The Sanctity of Marriage

Narrative, Pronouncement 9:33–10:45

2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Controversy 1–12

10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Allusion, Old Testament 4

Saying, Legal 5–12

Allusion, Old Testament 6

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989).

Quotation, Old Testament 7–8

Divorce — Legally dissolving a marriage.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:36 AM March 22, 2018.

Marriage — The state of being united to another person as husband or wife.

Focus of the Session: In this session I would like to communicate

Divorce Is Most Common During the Early Years

An estimated 80% of couples are headed in the direction of divorce within their first four to five years of marriage. This startling, however common, trajectory is often because of decreased passion and excitement in the relationship.

As more financial, professional, and familial demands jockey for attention, maintaining that “spark” you experienced while dating can diminish in record time. Avoid this pattern during those first critical years of marriage by prioritizing emotional connection and physical chemistry on a regular basis. https://www.wevorce.com/blog/6-surprising-divorce-statistics-divorce-2017/

Objectives: As a result of their participation in this session I would like to help the congregation to be able to

Identify the possibility of when the divorce rate doubled in America?

Explore the cause of high Divorce rates doubled

Explain why remarriage after divorce is classed as adultery

Describe from the bible where remarriage may be permissible

Invite

5 Minutes: The teacher will show the audience a violin without the strings. Then asked them can music be played as a violin without the strings. Everyone will get a partner and discuss their findings. Then we will look at the detached strings and ask if music can be played with the strings without the attachment to the violin?

The resources: A violin with no strings, Strings unattached to the violin, Tools to put the violin back together, the science of how long the process of repair of the violin to get it restored to normal.

15 Minutes: INFORM

Adultery, Creation, Education, Family: Husbands, Family: Parents, Family: Wives, Homosexuality, Law, Scripture, Sex

Activity each person take 2 minutes and write what each person is saying. Get into groups of 4-5 people and discuss these 3 questions.

Resources: Pen, paper,

Between 1960 and 1980, when the number of women in the work force doubled, the divorce rate did, too.11 Divorce has opened a Pandora’s Box as many women have experienced a significant drop in family income and an abrupt change of lifestyle, not to mention a backlash from the rise of crime linked to broken homes. The view of Scripture is clear (see ; ). Dorothy Patterson, “The Impact of Feminism on Church & State,” Conservative Theological Journal Volume 3 3, no. 9 (1999): 211.

What are the alternative to women in the work force?

Is there a better solution to women in the work force?

What are the pros and cons of Divorce?

We will now get 3 people to come and share 1 answer from themselves or someone from the group.

Dorothy Patterson, “The Impact of Feminism on Church & State,” Conservative Theological Journal Volume 3 3, no. 9 (1999): 211.

15 Minutes: Investigate

Resources: Pen, paper, Bibles using tablets or cell phones to get multiply versions.

Get back in groups of 3’s and each of you find this scripture in a different version you have 2 minutes each.

Purpose of marriage

Now read in 3 different versions of the bible

Synopsis

Marriage is part of God’s intention for humanity from creation and forms the basis for the family which is the primary unit of society. Where marriage flourishes it blesses both the couple and the wider community.

Marriage is part of God’s plan for the human race

From creation

(KJV 1900) — 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

See also ; Man and woman are not independent of each other.

(KJV 1900) — 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

(KJV 1900) — 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

It is to provide companionship

(KJV 1900) — 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

See also ; ;

(KJV 1900) — 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

It is to be a committed, exclusive relationship

(KJV 1900) — 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, So that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil All the days of her life.

It is to be a committed, exclusive relationship

(KJV 1900) — 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

See also ; ;

15 minutes: Illustrate

(KJV 1900) — 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

(KJV 1900) — 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

It is a lifelong partnership

(KJV 1900) — 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

See also ;

(KJV 1900) — 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

(KJV 1900) — 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

It is the intended context for raising children

(KJV 1900) — 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

See also

(KJV 1900) — 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

It will not exist in the life to come

;

(KJV 1900) — 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

(KJV 1900) — 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Marriage as a covenant relationship

Resource Bible, paper, string, Pen and an Open mind.

(KJV 1900) — 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, Against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

See also ;

(KJV 1900) — 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God.

(KJV 1900) — 8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.

Sex and marriage

Sex belongs within marriage

(KJV 1900) — 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

See also

(KJV 1900) — 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Men who violated virgins were expected to marry them:

;

(KJV 1900) — 16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

(KJV 1900) — 28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

A woman was expected to be a virgin when she married.

(KJV 1900) — 13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, 14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: 15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: 16 And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; 17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; 19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days. 20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

The sexual relationship is exclusive

(KJV 1900) — 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth among the lilies.

See also Marital unfaithfulness is condemned; ; ;

In light of the teaching you have heard I want you to write a covenant of commitment to stay in relationship by virtue of covenant. Write a letter to yourself about the old way of being that does not allow the music to play out in your life.

(KJV 1900) — 22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

(KJV 1900) — 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, And rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, And not strangers’ with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: And rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.

(KJV 1900) — 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

(KJV 1900) — 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Love and submission in marriage

Falling in love prior to marriage

(KJV 1900) — 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

See also ;

(KJV 1900) — 3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

(KJV 1900) — 20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

Husbands are to love their wives

(KJV 1900) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

See also ; ; ; ; ; ;

(KJV 1900) — 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

(KJV 1900) — 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

(KJV 1900) — 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

(KJV 1900) — 1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

1. What are the strings in your life that you are refusing to put together on the violin?

(KJV 1900) — 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

(KJV 1900) — 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

(KJV 1900) — 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Wives are to submit to their husbands

;

(KJV 1900) — 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

(KJV 1900) — 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

See also ; ;

(KJV 1900) — 18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

(KJV 1900) — 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

2. Discuss the hurt or insecurity that might be holding you back?

(KJV 1900) — 1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Celibacy as a calling from God

(KJV 1900) — 7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

See also ; ; Whilst Paul commends the unmarried state, for those not so called it is no sin to marry;

(KJV 1900) — 2 Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

(KJV 1900) — 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

(KJV 1900) — 36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

(KJV 1900) — 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Marriage

Marriage is like a violin; it doesn’t work without the strings. And when the music stops, the strings are still attached.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Marriage

Even if marriages are made in heaven, humans have to be responsible for their maintenance

7-10 Minutes Inspire

Resource the string, their Journal or paper, Walking by faith to the alter.

Activity

Each congregant will take their string and bring it to the alter and leave the strategy in the hands of God as they go home to walk out their new strategy of commitment. They will now write a new declaration of wholeness for their lives.

They will write Today MY wholeness begins. They will write it 7 times and then come lay the strings on the altar of completeness.