Marriage

Message: Marriage

· The decision to marry is too big for us. Pray and leave it to God.

· Things to consider if you are thinking of marrying someone:

1. Is this person a Christian?

2. Is this person seeking God?

3. Do the people closest to me feel good about this marriage?

4. Does this person bring out the best in me?

5. Is this person self-centered or other-centered?

6. Can you trust this person? Is this person honest?

7. How does this person handle conflict?

8. Is this person emotionally healthy?

· Core principles of marriage:

1. Pursue God’s dream for your marriage: a one-flesh marriage. (Genesis 2:18-25)

2. Love Her & Respect Him (Ephesians 5:22-33)

3. Get conflict down

a. Deal with it immediately. (Eph. 4:26-27)

b. Apologize. (Prov. 15:1)

c. Receive God’s forgiveness and forgive others. (Eph. 4:31-32)

d. Do not let your anger give Satan a foothold. (Eph. 4:27)

4. Make Christ the center of your marriage.

Questions

1. Prior to being married, what was your vision of marriage? How was it the same/different from God’s vision?
2. If you prayed for your spouse, share what it was like waiting for, meeting, and deciding to marry him/her.
3. Do you focus on changes you need to make as much as the changes you would like your spouse to make? Are you able to let the Holy Spirit take care of your spouse?
4. How would you like to connect daily, have fun, and share your heart with your spouse?
5. Husbands: what does your wife need from you?
6. Wives: what makes your husband feel respected?
7. Do you and your spouse handle conflict in a similar or different way? What kind of challenges does this bring to your marriage? How do you need to alter your approach?
8. Is Christ truly the center of your marriage? What else is competing for that #1 spot?