1. The church of Christ at Gospel Meeting July 26-29 Pleasant View

2. This is a Great Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Mystery

3. What is the mystery? Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. is a great mystery…This :

4. What are the mysteries of marriage? I.The differences between man and woman II.The joining into one flesh III.The presence of conflict

5. The Differences Between Man and Woman Designed for different purposes –Genesis 2:7, 15 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul…the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:18, 22 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him…And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man

6. The Differences Between Man and Woman Designed with different needs –I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

7. The Differences Between Man and Woman Men need: –to be respected (5:22) –to receive physical affection (Prov.31:23) Women need: –to be loved (5:25) –to be listened to regularly (Titus 2:4)

8. The Joining into One Flesh Ephesians 5:28, 31 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh

9. The Joining into One Flesh Spouses make a clean break –In-laws are not allowed to interfere Ruth 1:11-12—Naomi was separated from their lives Genesis 29:18ff—Laban interfered in Jacob’s life –Friends are not allowed to interfere

10. The Joining into One Flesh Spouses become one flesh –Song of Solomon 4:10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse… –Song of Solomon 5:16 …This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

11. The Presence of Conflict Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church –There is conflict in the church (Matthew 18:7; Revelation2-3) –It must then follow…

12. The Presence of Conflict Our marriages are more vulnerable to conflict than we think –Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes

13. The Presence of Conflict Our conflict can be resolved –Song of Solomon 5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer (6:1-4)

14. Marriage is a mystery… …eternity is not Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.