Today’s Scripture
Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-33

Marriage was created by God to bring two people an amazing life together while displaying a real life example of Jesus and His church.

“Marriage used to be a public institution for the common good, and now it is a private arrangement for the satisfaction of the individuals. Marriage used to be about “us”, but now it’s about “me.” Tim Keller

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

1.

Genesis 2:21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

Woman is the missing part of Man

Genesis 2:22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Ephesians 5:31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

God created Marriage for Companionship and a Symbol of the Gospel

2.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

3.

Proverbs 5:18 So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married. (GNT)

What you have in common is not what makes the romance last, it is serving the needs of the one you have committed your life to as doing it unto Christ.

2. Discuss in a Life Group

DISCUSS:

• DIscuss why there are struggles in marriage.
  

• Why do you think that we miss or forget God’s purpose for marriage?
  

• Why is “compatibility” not the key to marriage? What is?
  

• Discuss how marriage is a picture of the gospel.

3. Pray Together

Pray for each other and record any prayer requests here.