Spiritual disciplines in Marriage
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Image Church
Image Church
Marriage is one of the most powerful tools we have as Christians to share our God with the world!
Story of Heather and I. I was clueless and Heather actually broke up with me before we were even dating. She was trying to find her significance in her relationship with God apart from guys.
We built this friendship and I still really liked her but I had never asked a girl out before and right before she was going back to Colorado for Christmas I wrote her a letter and it had two Jackalopes on the front hoping next to each other side by side.
Later she would tell me that is when she knew I was irresistible.
The rest is history: 7 kids later and we are still alive. But this has become our desire is to mature as a couple walking side by side. But the reality is that this passion and desire to grow spiritually as a couple is so hard, there is kids, work and a million other things.
I don’t think Christians don’t want to grow, but the reality before we know it we are barely surviving in our marriage.
I share that story but the reality is a Christian marriage is supposed to be a man and a women pursuing Christ first and then each other. But the reality is that is not the norm. I am not talking about it is not the norm even for Christians.
God’s desire for every Christian is that we mature in Jesus.
My question for you today is are you as a couple maturing in Jesus?
BREAK THIS QUESTION DOWN
Today I want to give you some tools so that you can mature spiritually as a couple.
But before we do that I want to remind you of God’s plan for marriage.
Vision for Marriage: Oneness
Vision for Marriage: Oneness
Could you picture if you were walking with God and walking with your partner for a lifetime.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
There are all kinds of things that can take us away from oneness.
A marriage that walks in oneness is a beautiful thing.
But there are things that can destroy oneness:
Poor Communication-You guys talked about that in this series. Not talking or not listening or taking things to personal.
When we don’t play our roles
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
The reason Jesus died for us is because we cannot love like he loves.
But this is our standard.
When you trust in Jesus we get the Holy Spirit and now we are to each day strive to love our wives like Jesus loved us. By laying our life down for our wives.
Is this the mark you are seeking after.
Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Wives we have fragile ego’s. We do. How do wives love their husbands. With respect.
Wives I just want to say right now a woman who respects her husband can change the whole complexity of their home.
We could talk about a lot of things that can destroy oneness but the bottom line is God desire us to be one with our spouse.
“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
The Path to Oneness: Disciplines
The Path to Oneness: Disciplines
The spiritual disciplines are the means to the end.
As a basketball player I did not put in all the hours of work to sit the bench. I put the time in so that I could win the games. But you have to have the means in order to get to end.
There are two sides of this coin for disciplines
Individually
Getting on a flight they tell you to save yourself first.
How can you lead your spouse or you kids if you cannot lead yourself.
You have to take personal responsibility. Do you have a plan in your relationship with God or do you just flip the Bible open and pray.
Do you have time set aside for God.
Have you read through the Bible before. How can you grow spiritually with your spouse if you are not doing it.
Right now I want to encourage you to get a plan together.
Right now here is what I am doing:
If someone asked what are you doing what would you say.
Together
Pray together
Pray for your spouse
Do a devotional together.
Tommy Nelson Illustration about running the same race.
Application:
I hope Heather and I
Marriage is great!
A great marriage takes great work.
Marriage is one of the most powerful tools we have as Christians to share our God with the world!
My hope today is that you will get a plan that works for you and put it into action.