Marriage is not of human origin. It did not evolve over time. Marriage became part of the human equation from the very moment of man’s creation. When Paul speaks of marriage as a one flesh relationship he says this refers to Christ and the church. Marriage is not an after-thought in man’s social development. Rather, it is designed to picture the relationship Jesus Christ has with his church. What does this mean for you as a parent? Simply this, as you live together as husband and wife you are to represent Christ and his church. Is this what your children see? This does not mean you are perfect! Just like the church is far from perfect each day, married couples […]
Marriage
40 posts
In Scripture we are taught that: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 Thus, when God’s instruction is ignored, we can expect life not to go well. Sometimes, it takes a while for this truth to be fully grasped. One of the themes of the sexual revolution of the 1960’s is the belief that marriage is an outdated institution and certainly is not the only place for sexual activity. Fifty years later, we have arrived at the point where marriage and sex have no cultural relationship to each other. Sexual expression, in almost any form, has become the right of any person, adult or child. The choice […]
The gospel is about what God has accomplished for you. It is not about what you did for God. If you make the gospel about others serving you, you distort its message. If your children see that you are upset because you are not being served, you distort the gospel message. When you and I distort the power of the gospel we fail to show its power and we fail to show the beauty of Christ! Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Let’s get one thing clear. The Fifty Shades movie opening this Valentine’s Day weekend is an assault on young women and God’s institution of marriage. Pleasure is found in pain, in yielding to the lusts of perverted men who whose desire is to dominate women. This is somehow packaged as the ultimate sexual / romantic adventure. This marketing lie appears to be effective. All indications are that this 100 minute long movie will dominate the box-office, perhaps even setting records for a Valentine’s Day weekend. For years Hollywood’s message has been: Sex is about sensual experience, pain, and perversion. Biblical love is outdated and dull. Experience is ultimate. Pornography is the best venue for learning about sex. Make no mistake, […]
Shepherd Press is pleased to announce the When Sinners Say “I Do” video series. Pre-order now to receive $40 off the regular retail price of $59.95. We expect the DVDs to begin shipping in mid-December. Marriage is the union of two people who arrive at the altar toting some surprisingly large luggage. Often it gets opened right there on the honeymoon, sometimes it waits for the week after. The Bible calls it sin and understanding its influence can make all the difference for a man and a woman who are building a life together. In this eight-session video series, Dave engages his audience with humor and honesty as he speaks about sin and the power of the gospel to overcome […]
A wife is to be treated with great respect and honor, even if she is not as physically strong as her husband. A wife will receive the same gift of life as her husband. A wife is to be intimately understood by her husband. She is not subservient to him in any way. Husbands who fail to grasp these basic truths will have their prayers hindered by God. These are some of the things that we learn from I Peter 3:7. When husbands physically intimidate their wives, either by threat or by injury, they turn from God and bring disgust and dishonor upon themselves. When husbands verbally intimidate their wives they fail to treat them with the understanding and respect […]
Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Gifts were given. Some carefully planned and thoughtful, others, not so much. The flowers are in their vases, the chocolate has been enjoyed, the calendar has a new date. But the most important question still remains. How is your relationship? Did last night help to make it stronger? Do doubts still remain? Did the new morning bring new worries? The answers to these questions are found in the relationship that matters most – your relationship with God. Knowing and loving God gives significance to all other relationships. This morning after one thing is certain above all others, God has not changed. He is constant. This means the content of love does not change. […]
What Adam needed in the garden was not just a sexual partner but a companion, bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh.,, We think of a prospective spouse as primarily a lover (or a provider), and if he or she can be a friend on top of that, well isn’t that nice! We should be going at it the other way round. Screen first for friendship. Look for someone who understands you better than you do yourself, who makes you a better person just by being around them. And then explore whether that friendship could become a romance and a marriage. Tim Keller, Meaning of Marriage, 125-126. This is why it is so very important to teach your […]
We have looked at the parent/child relationship as well as the husband’s relationship to the family. Now let’s take a look at the role the wife is to play in the marriage. In Genesis 1:27-28 we read that God created man, a creature unique in all of creation; he created man as male and female. Humans are unique because we were created in the image of God. Both male and female were given the same mandate at creation, the same mission statement. God did something else distinctive with the creation of man: He delayed the creation of the woman, Eve, until after Adam was created and had been given specific tasks to accomplish without her. By doing things in this […]
Marriage has fallen on hard times. Many of you reading this have experienced divorce, either directly or from the impact of someone close to you. When divorce is a part of your family history, your daily conversations must reflect God’s healing power and your focus on serving Him now, rather than the problems of a troubled past. This poses a particular challenge for blended families and parents who must continue to interact with each other after a divorce. Shattered relationships may remain shattered. Hurt may grow over time, instead of fading. Because a one-flesh relationship has been ripped apart there are many rough edges and raw emotions. It seems for every situation where divorce does not cause lasting pain, […]