1. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE

2. Married people are much happier and likely to be less unhappy than any other group of people (Waite, 2000). Married people live up to eight years longer than divorced or never-married people. Married people suffer from long-term illnesses much less than those who are unmarried (Murphy et al., 1997) Married people are much happier and likely to be less unhappy than any other group of people (Waite, 2000). Married people live up to eight years longer than divorced or never-married people. Married people suffer from long-term illnesses much less than those who are unmarried (Murphy et al., 1997)

3. Married men are more financially successful. They earn 10-40% more than unmarried men (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). Married people save more. Couples in their 50's and 60's had net worth per person almost double that of divorcees, widows or other unmarried people (Smith, 1995). Married people are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse. (“Marriage Does Have Its Benefits!” Todd E. Linaman, Ph.D. from www.) Married men are more financially successful. They earn 10-40% more than unmarried men (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). Married people save more. Couples in their 50's and 60's had net worth per person almost double that of divorcees, widows or other unmarried people (Smith, 1995). Married people are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse. (“Marriage Does Have Its Benefits!” Todd E. Linaman, Ph.D. from www.)

4. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE

5. I. COMPANIONSHIP, Gen. 2:18-24; SoS. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6 “Not good that the man be alone” “Make an help meet for him” “Make an help meet for him” “Brought her unto the man” “Brought her unto the man” “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” “Cleave unto his wife” “Cleave unto his wife” “Not good that the man be alone” “Make an help meet for him” “Make an help meet for him” “Brought her unto the man” “Brought her unto the man” “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” “Cleave unto his wife” “Cleave unto his wife”

6. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE I. COMPANIONSHIP, Gen. 2:18-24; SoS. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6 Matt. 19:4-6: Cleave – “to join fast together, to glue, cement…” (Vine, p. 196) Cleave – “to join fast together, to glue, cement…” (Vine, p. 196) Join – “to fasten to one yoke, yoke together…to join together, unite: …of the marriage tie, Mt. xix.6; Mk. x.9” (Thayer, p. 594) Join – “to fasten to one yoke, yoke together…to join together, unite: …of the marriage tie, Mt. xix.6; Mk. x.9” (Thayer, p. 594) Matt. 19:4-6: Cleave – “to join fast together, to glue, cement…” (Vine, p. 196) Cleave – “to join fast together, to glue, cement…” (Vine, p. 196) Join – “to fasten to one yoke, yoke together…to join together, unite: …of the marriage tie, Mt. xix.6; Mk. x.9” (Thayer, p. 594) Join – “to fasten to one yoke, yoke together…to join together, unite: …of the marriage tie, Mt. xix.6; Mk. x.9” (Thayer, p. 594)

7. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE I. COMPANIONSHIP, Gen. 2:18-24; SoS. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 Husband’s love for wife: Christ’s desire for church: Sanctify, cleanse, present it as glorious Christ’s desire for church: Sanctify, cleanse, present it as glorious Husband’s desire for wife: Love wife as own body, nourish, cherish Husband’s desire for wife: Love wife as own body, nourish, cherish

8. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE I. COMPANIONSHIP, Gen. 2:18-24; SoS. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS, Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:16; Prov. 7:18, 26; Heb. 13:4; 2 Sam. 12:1ff; Prov. 5:18-19; 31:11, 28 - 29 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS, Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:16; Prov. 7:18, 26; Heb. 13:4; 2 Sam. 12:1ff; Prov. 5:18-19; 31:11, 28 - 29

9. “Of all [people active in the area of intimate relations, sw], married couples report being the most physcially pleased and emotionally satisfied. ‘Physical and emotional satisfaction started to decline when people had more than one [partner in these relations, sw].’" (Sex in America: A Definitive Survey, Little, Brown & Co. 1994, page 124, via Greg Gwin, The Electronic Beacon, 12/10/02) “People who are married have twice the amount of [intimate relations,sw] as single people and report greater levels of satisfaction in [this area, sw].” (“Marriage Does Have Its Benefits!” Todd E. Linaman, Ph.D. from www.) “Of all [people active in the area of intimate relations, sw], married couples report being the most physcially pleased and emotionally satisfied. ‘Physical and emotional satisfaction started to decline when people had more than one [partner in these relations, sw].’" (Sex in America: A Definitive Survey, Little, Brown & Co. 1994, page 124, via Greg Gwin, The Electronic Beacon, 12/10/02) “People who are married have twice the amount of [intimate relations,sw] as single people and report greater levels of satisfaction in [this area, sw].” (“Marriage Does Have Its Benefits!” Todd E. Linaman, Ph.D. from www.)

10. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE I. COMPANIONSHIP, Gen. 2:18-24; SoS. 2:16; Matt. 19:4-6 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS, Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:16; Prov. 7:18, 26; Heb. 13:4; 2 Sam. 12:1ff; Prov. 5:18-19; 31:11, 28 - 29 V. PERSONAL GROWTH, Eph. 5:22-33; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Pet. 3:1-7 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE, Gen. 29:17-18; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Gen. 24:67 III. FULFILLMENT, Gen. 2:18; Titus 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:7” 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:7; Prov. 5:18 IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS, Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:16; Prov. 7:18, 26; Heb. 13:4; 2 Sam. 12:1ff; Prov. 5:18-19; 31:11, 28 - 29 V. PERSONAL GROWTH, Eph. 5:22-33; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Pet. 3:1-7

11. THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE I. COMPANIONSHIP II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE III. FULFILLMENT IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS V. PERSONAL GROWTH VI. THE BLESSING OF CHILDREN, Gen. 1:26-28; 33:5; 48:9; Ruth 4:14-15; 1 Sam 2:1ff; Jer. 20:15; Jno. 16:21; Ps. 127:3-5 II. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE III. FULFILLMENT IV. FULFILLMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONS V. PERSONAL GROWTH VI. THE BLESSING OF CHILDREN, Gen. 1:26-28; 33:5; 48:9; Ruth 4:14-15; 1 Sam 2:1ff; Jer. 20:15; Jno. 16:21; Ps. 127:3-5