No Perfect Families - No perfect Marriages

No Perfect Families

The world's battlefields have been in the heart chiefly; more heroism has been displayed in the household and the closet, than on the most memorable battlefields in history.

- Henry Ward Beecher

No Perfect Families

We are not perfect but we know a God who is

At the core of family is the marriage - Adam and Eve

A covenant relationship - under attack

1st marriages 42-45% end in divorce, 2nd 60%

2 fronts - wanting what the world has - spiritual attack

On the other side - couples who practice their faith 35% less likely to divorce

The key - where do you find your significance/ fulfillment?

Security in God

Hebrews 13:5 CSB

Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.

Satisfied!!!!

No perfect marriages - build a secure one

1 Corinthians 13

Building a Secure Marriage

1.Practice emotional security

1 Corinthians 13:7 CSB

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Building a Secure Marriage

Be committed

In sharp contrast with our culture, the Bible teaches that the essence of marriage is a sacrificial commitment to the good of the other. - Tim Keller

Building a Secure Marriage

2. Practice relational security

1 Corinthians 13:5 CSB

is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.

Building a Secure Marriage

Handle conflict

You are going to bump heads and disagree

Opposite attracts - Identical - repels

Ask for forgiveness - give forgiveness

Don’t keep score

Building a Secure Marriage

3. Practice romantic security

1 Corinthians 13:4 CSB

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,

Building a Secure Marriage

Stay close

Look different in different seasons

5 stages - Romance - every day is the honeymoon

Disillusionment - he is not going to change / she changed

Power Struggle - who wins?

Stability stage - realize neither is perfect

Commitment - notebook stage - we are going to finish this

Building a Secure Marriage

4. Practice spiritual security

Ephesians 5:25–26 CSB

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

God must be center

You drive each other to deeper faith

Matthew 6:33 CSB

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Building a Secure Marriage

Follow Christ

Love Jesus more than your spouse and you will love your spouse the way they deserve.

No Perfect Marriages

We are all broken and we bring that into our families

Men, you'll never be a good groom to your wife unless you're first a good bride to Jesus.

- Tim Keller

No Perfect Families

God can redeem it all

If you are not married yet - become the person worthy of the relationship

If you are married - never to late to make God center

Either way it is always to early to quit

Let today be the day we make God central and love the way others deserve.

Let’s pray