Marriage - 1.0 The Pattern Oh

What the Bible Teaches about Marriage PB September 2008

OVERVIEW of Part 1:

God’s Pattern for Marriage Contents of 7 Class Sessions surveying what Genesis 1 – 3 teaches us about Marriage CONTENTS of SESSIONS Session 1. The Big Picture: The Setting of Marriage Ultimately we cannot study what the Bible teaches on Marriage without asking how it relates marriage to God’s plan for our Salvation through Christ. Session 2 The Creation of Man for a Task At the beginning of human history God made the first man, endowed him with life, and placed him in a garden God made man and woman in his own image and likeness to be fruitful and so fill the earth by multiplying and to subdue it and to rule over all his other creatures Session 3 Man’s Need of a Helper God put Adam in the garden to look after it: “To work it and to care for it.” But Adam could not cope with this task “alone”. He needed “a helper”! Session 4 Sexual Desire The earthy sexual appreciation of the perfect woman standing naked before him. Adam is overcome with delight and desire - a good thing (there is no shame).

Session 5 Rearing Children Having children is part of serving God: i.e. producing a family of gardeners! ¨This pro-creational element is not the ultimate goal, since it is still seen under the larger purpose of service to God. The creation of a family of gardeners clearly helps fulfil this task! Children are instead a blessing requiring the parents’ relationship with God at the forefront and the nurture of a similar relationship between their child and God Section 6 Results of the Fall A complete reversal of the God-ordained pattern of relationships, with disastrous results overturned only through the coming and the saving death of the Messiah. Making the Most of this Course To truly benefit from this course you will need to do two things heartily and continually: Pray as you study these chapters, asking God to provide understanding of their contents, and wisdom in applying their message. Above all pray as the creator examines you. Read, re-read and think about Genesis 1 - 3, so that its message becomes a part of your thinking. To Discuss How do you hope to benefit from studying this course? (Write down your answers privately and then discuss them in the group)

Next Session We look at: The Big Picture The Setting of Marriage: God’s Provision of Salvation

OVERVIEW of Part 2:

Post-Fall OT Session 1 Meetings Human Needs? How do we serve God in our marriages? Couples in the bible defined not by how their needs are met, but by how they serve God (Aquila and Pricilla - Rom.16:3-5).