In today’s message, Steve Abney reveals how God’s good design for marriage mirrors His image, serves as a means of provision, and is meant to point us to Christ. As a variety of cultural lies seek to undermine His good design, Steve provides practical action steps for the believer and the Church’s ultimate hope for the future!

Steve’s Main Points

1. Marriage mirrors God’s image.

2. Marriage is a means of provision.

3. Marriage is meant to point us to Christ.

Key Takeaways

• The depth of what God intends to communicate is far deeper than any of us even realize. God’s good design for marriage is for His glory and our good.
  
  
• The Father, Son, and Spirit are united in essence and being; equal in glory, power, and holiness; and distinct in person and role. In the same way, marriage is a display of unity, equality, and distinction.    
  
  
• Marriage provides the best and only context for sex in God’s good design, as well as the best context for multiplying image bearers, discipling children, and providing for life’s basic needs.
  
  
• God’s intention for sex exclusively within marriage is to serve us, not rob from us.
  
  
• As parents, the training of our children is to come from the overflow of our own hearts and to regularly give them a taste of God through teaching, prayer, song, conversation, and stories.
  
  
• Christ’s love for the Church is the standard for husbands to love their wives. The Church’s call for submission to Christ is the same standard for wives to submit to their husbands.
  
  
• If marriage is meant to be as meaningful and beautiful as God intends, there’s no better place for the enemy to get Christians to compromise.
  
  
• Cultural Lies:
  1) Marriage is a consumer relationship, not a covenantal relationship.
  2) Headship and submission are outdated models in marriage.
  3) God can’t fix my marriage.
   
• A covenantal relationship means, “I will do my part no matter what. I will love God and love you no matter what you do.”
• The problem of biblical headship is not the model, but sin. Headship is not a trump card to be played, but a responsibility to steward. Headship is not a throne to claim, but a call to die to yourself. Headship is not an elevation of status, but an expectation of service.
  
  
• Practical applications:
  1) Pursue the God you’re supposed to be imaging.
  2) Prepare for your future spouse.
  3) Pursue your spouse.
  4) Pursue God’s good design for marriage through confession and repentance.
  
  
• The Church as Christ’s bride has been called by God and sealed by the Spirit. Our dowry has been paid by the blood of Christ. We are in a period of waiting for Christ the bridegroom to return and ultimately usher us into the glorious marriage supper of the Lamb.
  
  
• A seat at the table is saved for all who surrender and trust in Jesus Christ.
  
  

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal reflection:

• Read Ephesians 5:21-33. How is Christian marriage countercultural? What is commanded of husbands and wives in marriage? If you’re married, how can you grow in living out your calling as a husband or wife?
  
  

Discuss with your community group:

• Regardless of your current relationship status, what cultural lies are you prone to  believe when it comes to marriage? How can you as a group encourage and hold one another accountable in this area?
  
  
• In what ways can you more faithfully pursue your spouse or prepare for your future spouse, if applicable?
  
  
• Want to grow your marriage? Check out re|engage!
  
  Passages Referenced
  Genesis 2:18-25; Genesis 1:27-28; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5; Deuteronomy 6:5-7; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 34:8; 1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:17; Mark 10:42-45; Matthew 7:3-5; Revelation 19:7-9.