Us Against the World

Great marriages don’t just happen, they are . 

(Ephesians 5:31-32) “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Covenant is based on mutual commitment. 
Contract is based on mutual distrust. 

Covenant surrenders rights and assumes responsibility.     
Contract protects rights and shirks responsibility. 

Covenant has the interest of the other in mind. 
Contract has personal convenience in mind. 

God’s design for marriage: A commitment motivated by a love

Four Commitments to a Thriving Marriage 

1. Keep at the center.

(Matthew 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

✓ Prayer together 

✓ Discuss the Bible together 

✓ Attend church together 

2. Keep up the . 

(Proverbs 14:23) All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

(Revelation 2:4-5) You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

7 / 7 / 7 Strategy 

• Every 7 days — Date Night 
• Every 7 weeks — Night Away 
• Every 7 months — Vacation. 

3. Keep it . 

(Hebrews 13:4) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure …

(Ephesians 5:3) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality… 

4. Keep it . 

(Matthew 19:5-6) “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.