(Topical) Marriage Retreat - The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Your Marriage
Marriage • Sermon • Submitted
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· 22 viewsIs there a secret to a happy marriage? It depends on what we mean by secrets. The believer’s union with Christ is plainly revealed in Scripture and is key to a happy marriage. It is not secret in that it is hidden, but that it is a missing ingredient in unhealthy marriages. The better we apply this basic truth in our marriages the better our marriages will be.
Notes
Transcript
WHITEBOARD: What are the Secrets to a happy marriage?
John 8:30
30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
What are the Secrets to a happy marriage?
Are there truly secrets to a happy marriage?
Many people who are looking for a better marriage …
look at all kinds of books looking for that magic bullet that solves the marriage issues.
ILLUSTRATION:
Gary Smalley titles his book
“Hidden keys of a Loving, Lasting Marriage”.
To draw attention to those kinds of people.
The problem is that we assume it must be something I don’t know … that is why I have marriage problems.
I realize I need help … so there must be something I am missing.
The reality - is that (for many people)
what I am missing is right underneath my nose.
I am sure there are some tidbits of wisdom we can look for ...
but more often then not … the struggles in our marriages is that we have yet to fully applied what we already know.
It is often … the most common
WHITEBOARD: What are some basic truths that are essential to a happy marriage?
(or use what has already been put on the whiteboard)
I would like to focus on one in particular … that has more impact on our marriages then just about anything else.
Our union with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Why is this such an important topic in our faith?
Because it is the recipe to living the new life found in Christ.
Dave Harvey wrote a book called.
“When Two sinners say I do”
Why do you think he wrote that?
We often get this idea that marriage is perfect,
and if we truly love each other … we will have no problems.
And yet sometimes … we don’t even make it through the wedding night before two newly weds are mad at each other.
Instead of marriage being perfect,
1) Sinning against one another is inevitable.
1) Sinning against one another is inevitable.
Marital relationships require us to
live closer,
Our marr
more intimate,
more dependent,
and in greater cooperation
then any other relationship out there.
(Repeat and restate)
So it is not surprising … that the greatest source of tension at times can be our marriages.
I can look good for 8 hours a day for my boss.
But I can’t fake it the other 16 hours with my wife.
My sin nature … will inevitably rear it’s ugly head .... and hurt the one I love the most.
At some point your
selfishness
wickedness
anger
bitterness
frustration
is going to show up.
ILLUSTRATION:
One author gives an illustration about men and women having an air house.
And at some point … you are going to step on each others air house
and be infuriated at each other.
Example:
The husband for a month neglects to fix the garage door.
Some how a dog got in there and ripped open the pantry.
And you are furious at him.
And the best equivalent
He stepped all over here air house.
What is the key to being able to love your spouse when they step all over your air house?
What is the key to loving your wife when you are crazy busy at work?
What is the key to loving your wife when you are crazy busy at work?
A healthy marriage looks to our union with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the power to have a healthy marriage.
What do I mean by that?
Now Scripture talks
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Romans
2) We can overcome sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. ()
2) We can overcome sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. ()
WHITEBOARD Picture: Cross, grave, light.
The power of sin died with Christ.
I received the new birth with Christ.
Therefore,
I am dead to the old life, and alive to the new life.
I am freed from the old life, I am now a slave to the new life.
Now consider - Why do we need to remember this truth in our marriages?
Paul’s solution to our struggle with sin,
was for us to remember our new nature in Christ.
Of all the answers Paul could have given … he points us back to our union with Christ.
Christ is the answer to living the joy, peace, and victory.
3) The key to a better marriage is continually looking to our union with Christ.
3) The key to a better marriage is continually looking to our union with Christ.
Part of the answer to a better marriage,
or maintaining a healthy marriage
is for us to remember our old nature was crucified,
and we now live in power of the resurrection.
As we finish up here … I wanted us to leave remembering a basic, but key truth that essential for a healthy marriage.
A healthy marriage has a husband and wife who are commited to
living dead to sin
and living the new life found in Christ.
is perhaps one of the most memorable passages in the Bible.
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
This truth will set our marriages free from this world,
and secure in the power of Christ.