WHAT PULLS US TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE

The Knot #1

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, February 6, 2022

God’s story of creation begins with a marriage.

(Matthew 19:5–6, NLT) “And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

God created marriage for our partnership and prosperity.

(Genesis 1:28, NLT) “Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.”

(1 Timothy 4:7, NLT) “Train yourself to be godly.”

1. FOCUS ON THE INSIDE.

(1 Peter 3:3–4, NLT) “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”

a. Seek a clear heart.

b. Worship pulls us together.

c. Prayer draws us together.

d. Patience pulls us together.

2. FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPOUSE.

(1 Peter 3:7, NLT) “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”

(Ephesians 5:25, NLT) “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her”

(Titus 2:4, NLT) “These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,”

a. Discover your spouse’s likes and dislikes.

b. Make a list of their likes and dislikes.

c. God changes us. We encourage one another.

d. Make a 30-day calendar of blessing your spouse.

e. Know and use your spouse’s love language.

f. Have fun together!

“Play is a taste of the Paradise from which we came, a foretaste of the Paradise we will enter.” –Tim Hansel

(Ephesians 5:21, NLT) “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”