What Advice Does the Bible Offer to Married Christ Followers?

Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems

What Advice Does the Bible Offer to Married Christ Followers?

1 Corinthians 7

Three Biblical Functions of Marriage…

1. Marriage helps to against . (Genesis 2:18)

2. Marriage is the for the . (Genesis 2:24)

3. Marriage is the only safe and healthy place to fulfill needs. (1 Corinthians 7)

“Now for the matters you wrote about:

‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’

But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (vv. 1-5)

Word Study…

“Duty” (apheilo): debt, owe, under obligation…

1. Spouses are to meet the of each other… (vv. 2-5)

“His Needs, Her Needs”

After dealing with thousands of couples, Dr. Willard Harley, a Christian marriage counselor and author, noticed a common pattern amongst his clients. He turned that pattern into a fascinating book entitled, “His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage.”

5. Her number five need: She needs him to be a .

a. His number five need: He needs her to be of him.

4. Her number four need: She needs security.

a. His number four need: He needs support and peace.

3. Her number three need: She needs and .

a. His number three need: He needs an .

2. Her number two need: She needs .

a. His number two need: He needs .

1. Her number one need: She needs .

a. His number one need: He needs .

2. What if the marriage is in turmoil?

a. For the “” marriage…

“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (vv. 10-11)

i. You have all the that you to work it out. It’s not a matter of “” but a matter of “.”

b. For the “” marriage…

“To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?” (vv. 12-16)

i. If your unbelieving spouse is willing to , do seek a divorce. (vv. 12-13)

ii. The believing spouse brings into the entire home. (v. 14; 1 Peter 3:1-2)

iii. If your unbelieving spouse chooses to leave, . (vv. 15-16)

Divorce and Remarriage Options?

A Christ-follower is free to remarry if their spouse was sexually unfaithful their marriage, or if their former spouse becomes sexually active the divorce. (Matthew 19:9)

Today’s “Life Hack”…

The more you the of a marriage,

the more you will the of your marriage.

Notes