God has designed the family to be the channel to pass on His plan for redemption to the next generation (Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 78:3-8). NBFamilies are working to discover providential opportunities where - traditional parents, single parents, grand parents, step parents, foster parents - can experience God’s life changing presence in their homes.
Let this sink in:
- Our kid’s hearts are being shaped by observing our marriages.
- Our kid’s faith is being influenced by observing how we treat each other as husband and wife.
- Our kid’s faith, their ability to trust, their sense of safety and security, is either being bolstered or being destroyed every day, as they watch us.
- Since marriage is a metaphor for God’s love for His church, (Ephesians 5:25-32) what are our kids learning as they study how we relate to one another?
- Week #1: - Our Kids Study Us!
- Week #2 - Don’t Raise Your Voice With Me!
- Week #3 - Don’t Shut Me Out!
- Week #4 - Befriending My Spouse
- Week #5 - 10 Tips for a Successful Conversation
- Week #6 – “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones,” but a Lack of Intimacy Will Hurt Me Too!
- Week #7 – I’m Sorry. I’m not listening!
- Week #8 - "I can't get him to open up." "She won't hush!"
- Week #9 - "Something is Wrong in My Marriage." "She won't hush!"
NEW CONTENT
The bible expresses the highest value of marriage in both the Old and New Testaments:ratify
| Bible Passage: | Speaker/Readers: | Summary: |
| Genesis 2:21-25 | Moses documents the establishment of the Marriage Covenant as a holy metaphor/symbol of His matchless love (unconditional, sacrificial, patient, holy, kind, etc.). |
God’s perfect design peaked with His masterpiece: humanity (In His Image – Imago De)! Humanity was created “in His Image,” to represent God on the earth and to manage well all things, including marriage (Genesis 1:26–28). God’s desire is to bless humanity and to enjoy a relationship with them. A significant piece of God’s design and blessing included marriage from the very beginning of time. |
| Matthew 19:1-12 | Matthew records how Jesus quoted Moses in His defense of marriage (Matthew 19:4-5 = Genesis 2:24). |
God Himself instituted the Covenant Marriage relationship between husband and wife. Married couples are joined together by God’s design, and covenant. Jesus affirmed, endorses, and defends the essential nature of God’s design and highest value for marriage. |
| Mark 10:5-9 | Mark also reports how Jesus quoted Moses in His protection of marriage (Mark 10:7-8= Genesis 2:24).</ |
Jesus noted that Moses permitted divorce because of stubborn hearts that refuse to be reconciled. God’s plan for marriage at creation was, however, one man and one woman sharing their lives together for life. |
| Ephesians 5:25-33 | Paul sends a letter to all the young churches, including the Ephesians, that describes how God’s design for marriage is a symbol for Christ’s love for the church. |
Wise Gospel-driven spouses willfully and mutually submit one to another in marriage. By God’s design, the Gospel is lived out in the marriage relationship. Mutual submissiveness in marriage is best demonstrated by Christ-like love and care, and how we relate to one another is a service and worship to the Lord. Both spouses experience personal worth, value, security, and significance when these reciprocal relationships are exercised under the lordship of Christ. |
Jesus doesn't promise you will always have perfect marriage, but He promises you can have an eternal anchor for your soul: THE GOSPEL (John 16:33). Our kids need to see what it looks like to follow Christ more than they need to hear what we say it is like to follow Christ. Parents are the models of following Christ. This is no easy task. Yet there is no better way to teach them than to show them. Our kids need to see us struggle, mess up, yet reply with gospel centered reaction.
Our responses to one another, must be graceful and gospel centered:
- Mistakes are made,
- Grace is offered,
- Forgiveness is experienced,
- Repentance causes change and
- Mercy is enjoyed!
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| Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor twitter.com/philsallee facebook.com/phil.sallee philsallee.info nbchurch.info nbfamilies.info |
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