How does God define Family?

How does God define Family? Start with Genesis 2:18-25

These Messages will include: • Original design • What is marriage • Dating • Romancing • Courting • Covenant vs. ContractWhat is a Family • Husband and Wife • Parenting • Divorce and Remarriage • Love, sex and marriage

I. Original design: Husband & Wife (and children) • Genesis 2:18-25 • Matthew 19:4-6 • Ephesians 5:28-31

Marriage is • Leaving‑‑No longer has authority over, Forsake, leave, loose • Cleaving—To cling, to cleave, to keep close • One flesh—One body, one in the same • Openness

Marriage & Family is God's Idea • Commitment is essential • Romance is important in marriage • Marriage is best for raising children (godly offspring)

God is for Marriage • Marriage is to be permanent • Unfaithfulness breaks the bonds of trust • Death is the only breaker of marriage as God designed • Marriage is based on practice of love and not feelings Ephesians 5:21‑33

Marriage is a symbol of Christ and the church • For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Ephesians 5:23 ESV • This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32 ESV

III. Preparation for marriage: • Must be made starting back as infants • Children learn from parents greatly • Preparation for marriage

How do you keep the love alive • Commitment • Being the mate God wants you to be • Determine that you will not break that vow

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 ESV

Know definition of true love For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16. (KJV)

Know the results of Godly love • Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. … • 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 NIV

Concentrate on Responsibility-NOT RIGHTS • I am responsible to Spouse • I am responsible to • treat her with love • him with respect

Dating: Always potential mate • Proper maturity • Established a standard and determined not to break them • Spiritually—Christian and determined to do God's will • Know that God owns your body

When is a person old enough to date? • Know what God says about marriage • Willing to follow God's truth • Willing to loose dates in order to not break that standard

Learn how to stay pure • Find out where the other is spiritually • Must not be based on the physical • If physical becomes the foundation, all else will struggle

God's standard of human make up‑‑in that order • Spiritual • Soul • Body • satan always reverses God's order

Family is God’s Idea • God created man and woman • When God made marriage, it is best • What makes up a family • When do you start a family?

What picture of Christ and the Church are you portraying?

How does God define Family?