Lesson 15
What does God teach us about his gift of marriage?
How did marriage get started? Genesis 2:21-24 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. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 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.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. God started it (not a human custom)
Key Point #1 Marriage started when God made Eve and brought her to Adam to be his wife.
What does God want marriage to be? Romans 7:2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. lifelong union
What does God want marriage to be? Matthew 19:5-6 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. of one man and one woman
God wants marriage to be the lifelong union of one man and one woman. Key Point #2 God wants marriage to be the lifelong union of one man and one woman.
How does God want us to go about entering into marriage? 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 …that each of you should learn to control his own body [footnote: learn to acquire a wife] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God… entered into in a way that is… holy and honorable
God wants us to enter marriage in a way that is holy and honorable. Key Point #3 God wants us to enter marriage in a way that is holy and honorable.
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Ephesians 5:24-25 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… companionship
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? 1 Corinthians 7:2-5,8-9 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except 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…Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. sexual happiness
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Psalm 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Psalm 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. children
Key Point #4 God blesses a husband and wife with his gifts of companionship, sexual happiness, and children.
God doesn’t want us to talk about or think about sex. Agree or Disagree? God doesn’t want us to talk about or think about sex.
If two people love each other, they should get married. Agree or Disagree? If two people love each other, they should get married.
Evaluate… The only way a Christian can be sure of a happy marriage is to marry a person who shares the same faith.
Lesson 15 God teaches us that he wants marriage to be the lifelong union of one man and one woman – a union that God blesses with some wonderful gifts.
A time to prepare for the marriage ceremony Vocabulary… “Engagement” A time to prepare for the marriage ceremony (not a time to “test each other out”)
Sexual purity, both for the married and unmarried Vocabulary… “Chastity” Sexual purity, both for the married and unmarried