Marriage: For Life
1 - Marriage: An Introduction
February 10, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
"The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us... Through the gospel, we get both the power and the pattern for the journey of marriage." Tim Keller in "The Meaning of Marriage."
5 - Servant-Leader and Strong-Helper
March 17, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
Men and women were created very different, though, as image-bearers, they are equal in dignity, value and significance. Their roles are not interchangeable, regardless of what our culture would say. Husbands, you were designed by God and called to be servant leaders... wives, you were designed by God and called to be strong helpers.
6 - The Future Glory of Your Spouse
March 24, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
In your marriage, you should serve the future glory of your spouse. If God is transforming your spouse, "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18), and if He is working to bring him/her to "completion" (Philippians. 1:6), then you have to take responsibility for the role God has called you to in that process.
7 - The Many Languages of Love
April 7, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
There are many languages of love, but everyone has a primary language, and in order to love our spouses well, we need to be sure that we are speaking their language. What's more, it isn't just about learning my spouse's love language so I can speak it better, it's also about learning my spouses love language so I can listen better to how he or she communicates love.
9 - On Your Knees
April 21, 2013 • Pastor Steve McGuyre
Marriages that are the happiest and most God honoring are marriages where people are nice to each other. When true kindness is exercised in marriage and in life, we see Christ. Pastor Steve gives us a number of practical ways to apply that out in our marriages and other relationships.
10 - What About Divorce and Remarriage?
April 28, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
Divorce and remarriage is always a bad thing. Why? Because it was never a part of God's original plan. Where there is divorce and remarriage, there is always sin. God's design for marriage in Genesis 1 and 2 left no room for either divorce or http://remarriage...there was absolutely no context for it. Divorce was only allowed (and with narrow exception) because of our hardness of heart. Because of sin. Divorce should never be the 1st option, or the 2nd, or the 3rd, or the http://4th...it should be the last thing, even when permissible. The Gospel compels us to aim for reconciliation even when there is sexual immorality.
11 - Singles, Marriage Is Not An Ultimate Thing
May 5, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
Pastor Patrick Bowler presented a message for singles in the marriage series. Timothy Keller says, "If [singles] do not have [a balanced, informed view of marriage], they will either over-desire or under-desire marriage, and either of those ways of thinking will distort their lives."
12 - Are You Wearing The Same Jersey?
May 26, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
Philippians 2:3-8 gives us the way to take destructive rivalries out of a marriage (or any other relationship) and points to the example that Jesus set for us. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (ESV)
13 - Sex in Marriage: Covenant Renewal
June 2, 2013 • Pastor Patrick Bowler
The origin of sex and sexual desire is the heart and mind of God. He is the designer. What does that tell us about the nature of sex? That it is by nature (according to its original design) a good thing. However, as great a gift as sex is, it is still not an ultimate thing. There is a transcendent nature to sex, a glory that is meant to turn our gaze upward, to put on display Christ's self-giving devotion to His church.