 1948, The Gospel Workers Ellen White

Self-protection and the fear of rejection Sin and selfishness Lack of knowledge Barriers to Oneness

Commit to tearing down barriers in your marriage and keeping them down. Commit to focusing on what you can do to be a better spouse. Commit to loving your spouse like God loves. CPREP: Christian Preparation and Relationship Enhancement Program. Building a Strong Marriage

When we base our marriage on a biblical foundation and live by God-designed principles, we will find fulfillment and satisfaction in the marriage relationship. We will leave a legacy of love for our children, our church and our community. Leaving a Legacy of Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13: 4, 7 “Love is…….”