What has Made the Most Positive Difference in Your Marriage?

Genesis 1 GOD CREATION Days 1-6 of Creation Elohim = God Creator, sustainer, mighty judge God speaks the universe into existence Creates from nothing God fills the Earth with plants and animals Genesis 2:4-25 GOD MAN Day 6 of Creation only Yahweh/Yhwh = LORD (Jehovah) Present, accessible, knowable God forms man from the ground Breathes life, places man in garden God forms every beast and bird God names Day/Night, Heaven/Earth/Sea God allows man to name the animals It is good It is not good for the man to be alone

Matthew 19:11 (NIV) Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. singleness as a gift

Matthew 19:11 (NIV) Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. singleness as a gift 1 Corinthians 7:6 9 (NIV) I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Act 1: Boy Meets Girl

Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.

alone first thing in Creation that is Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. not good

helper divine assistance, military aid Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.

helper divine assistance, military aid Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. fit for him uniquely matched and indispensable companion

problem alone : first thing in Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. Creation that is not good

solution helper : divine assistance, Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. military aid

solution helper : divine assistance, Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. military aid fit for him : uniquely matched and indispensable companion

Genesis 2:18-20 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

every beast and bird still no helper fit for the man Genesis 2:18-20 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

woman made from the man and introduced by the Creator Genesis 2:21-23 (ESV) So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:21-23 (ESV) So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Genesis 2:21-23 (ESV) Adam s response first words of man: gratitude and amazement So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Act 2: Wedding & Marriage

Genesis 2:24 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

leave abandon/forsake : place below other Genesis 2:24 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. relationship(s)

hold fast stick with/to : place above every Genesis 2:24 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. other relationship

one flesh joined together : two become Genesis 2:24 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. inseparably formed to create a new family unit

Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

naked, not ashamed completely open without fear of exploitation or evil Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV) Foundation of Marriage Jesus answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Act 3: What About Us?

Because God designed marriage, we can have hope and a vision for oneness.

We can have hope and a vision for oneness in marriage because of God s perfect design.

PRACTICAL STUFF - Start / Restart using God s design - Invest in your marriage - Leverage resources

Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV) Vision for Marriage Jesus answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

The most important thing you can do is to build your marriage on God and His will for your lives. As my wife used to say, a strong marriage actually needs to include three people: the husband, the wife and God. - BILLY GRAHAM

- Personal Spiritual Growth - Marriage Book / Study - RightNow Media - Video Streaming MARRIAGE RESOURCES

God Growing Together Man Woman

- Personal Spiritual Growth - Marriage Book / Study - RightNow Media - Video Streaming MARRIAGE RESOURCES - Community Group - Re Engage Marriage Study - Merge Premarital Experience

- Personal Spiritual Growth - Marriage Book / Study - RightNow Media - Video Streaming MARRIAGE RESOURCES - Community Group - Re Engage Marriage Study - Merge Premarital Experience - Christian Marriage Counseling - Celebrate Recovery - Freedom 5:1 Financial Ministry