2. Why Marriage?

3. Marriage is Not Friendship

4. Marriage is sex

5. Marriage is Monogamous

6. Marriage is Commitment

7. So What is Marriage? It is the committed union of two people that make new humans (or have sex as if they were creating new humans)

8. Genesis 2:22-24 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

9. Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ 5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

10. 1 Corinthians 7:1, 7-8 1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness. 8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.

11. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

12. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

13. Hebrews 13:4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

15. The divorce rate in America has doubled since 1960 Couples who live together before getting married have a 46% higher chance of getting divorced 50% of marriages end in divorce 23% of men and 19% of women have cheated – Indiana University study When people 25-34 reach their 40s and 50s, only 25% will be married

16. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love— and the greatest of these is love.