Old Paths Baptist Ministries

This is a Bible study outline that will be of great help to you if you use your Bible. An article might be easier to read, but will not have the impact of God's Holy Word. Take advantage of the lesson(s) taught here and look up the Scriptures that are referenced. I recommend reading the surrounding verses as well to give you a clearer picture of the intent of the writer.~Webmaster

Marriage and the Family

In Genesis 1:28 we see God laying down principles for the formation of a union between a man and woman resulting in offspring. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,..." The following thoughts are not inclusive. There are many other lessons to be taught and learned. It is hoped that these thoughts will spur you on to greater study on this great subject.

  1. What Is A Marriage?
    Marriage is the first of three institutions that God created to ensure the proper functioning of our world. Government and the church are the other two. However, we are just now going to concentrate on the home.
    Genesis 2:21-24 - And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
    1. Genesis 1:26-27 - God created Male and Female. No unisex, no homosexual unions are recognized by God. He created man and woman different.
      1. Genesis 2:18 - God recognized man's need for companionship. He created an "help" for man. She was not inferior. She was to be a fulfiller of man's need for companionship. To be an "help" does not connotate inferiority. See Exodus 18:4 where God was Moses' "help." In Adam's song of Genesis 2:23 there is no reference to inferiority.
      2. Genesis 2:24-25 - God establishes several basic principles relating to marriage.
        1. Separation - "Therefore shall a man leave..." Clear line of separation.
        2. Singleness - "and shall cleave unto his wife:.." Permanent, gluing together, - 1 Kings 5:27; Deuteronomy 10:20, 11:22. Not a bad thing -"one flesh."
        3. Shamelessness - "And they were both naked...and not ashamed." They had an open relationship with nothing to hide.
        4. Sustained - Matthew 19:5-6 - "...What God hath therefore joined together, let not man put asunder." Jesus explained the permanency that God desires in all marriages.
      3. Genesis 3:16 - Sin changed much of the marriage relationships, and therefore, God establishes different roles for the man and the woman.
        1. Equality as a person - 1 Corinthians 11:3 "...head of Christ is God." Illustration: Philippians 2:6 "...to be equal with God..."
        2. Differences of function or roles. Ephesians 5:23
    2. What Actually Constitutes a Marriage in the Sight of God?
      1. John 4:18 -Not living together
      2. Malachi 2:14-15; Proverbs 2:17 - "A Covenant of Companionship."
        A guide is a leader. The word covenant means "agreement, mutual obligation." The word companion comes from a word that means "to have fellowship with", or "to join up with." It has the idea of a bond that united people in a mutual obligation. It could be a marriage, a commercial agreement, or a verbal trust. In the Bible marriages were often arranged by the parents.
      3. Matthew 1:18-19. Joseph and Mary were "espoused." It was an agreement entered into at the time of "espousal." It was binding. To break it required a "bill of divorcement."
      4. Ezekiel 16:8 - God enters into this covenant with Israel - A marriage covenant.
      5. Today - We enter into an agreement with our vows of marriage performed before God and man. It is still a "Covenant of Companionship."
      Jay Adams said, "A companion is someone with whom you are intimately united in thoughts, goals, plans, and efforts."
  2. What Is A Family?
    1. Deuteronomy 24:5 "When a man takes a wife..."- The Start of a Home.
    2. Proverbs 18:22; 1 Timothy 5:14 - Marriage is commended by God.
    3. Psalm 127:4-5; 128:3; Proverbs 17:6 - Children are the natural fruit of marriage.
    4. Genesis 33:5; Psalm 113:9; 127:3 - They are a gift from God.
    5. Joshua 7:16-18 - The order of the family. Tribes, families, households, individuals.
      Those related through marriage.
  3. The Home.
    1. The Responsibilities of the Husband.
      1. Love your wife. Ecclesiastes 9:9; Ephesians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 7:3
      2. Leave your parents. Genesis 2:23-24
      3. Lead your wife into the grace of life. 1 Peter 3:7
    2. The Responsibilities of the Wife.
      1. Honor your husband. 1 Corinthians 7:3
      2. Obey the Husband in the Lord. Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:1-7
      3. Direct the household affairs. Proverbs 31:37
    3. Responsibilities of Parents.
      1. Teach - Duet. 6:7; Ephesians 6:4
      2. Train - Proverbs 22:6
      3. Provide - 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8
      4. Admonish - (Warn, notify of a fault, reprove) Ephesians 6:4
      5. Control - 1 Timothy 3:4 It has been said that: "Uncontrolled energy is always destructive."
    4. Responsibilities of Children.
      1. Obey your parents in the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-3; Colosssians 3:20; 1 Timothy 5:4; Proverbs 6:20.
      2. Remember the Lord - Ecclesiastes 12:1
      3. Honour your parents - Mark 7:10; Exodus 20:12
        1. Dishonoring parents - Deuteronomy 21:20
        2. Lack of respect - Deuteronomy 27:16
        3. Despising your mother - Proverbs 15:20
        4. Cursing - Proverbs 30:11
        5. Strife - Micah 7:6
        6. Disobedience - 2 Timothy
      4. Serve God - 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:6
      5. Examples of Godly young men in the Bible.
        1. Joseph - Genesis 41:38
        2. Samuel - 1 Samuel 2:26; 3:1
        3. David - 1 Samuel 17:33
        4. Joash - 2 Chronicles 24:1
        5. Josiah - 2 Chronicles 34:1
        6. Jesus - Luke 2:49
        7. Timothy - 2 Timothy 3:15
  4. Principles Of A Successful And Happy Christian Marriage:
    1. Real love is essential to a happy marriage. 1 Corinthians 13.
      1. Love is different than lust.
        1. Love is enduring - Song of Solomon 8:6-7
        2. Love is divine - 1 John 4:7-8
        3. Love is more than an emotion - 1 John 2:18
      2. Love is to be based upon character and not a coarse attraction. Proverbs 20:7
        1. What is it about her that you like?
        2. What is it about him that you like?
      3. Love should be tested and developed through a decent engagement period.
        Song of Solomon - 8:6-7 Three suggestions:
        1. Let it be a genuine engagement.
        2. Let it be long enough.
        3. Do not use the engagement for indecencies.
    2. Both Must be Saved. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; 1 Corinthians 7:39
      1. Light cannot fellowship with darkness. 1 John 1:4-7
      2. We will love different things. 1 John 2:15
      3. We have different destinations. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
    3. Both should have a clear leading from God. Proverbs 3:5-6
      1. God's will should be determined. Ephesians 5:17
      2. God word should be consulted. John 17:17
      3. God's way should be agreed upon. Amos 3:3
    4. Practical principles for a successful marriage.
      1. Wait until you are old enough.
      2. Think seriously about finances.
      3. Think seriously about children from the marriage.
      4. Get good counsel from a Godly person.
  5. Basics For Maintaining A Successful Marriage.
    1. Personal Devotions.
      1. Bible Time. John 17:17; 8:32
      2. Prayer Time. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
    2. Family Devotions.
      1. Led by the Dad. Ephesians 6:4
      2. Interesting for all.
      3. Bible/Prayer
    3. A Good Church Home.
      1. Doctrinally sound.
        1. Bible-believing. Psalm 119:9-11; Hebrews 5:11-14
        2. Fundamental.
        3. Missionary minded. Matthew 28:19-20
      2. Practically sound.
        1. Balanced leadership. 2 Timothy 1:7, 13; Titus 2:1-2, 8
        2. Balanced between doctrine and love. John 1:14-17
        3. No contemporary music. 1 John 2:15


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