Marriage
Next Level Relationships – Part 3
October 15-16, 2022
- I Will Take My Relationships To The Next Level By Honoring Marriage.
“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (p.3)
- I am created in the image of God.
- I am complete. Marriage does not complete me.
- God created us equal but different.
“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:24 (p.3)
“‘Haven’t you read the Scriptures’? Jesus replied. ‘They record that from the beginning “God made them male and female” 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.’”
Matthew 19:4-5 (p.749)
Series Memory Verse: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (p.866)
How can I take my relationships to the next level by honoring marriage?
My Next Step This Week:
I will take my relationships to the next level by:
_____ Honoring the marriage of others.
_____ Putting my spouse #1.
_____ I will reach out for help.
Discussion/Groups Guide: Next Level Relationships – Part 3“Marriage”
Life Groups use this guide in their discussion and study of the Weekend Talk. Use this also as a discussion guide with your family and friends.
Conversation Starters
- Quick: name as many healthy examples of marriage found in pop culture as you can. Now: name as many unhealthy examples of marriage found in pop culture as you can.
- If you ever married, you probably planned your wedding, your honeymoon, and your future life. In retrospect, which of the three plans went the smoothest, and which one has been the most difficult?
- What role can a single person play regarding marriage as it pertains to our society, culture, and church?
Quick Review
Looking back at your Weekend Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and Bible verses from the Talk Notes.
One Thing: I Will Take My Relationships To The Next Level By Honoring Marriage.
Series Memory Verse: Romans 12:9 (p.866).
- Love, in the context of Romans 12:9, is the Greek word “agape” which is selfless, affectionate love. Jesus’ love for us is this kind of love. How does this verse speak to love experienced in marriage? Is all of marriage just “eros” love, which is the romantic kind of love we typically think of in popular culture?
- How does living in the love Paul speaks of here help us to be a witness for Jesus? How can a healthy marriage help our ability and opportunity to speak with people about Jesus—to “make disciples,” as Jesus commands in Matthew 28:19-20 (p.760)?
One Voice Bible Story Background: Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15-24 (p.4); Matthew 19:1-9 (p.749))
- Genesis 2:18, 21-24 could be summed up with this formula: 1 + 1 = 1. Talk about that.
- Have you ever seen a long-time married couple who began to look like each other? While this is not necessary for a healthy marriage, it does illustrate the growing together “as one” aspect of what marriage is.
- Genesis 2:18 says God wanted to “make a helper” for Adam. How does this help Adam? Do you typically get more accomplished when you work with someone or when working alone?
- How does Jesus affirm marriage in Matthew 19?
- If you are married, what is one thing you have learned? What advice—in 10 words or less—would you give a couple about to be married?
Application: Marriage is a huge topic, but we are boiling things down to application to help us HONOR marriage—no matter if you are married or not. To take a marriage relationship to the next level, Let’s dig in!
- Read these verses and discuss the following quesiotns (Hebrews 13:4 (p.928); Ephesians 5:33 (p.989); Ephesians 5:21 (p.989))
- What does it mean to honor marriage? Can single people honor marriage?
- What is one way a man can love his wife? What about one way a woman can respect her husband? Talk about these verbs in the context of doing them even when the spouse doesn’t “deserve” them.
- Have you ever heard anyone who found fault with “submission” in marriage make any reference to the mutual submission of verse 21?
- Talk about the elements of a healthy marriage found in each of these verses: Some elements of a healthy plan for honoring marriage:
- 1 Corinthians 7:3 (p.871)
- Amos 3:3 (p.683)
- Colossians 4:2 (p.904)
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ( p.878)
- Ephesians 4:32 (p.897))
Digging Deeper
- Go back and read the longer versions of passages on marriage. For example, read through Genesis 2:15-24, Matthew 19:1-9, Ephesians 5:21-33, and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
- What other observations and questions come to mind? Write them down. Look them up in a Bible dictionary or other resource.
- Pray through those passages and commit yourself to honor marriage, yours and others.
My Next Step This Week:
I will take my relationships to the next level by:
_____ Honoring the marriage of others.
_____ Putting my spouse #1.
_____ I will reach out for help.