Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Marriage

Introduction:

Marriage is a sacred journey that holds special significance in Christian beliefs. It’s seen as a divine covenant mirroring the relationship between Christ and His church. The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom on how to build a strong and lasting marriage.

Something To Talk About:

Building a strong Christian marriage is a lifelong journey guided by biblical principles of love, respect, forgiveness, communication, and faithfulness. It requires dedication, selflessness, and a reliance on God’s grace and wisdom. As couples strive to apply these principles in their marriages, they can experience the joy and fulfillment of a union founded on God’s divine design. A strong Christian marriage is not immune to challenges, but with faith and commitment, it can withstand the trials of life and shine as a beacon of God’s love and grace. Consider the following two points:

  1. God uses community to provide accountability, belonging, and care: In every wedding, the person who is officiating looks at the audience and says, If there is anyone present who knows of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.” This was almost always followed by several seconds of awkward silence. But rather than say nothing, people should pledge their support to help keep the new marriage strong. Family, friends, and the church have an active role in the marriage, and their involvement doesn’t end when the wedding cake is cut. Living in  community is essential to keeping a marriage strong, mainly when the marriage is being tested. The God of the universe created us to be in a relationship — with Him and others — so we were never meant to tackle the challenges of life and marriage alone. This is why we must be intentional about regularly connecting with the church community. Spouses who share a healthy, vibrant relationship rely on their support system, but they also recognize that they have a responsibility to help other couples thrive. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Give honor to marriage…” We all have a responsibility to help build a community of support and encouragement for marriage in our church.
  2. God uses marriage to disciple you: Marriage is a crucible for discipleship. Through this most intimate of human relationships, God does more than give us a companion; He does more than provide the means of procreation; He does more than join us with another; He makes us more like Jesus. One area, for example, is forgiveness. Because we learn in marriage what it truly means to say, “I’m sorry.” And the only way we can genuinely release that need to justify ourselves, have the last word and constantly be right is if we have deeply taken in and internalized what it means to be like Jesus. Marriage provides the opportunity to extend grace like few other arenas do. In other relationships, we can voice forgiveness but still withhold it in our hearts. Still, in marriage, it will eventually bubble to the surface if we have only forgiven at a surface level. Once again, it’s through our experience with Jesus that true forgiveness, without conditions or a probationary period, is possible.  A husband and wife who stand with God, standing on the truth of His Word, become a powerful tool in His hands. Marriage is a gift — not just to the couple, but to the world. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the best and longest marriage that you’ve seen close up? Why are they still together? What have you learned from watching how they have related to each other?
  2. Pursuing a Biblical understanding of marriage isn’t just for married couples. It should be a pursuit for every Christian. How can that pursuit enrich all Christians (not just those who are married) in their relationship with God?
  3. In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul calls marriage a “great mystery.” That means that what is hidden within marriage is a profound truth God reveals through His Spirit. In what ways do you see this being lived out?
  4. Like all things, marriage isn’t ultimately about us. It is about God. Agree or disagree, and why?
  5. The Bible portrays marriage as mutual fulfillment through mutual sacrifice. How can God’s paradigm of mutual fulfillment through mutual sacrifice be seen as a pattern for all of life?
  6.  Family and friends have an active role in marriages. What can you do to build a community that encourages healthy relationships between husbands and wives?
  7.  Are there situations in which forgiveness is difficult or even impossible? What can help a Christian forgive his/her spouse? 
  8. How can we avoid taking our loved ones for granted?
  9. What is the biggest takeaway from this week’s message?

Take one thing home with you:

There is no perfect marriage. Marriage is two flawed people with all sorts of interesting and troublesome personalities and backgrounds trying to live together. Then, you throw children into the mix. The truth is that marriage is hard; most married couples go through seasons where it feels like the whole thing is coming off the rails. Marriage never turns out exactly as we planned. Life has a way of throwing out obstacles that can unsettle even the strongest couple.

A good marriage is not a contract between a man and a woman, but rather, a sacred covenant between three; the man, the woman and God. A biblical covenant is built on God’s sovereignty. That’s why a marriage begins to move away from God’s blessing when one or both parties turn away from acknowledging that God is in charge. The Lord knew what He was doing when He gave each of us the mate we have, and a marriage is not just about the person we vowed to love, honor, and cherish. It is also about the vow we made before God on our wedding day.