Pastor Lawton's Sermon

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June 20, 2010 -

""Family Matters: Spiritual Growth & Marriage"

Sermon Outline

Family Matters: Spiritual Growth & Marriage
        1 Corinthians 13:4 – 13(p.813 & 814)      
 

Why do we enter into marriage?

1. Love
2. To  complete us               
3. Physical intimacy
4. Pleasure
5. Procreation

       
        A Means For Spiritual Growth

1. Instituted by God
2. Intended to be permanent (Mt. 19:6)
3. Spiritual benefits
   • No relationship on earth as intimate as marriage
   • Brings out the worst and the best
   • A place of security
4. High view of marriage and of our relationship with Christ
   • Not hopeless
   • Commitment is not the prize
   • A commitment to the marriage but also a commitment to growth
   • An awesome marriage is possible because of Christ

The Discipline of Love

1. The love we want vs. the love we give
   • We have been loved - now choose to love
   • Spirit-filled love (Eph. 5:18)
2. The mirror that shows our flaws
   • Be a mirror of respect & love
   • 1 Corinthians 13 is for me too!
3. Responding to the mirror
   • Use 1 Cor. 13 as the measure of our love
   • The do not’s and do’s of love
   • Our flaws show our need for Christ

Witnessing through marriage

1. To an unbelieving spouse
   • Your love and faithfulness does not go unnoticed
2. To those around us
   • If we claim to love God we must love our spouse
3. Be authentic and honest
   • There should be no doubt that Christ’s love is in our lives and in our marriage!

Going Deeper

1. How am I doing as a mirror for my spouse or for a fellow believer?

1. What does my relationship with my spouse tell others about God?    

1. Read over 1 Corinthians 13 with your spouse this week.  Write down the areas that you believe you need to work on and ask your spouse to do the same, then compare your lists.

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