Your Home. Your Castle.
"Fortifying Your Marriage"

Pastor Scott Oas  |  04.03.16

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. - Ephesians 5:31-32

The SECRET of Marriage

The Golden Rule of Marriage:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you…” - Matthew 7:12

The 5 Problems of Marriage: Marital Intelligence - Gil Stieglitz

1.  Ignoring Needs
2.  Immature Behaviors
3.  Clashing Temperaments
4.  Competing Relationships
5.  Past Baggage

The ESSENCE of Marriage

     Place me like a seal over your heart,
          like a seal on your arm.
     For love is as strong as death,
          its jealousy as enduring as the grave.
     Love flashes like fire,
          the brightest kind of flame.
     Many waters cannot quench love,
          nor can rivers drown it.
                 - Song of Solomon 8:6-7

The Needs of Wives—The Needs of Husbands

The MISSION of Marriage

"Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage." - Ephesians 5:25-27 (MSG)

Marriage Resources:
* The meaning of Marriage - Tim Keller
* Marital Intelligence - Gil Stieglitz
* Sacred Marriage - Gary Thomas
* When Bad Things Happen to Good Marriages - Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott

GOING DEEPER

SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 5:18-32

GETTING STARTED:

What is the “Golden Rule” and what does it have to do with marriage?
Who is the longest married couple you know? What would you say is their secret?

A CLOSER LOOK:

1) What does the fact that Jesus submitted to God the Father say about the person who is doing the submitting? (i.e. Jesus is equal with God and yet he submitted to the Father)

2) Husbands are called to love their wives like Christ loved the church. How did Christ love the church? What does this tell us about the role of the husband toward his wife?

3) In your own words, how would you express the goal of Christian marriage? (see v. 31)

4) How is “balance” achieved in the marriage relationship from this passage?

DIGGING DEEPER:

How does our submission make us like Jesus and how does it demonstrate our relationship with Jesus?
What is one area of your life that would benefit from a more submissive attitude and how will you work on this?