Fall 2003 Sermon Series:
"Making Marriage Work"

The aim of this series is to examine marriage from a biblical perspective. From this vantage point, we see marriage idealistically and realistically. Ideally, marriage is to be a relationship where couples experience profound intimacy (Gen. 1 & 2). Realistically, marriage can be a place of frustration and hurt because it brings together two imperfect people (Gen. 3). So, what's the solution to this impasse? We can simply give up on God's ideal or we can recognize that effective marriages are possible-but take work. This series will help us develop those skills and practices necessary to produce the oneness that God desires for marriage.

Recommended reading: Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomsas with study guide

Sept. 7th, 2003: "Marriage from a Different Angle"
Eph. 5/Other Selected Passages

What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy? In this message, we will look at marriage from a different angle and see that marriage can be a tool that God uses to shape and fashion our spiritual growth. As Gary Thomas writes: "If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there's no question-stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can't imagine any better thing to do than get married. Being married forces you to face some character issues you'd never have to face otherwise." Consequently, God can actually use the difficulties in our marriage to bring about positive change.
[Note: Much of this material will come from Gary Thomas' book, Sacred Marriage. We will have copies of this book available for purchase throughout the series.]

Sept. 14th, 2003: "God's Blueprint for Marriage"
Gen. 1-2

What's God's design for marriage? In this message, we will start by asking "why?" and "what?" Why do people get married and what does it take to experience a healthy marriage? Following that introduction, we will discuss God's answers to these questions in Gen. 1 & 2. Particularly, we will focus on the blueprint God provides-the blueprint of leaving, cleaving, and becoming one.

Sept. 21st, 2003: "Why Do Things Go Wrong in Marriage?"
Gen. 3

To see a couple on their wedding day is to see to people beaming with excitement, love and commitment. Yet, tragically, for many, their enthusiasm for their marriage quickly wanes. Why is that? What goes wrong in this process? In this message we will look at the impact sin has on a marriage relationship. In some sense, this sermon "sets up" the rest of the series. Since marriage involves sinful people, it takes work to experience a healthy marriage. The rest of the series will focus on learning how to work and grow in marriage.

Sept. 28th, 2003: "A Christian View of Sex, Marriage and Living Together"
Selected Passages

Culturally, pre-marital sex and "living together" are practices that are widely-accepted. However, as we look at God's design for a healthy marriage, we need to understand why he restricts sex to the marriage relationship. We need to acknowledge that God is for sex, as long as it is experienced in the proper context. Unfortunately, Christians are often better at saying "no" than explaining "why." This message will try to encourage a healthy view of sex and a commitment to maintaining biblical boundaries.

Oct. 5th, 2003: MISSIONS SPEAKER

Oct. 12, 2003: "The Bedroom: Battleground or Playground?"
Selected Passages from Song of Solomon

While sex is a "taboo" subject in some circles, Song of Solomon is a book that celebrates marital intimacy in all of its aspects. In this message, we will look at the wisdom of Solomon and learn how sexual expression is to be an ongoing part of a healthy marriage.
[Note: Since these "sex" messages may not be appropriate for children, childcare is available through grade 6.]

Oct. 19th, 2003: MISSIONS SPEAKER (China Harvest)

Oct. 26th, 2003: "Communication: How to 'Share Hearts' Rather than 'Exchange Words'"
Eph. 4/Other Selected Passages

As we have learned, good marriages don't just happen-they take work. Communication is one skill we must develop for a marriage relationship to flourish. In this message, we will discuss biblical guidelines for communication and learn how to "speak the truth in love."

Nov. 2nd, 2003: "Conflict Resolution: How to 'Fight Fair'"
Song of Solomon 5-6/Other Selected Passages

Not surprisingly, the love poems in the Song of Solomon include examples of marital conflict. Inevitably, couples experience hurts and disagreements in marriage; furthermore, conflict provides an opportunity for growth. However, if we are to grow through conflict, we need to know how to "fight fair". In this message, we will learn how to diffuse conflict so that we grow through it rather than simply wound each other.

Nov. 9th, 2003: "Building Intimacy: How to Get Below the Surface"
Selected Passages

In this message, we will talk about ways to build intimacy in a marriage relationship. We will learn what intimacy looks like and see that intimacy with one's spouse is a reflection of the relationship that God desires with his people.

Nov. 16th, 2003: "Learning to Serve: Meeting Your Wife's Deepest Needs"
Eph. 5/I Peter 3

This is the first of two messages that talks about roles in marriage; we will look at the instructions to husbands in various passages and discuss the ways God desires for a husband to serve his spouse.

Nov. 23rd, 2003: "Learning to Serve: Meeting Your Husband's Deepest Needs"
Eph. 5

This message will focus on biblical guidelines for wives.

Nov. 30th, 2003: "Keeping Christ at the Center of Your Marriage"
Selected Passages

This message will discuss how couples can grow together spiritually and see their marriage as part of God's mission to the world.

Last Update: 25 Oct 2003
Copyright 2003 by Salem Evangelical Free Church of Fargo, North Dakota, USA