Marriage: 6 Commitments-Lesson 1 "Paralles"

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Lesson

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; 7:1

2 Corinthians 5:11–21 CSB

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 CSB

1 So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

What did God say to you through these passages?

How do you apply them into your marriage?

Let’s stop and look at the word “Commitment.”

I shared this word from when I taught on the 7th Commandment.

Commitment-

To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another.

How has your commitment changed over the years of your marriage?

(Share)

In the next several weeks we will journey through 6 Gospel Commitments for our Marriages

A commitment towards Confession and Forgiveness

A commitment towards growth

A commitment towards trust

A commitment towards love

A commitment towards grace

A commitment towards protection for your marriage.

Let me close with this encouragement from Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 CSB

12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

We all want a strong marriage.

We all need to be a cord of 3 strands.

The strand passage from Ecclesiastes illustrates that the union of two Christians bound together in Christ is stronger than the individuals themselves.

Kerry and I believe that Christian marriage is about more than the union of one man and one woman.

The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one.

The Cord of Three Strands is a symbol of that sacred union created on your wedding day.

So, what is a strand you say...

A strand is a part that combines with other parts to form a whole.

In the example of a thread, the strand is made with each individual thread twisted around and entwined with each other.

The purpose of “threading” is to provide simultaneous execution of parallel parts.

Parallel: Having the Same Direction and/or Path

When lives or tasks run in parallel, the process of threading makes a strand that is stronger than each individual part.

What are the three strands of marriage?

A good marriage takes three; you, your spouse, and God.

God is love and teaches us to love.

1 John 4:16 CSB

16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

See, by keeping Him at the center of your marriage, woven into and intertwined through every aspect of it, His love will continue to bind you together as one.

Joshua 24:14–15 CSB

14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15 states “… choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 

See you can look back on the past and say, “Well that’s they way it’s always been done in my family.” or look around you to those who’s marriages seem fun, but lacking in Christ and follow those paths…or you can choose your marriage to be Christ Centered. Who’s path is your marriage “Parallel” to?

Bringing God into your marriage must be a deliberate choice.  

In a great marriage, God is intertwined in the relationship as the third and higher authority.

Think on This…Take it Home

How can you get better at yielding to your 3rd and higher authority?

Share ways you could wisely encourage this common yielding in your marriage.

Homework

Read Chapter 1 “What Did You Expect?”

The Chapter Questions on page 364. 1-5

1 Peter 1:1-25 Whole Chapter

Close in Prayer