How to Have a Great Marriage
TITLE: How to Have a Great Marriage
SUBJECT: Family and Faithfulness
PROPOSITION: In this lesson, we will discuss six ways to have a great marriage: 1) Put God First, 2) Love One Another, 3) Communicate, 4) Be Intimate, 5) Have Children, 6) Be Faithful.
OBJECTIVE: Each hearer should learn what the Bible teaches about having a great marriage and be motivated to live according to God’s word.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Matthew 19:4-6
2. About the Text:
1) When Jesus addressed the Pharisees questions about marriage he went back to the beginning.
2) God had a plan and pattern for marriage, and He wants us to follow it today.
3) There are many today who are claiming that their plan is just as good as God’s.
4) If it is, then why do nearly half of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce?
5) People who get married generally plan to stay married. Why the failures?
6) We need to listen to God’s word when it comes to marriage.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION:
I. Put God First
1. Marriage is God’s business!
1) He established it in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2
2) Jesus Christ confirmed it in Matthew 19:4-6.
2. A great marriage will have God at its center providing . . .
1) A single standard of right and wrong.
2) A consistent model of leadership in the family.
3) A way to solve disputes.
3. Pray for your marriage!
4. Those whose marriage put God first are a long way ahead of those who do not.
II. Love One Another
1. Love is the standard for all relationships.
1) The golden rule applies in marriage (Matthew 7:12).
2) Love your neighbor as yourself and my spouse is my neighbor (Matthew 22:39).
2. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13).
3. Husbands love your wives (Ephesians 5:25).
4. Wives love your husbands (Titus 2:4).
III. Communicate
1. You are in this together now!
1) It is reasonable for spouses to want to know what is happening in the others life.
2) Don’t assume that the other knows.
2. Communicate expectations clearly.
3. Be a good listener! Do more listening than talking (James 1:19).
4. Don’t just talk about problems.
IV. Be Intimate
1. Marriage is designed by God to be a close intimate relationship.
2. When couples are not intimate, God’s plan is not being fulfilled.
3. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.
V. Have Children
1. God’s design for marriage is for there to be children.
2. Genesis 1:28 – “Be fruitful and multiply.”
3. Malachi 2:15 – “He seeks godly offspring.”
VI. Be Faithful
1. To God – Revelation 2:10
2. To one another – Matthew 19:6.
CONCLUSION:
1. How to Have a Great Marriage
1) Put God First
2) Love One Another
3) Communicate
4) Be Intimate
5) Have Children
6) Be Faithful
2. Invitation