Good Marriages!!! Series

Overview:

• What does a “good marriage” look like?

• How can you have a “good marriage”?

• What are the ingredients for enriching one’s marriage?

I. Are good marriages possible?

A. God established Marriage Gen. 1:27,31, 2:24

B. God intended marriage as a “good” thing. Gen. 2:18

C. Yes, good marriages are possible! What God makes is always good, very good!

II. What do good marriages look like?

A. OT example: Abraham and Sarah

1. 1 Peter 3:6

2. Genesis 12 ff

B. NT example: Christ and the church

1. Eph. 5:25

2. Eph. 5:26

III. How do good marriages work? Math. 19:10

A. Marriage: One man, one woman . . . for life! Math. 19:3-8 God intended marriage to be a lifelong relationship

B. With man, it’s impossible Is. 64:6 (none good, our best filthy rags)

C. With God, all things are possible Math. 19:17, 26 (God almighty-the source of all goodness)

IV. What are the ingredients for good marriages? 1 Cor. 13:13

A. Hope-Something to look forward to Jer. 29:11(future, hope), Col. 1:27 source of hope-Christ

B. Faith-Something to believe in Heb. 12:2 object of faith-Christ

C. Love-Someone to invest in Eph. 5:33 motivation and method 2 Cor. 5:14-motivation; 1 John 3:18 method, source of love-the Holy Spirit

V. Suggestions for cultivating, and enriching your marriage.

A. Submission-Supporting 2 Cor. 12:19

B. Sacrifice-Sharing Eph. 5:2; 1 John 3:16

C. Service-Caring Gal. 5:13-15; 6:2; 2 Cor. 12:15

Practical application: Possible Q & A about encouraging, exhorting, and instructing couples regarding good marriages.

Copyright©2003 Dr. Lewis Gregory, Source Ministries International

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