April 9-10, 2005, Selected

DESPERATE HOUSELIVES!
MARRIAGE MAKEOVER!

GOD CREATED MARRIAGE TO MAKE US ____________ MORE THAN _____________!

TWO INSTITUTIONS CREATED BY GOD FOR US:
A. THE:_______________ B. THE:_______________

*** Phil. 2:2 “Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person.”
[Contemporary English Version]
*** Eph. 4:3 “You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.” [New Century Version]

HOW TO HAVE A MARRIAGE MAKEOVER:

1. BY IMPROVING OUR ______________________!
*** Pr.13:17 “An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.” [Living Bible]
*** James 1:19 “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry….” [New International Version]
*** Galatians 6:2 “Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” [New Living Translation]

TWO TYPES OF LISTENERS:
A. “__________________!” B. “___________________ LISTENERS!”

GOOD COMMUNICATION REQUIRES: T ____________! L ____________! C __________!

EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. BY GIVING _________________!
*** Ep.4:2b “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.” [LB]
*** 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives….” [NIV]
*** Ja.3:17 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate....”

EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. BY CHOOSING _______________________!
*** 1 Co.13:5 “Love does not demand its own way.” [LB]

_______________ IS INEVITABLE, _________________ IS NOT! THE ANWER ___________!

*** Ro.12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” [NIV]
*** Eph. 5:21 “Yield to obey each other because you respect Christ.” [NCV]
*** Romans 14:19 “So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other.” [Msg]
EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. BY CONTINUING ____________________!
*** Pr.5:18-19 “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.” [NLT]

IF THERE WAS MORE __________________ IN MARRIAGE, THERE WOULD BE FEWER MARRIAGES IN ________________!

*** Ec.9:9 “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this...life that God has given you under the sun....”
EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. BY RENEWING OUR _____________________!
*** Mal.2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the Lord…Make sure that you do not break your promises to be faithful to your mate.” [Today’s English Version]

"I want you to understand and be fully aware of my feelings concerning the marriage covenant which we are about to enter. I have been taught at my mother's knee and in harmony with the Word of God that the marriage vows are inviolable, and by entering them I am binding myself absolutely and for life. The idea of estrangement from you through divorce for any reason at all (although God allows one-infidelity) will never at any time be permitted to enter my thinking. I'm not naive in this. On the contrary, I'm fully aware of the possibility, unlikely as it now appears, that mutual incompatibility or other unforeseen circumstances could result in extreme mental suffering. If such becomes the case, I am resolved for my part to accept it as a consequence of the commitment I am now making, and to bear it, if necessary, to the end of our lives together."
n Straight Talk to Men and Their Wives, James C. Dobson
n
*** Pr 2:17 “She leaves the husband she married when she was young. She ignores the promise she made before God.” [NCV]

OUR MARRIAGE WILL BECOME WHAT ____________ ______________ _____________!

EVALUATION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6. BY CENTERING ON ______________________!
*** Col.1:16-17 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”