Worship in Marriage - Sunday Sermon

Sunday Sermon Review - August 5, 2012
Topic - Worship in Marriage

Marriage is like a pair of shears oft times working in opposite directions, but punishing anyone that comes between them.” - Sydney Smith

The service began with the group leading us in several songs - one of which was " How Great Thou Art". There was a children's feature where the first line of Hebrews 13:4 -  Marriage is honourable in all  was emphasized. It was explained to the children that they need to honor marriage by giving their parents space to spend time together ( just the two of them) in order to maintain a good friendship. The children were encouraged to send their parents on a little date and to not fuss if they need to stay with a babysitter at such a time.

This was followed by the reading of Ephesians 5:15-32.
Pastor Ben came up to preach on " Marriage as Worship".
He reminded us of the theme of the series that Worship is our Response to Who God is and what God has done for us. We need to place God as first and highest importance in our lives.

Marriage as an Act of Worship
Pastor Ben also referred to Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is a covenant before God and witnesses to be faithful till death parts.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, married people need support and blessing from their children, parents and others.
In order to worship God in marriage we need to realize that God is the one who gives us significance. As individuals we are loved and accepted by God. We need to be rooted in God in order to be successful in marriage.

Getting Practical in Honoring  Marriage
Your spouse should be your "Best Friend"!
Take time regularly and often to maintain friendship with your spouse.
Don't let anyone drive a wedge between you and your spouse.
If a couple has been apart due to work or other circumstance, encourage them to spend time together just with each other and don't invite them over to spend time with you when  in reality they need to spend time with each other.
Children - Give your parents time and space to spend quality time together. Pastor Ben suggested  older children  babysit their younger siblings ( for free!) in order to give their Mom and Dad time to get apart by themselves for a few hours.
Parents and Parents-in-law - don't interfere in the marriage of your grown children
Be a blessing to your children's marriage
Make sure you do not slander your child's spouse
You no longer have authority over your married children
You can encourage them but they must rely on each other (on their own spouse)  - not on you as parents
To Married People
Become God-centered
Let the reponse you are to your spouse reflect who you are in Christ.
Selfishness and self-centeredness are the core root of problems in marriage
We are to give up ourselves for our spouse and put his/her needs above our own
Our spouse cannot fulfill the longings of our heart that only God ia able to truely fill.
Your spouse has married a sinner.
Let your response to your spouse be a response to God rather than basing it on what your spouse has or has not done for you.
Be a living sacrifice for your spouse.
Love as God loves - base your love on how God loves.
Romans 12:1 says I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Note - next Sunday will be Worship in your Family

Ephesians 5: 22-28
²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.