• God’s design
    • One man, one woman – Matthew 19:4-6
    • To be “held in honor” – Hebrews 13:4
    • Life-long – Romans 7:2
    • God is a witness – Matthew 2:13-16
      • Proverbs 1:8; 6:20; 23:22
    • Developing a godly marriage
      • Godly marriages are Christ-centered – Ephesians 5:22-29
        • God first, then your spouse (even after children enter the picture!)
      • Parents cannot teach and model what they do not believe – Deuteronomy 6:5-6
      • Our children must see how marriage works – I Peter 3:1-2, 7
      • A godly spouse will help and not hinder
        • Worship – I Corinthians 7:4-5; I Peter 3:7
        • Your calling, evangelism – Ephesians 4:1-3; Acts 18:26
        • Teaching efforts, accountability – Ezra 10:3; Acts 5:2, 9
        • A godly marriage has a common standard – Amos 3:3; II Timothy 3:15-17
        • Odds are against ungodly marriage – I Kings 11:4; Nehemiah 13:26
        • Be careful not to undermine each other’s authority – Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1
        • Children won’t fix a struggling marriage – Genesis 29:31-35
      • Psalm 127 – Like arrows, children must be aimed and released. Children are a solemn spiritual responsibility.
      • Ezekiel 18:20 – We will all stand in judgment for our own deeds, but children generally go in the direction their parents lead them.
      • Proverbs 22:6