Marriage God’s Way, Part 1: Understanding the Concept
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Fidelity, Obedience, Marriage God's Way, Genesis, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians
Why are divorce rates so high? Could it be that our very concept of marriage is wrong? If we fail to comprehend and acknowledge that marriage is an institution created, ordained, and regulated by God, then we are doomed to failure. This lesson goes back to the origin of marriage to discover both the origin and purpose of it.
Marriage God’s Way, Part 2: Biblical Love is the Key
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Fidelity, Obedience, Marriage God's Way, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus
After coming to an understanding of the origin and purpose of marriage (Part 1 of the series), the next major hurdle to be overcome is the foundation of the institution. Everyone knows that love is the key, right? Wrong. While everyone may know love is the key, they do not necessarily understand what kind of love is involved. The truth is that, in general, our whole concept of love is flawed. Most folks have a love for their spouse that is "value-based." This means that they "love" this person because of some perceived "value" to themselves- "I love this person because they are valuable to me in some way." Biblical love, and therefore married love, is just the opposite. It does not require a value, but establishes one- "This person is valuable to me because I love them." What's the difference? If we marry someone because of a value-based love, what happens when what we value changes, or when their characteristics, whatever they may have been (such as looks, money, etc.), change? When the values change, then value-based love evaporates. But this is not true with biblical love!
Marriage God’s Way, Part 3: Duties of the Husband
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Fidelity, Marriage God's Way, Ephesians, 1 Timothy, 1 Peter
According to God's arrangement for marriage, the husband is given the position of headship. Instead of being some sort of privileged figure-head role, it is actually one of sacrificial love and responsibility. The husband's duty is to pattern his leadership of the family after Christ's headship of the church in that everything done in fulfillment of the role is for the ultimate good of those under him. When the husband functions properly within this pattern, God is pleased and the family is benefited.... and the marriage "works"!
Marriage God’s Way, Part 4: Duties of the Wife
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Fidelity, Trust, Marriage God's Way, Ephesians, Titus, 1 Peter
While the primary responsibility for the "success" of the marriage belongs to the husband- such comes with headship, this is not to say that the wife's role is less important. In fact, her duties are just as important to the relationship, they are just different. As the husband is to pattern himself after the headship that Christ manifested to and for the Church, the wife is to pattern herself after the church's subjection and responsibility to Christ.
Marriage God’s Way, Part 5: Love’s Support System
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Marriage God's Way, Genesis, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter
Is love, even biblical love, enough alone to make a marriage work? The short answer is "no." There are other factors that must be either possessed "going in" to the marriage, or very quickly developed (with regard to a few of them) for the marriage to in any way be considered successful by God's standards. Such things as Character, Maturity, Independence, Suitable Disposition, and Common Interests must all be contributors to love for the marriage to be pleasing to God and us. This lesson examines the relationship between all of these and love, as the foundation upon which successful marriages are built.
Marriage God’s Way, Part 6: Hindrances to Succesful Marriage
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Fidelity, Growth, Marriage God's Way, Proverbs, Matthew, Philippians, 1 Peter, 1 John
Biblical love, as the proper foundation of marriage, must be supported by character, maturity, independence, suitable dispositions, and common interests (lesson #5) to be successful- pleasing to God and us. But marriage also has its detractors- those things which hinder love, even biblical love, from being able to properly support it. This lesson identifies, describes, and seeks to provide remedies for some of the most common hindrances to successful marriage.
Real Love
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Fidelity, Marriage God's Way, Ephesians, 1 John
Man-made holidays are usually for the purpose of making "money" not "memories." If we think a box of chocolates, a card, and flowers given once a year are demonstrative evidence of "real love," then we are probably missing out on the genuine blessings and benefits of such. Certainly these "tokens" of our affections can help to express our heart's devotion, but cannot offset the "love-killers" of harshness, criticism, and selfishness.
Love and Lust, Part 1
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Marriage God's Way, 1 Corinthians
Love and Lust, Part 2
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Marriage God's Way, 1 Corinthians
This is continuation of the previous lesson taken from 1Corinthians 13 which compares the characteristics of Love and Lust to show the distinctions.
Love and Lust, Part 3
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Marriage God's Way, 1 Corinthians
This is the final lesson (3 of 3) examining the comparison of Love and Lust. It does so by comparing the characteristics of Love from 1Corithians 13 to Lust in our relationships to God, our brethren, our families, and the world.