Handout out for Sermon:  Marriage and Building Strong Healthy Relationships.                                                        December 11th, 2022, Manchester, TN. Sunday sermon 9:30 a.m.

INTRODUCTION:   In the beginning when God created the world and mankind we read where God speaks and tells us once He made Adam that He knew that it was not good that Adam should be alone.  From this we learn that God never intended for mankind to be alone and accomplish things all alone!  We are social beings and this was God intent. In this world, we have friends, we have marriage, we have families, often work involves engaging with others and finally God saved people and put them in His Church, a spiritual family unit for their own good! Today’s lesson will deal with principles that help one build healthy relationships with others.

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24

LESSON:                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. BIBLICAL MARRIAGE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT COMPANIONSHIP.  When God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam and God took one of his ribs, we can conclude that God is telling us something about humans.  We are equal.  We are equal yet we have different roles and responsibilities.  These roles or responsibilities do not make us any better, superior, or more important. God then brings woman unto Adam, and He joins them together is a perfect unit and there is to be no shame in their relationship. Adam and Eve were to be “good” for each other and a “reward” for each other, a blessing for one another.

Scripture: Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 18:22, Ephesians 4:9.

BIBLICAL MARRIAGE ALSO HAS ITS PHYSICAL ASPECT. This deals with the physical and sexual aspect of humanity and marriage. God made mankind with desires, feelings of pleasure and with the ability to procreate. God instructed Adam and Eve to fill the Earth.  In God’s creation He gave the ability to “create” to that which He created and in doing so the Earth would continue to exist.  This physical world and aspect carry with it the necessity that we must work to provide for our physical needs!

Scripture: Genesis 3:17, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Timothy 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

God wants the union in marriage to be sacred and God’s divine plan within this sexually united relationship will create stable adults and stable families.

Scripture: Romans 7:2-3, Mark 10:9, Romans 7:2, Ephesians 5:3, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 7:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Galatians 5:19, Colossians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 6:13, Mark 10:9, Ecclesiastes 4:9, Matthew 19:4-6, Romans 13:8, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 31:10-12, Song of Solomon 4:9.

BUILDING STRONGER COMPANIONSHIP ASPECT IN THE MARRIAGE. Our attitude, interaction, and treatment of one another is clearly addressed in the Word of God. God instructs us how we are to interact and behave in our relationships. To have good, strong, and pleasant relationships we must have more than two people, we MUST HAVE GOD in the mix.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:12, Psalm 119: James 4:8, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 4:8.

BUILDING A PROPER FOUNDATION FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP. The reason so many relationships do not last is because they are not built upon a firm, enduring foundation. These foundational stones are valuable for all types of relationships. In our lesson we will consider eight very important foundational stones and the “cement” that holds all these stones together which create a solid, strong, and enduring foundation for our relationships!

EQUALITY, Genesis 2:21-25
TEAMWORK, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
HONOR, Romans 12:9-16 & 32
RECONCILIATION Ephesians 3:15-18, Colossians 3:13
COMMUNICATION, Ephesian 4:26-32
CONTENTMENT, 1 Timothy 6:10, Hebrews 13:4-5
FORGIVENESS, Matthew 18:21-22
PERMANENCY, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6
LOVE, Colossians 3:12-17 (The glue that holds and keeps the stones in place.)

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? If not, please consider becoming one today!

You must be born again of water and the spirit, John 3:3-5
Jesus commanded us to be baptized in the name of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19-20.
We learn people are baptized for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16
We learn people must have faith in Christ before they are baptized, Acts 8:36-38.
We are buried with Christ in baptism, Romans 6:4-6.
When you are baptized into Christ you are to put on Christ, Galatians 3:27-28.
In Christ we have access to the grace of Jesus Christ, Acts 15:11, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-12