A Long Lasting Relationship

Church of Christ at MedinaDecember 20th, 2015

The Marriage Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Love• Love is a requirement for both the husband and the

wife. (Ephesians 5:25-33, Titus 2:4)• Love is the grandest of all characteristics. (1 Corinthians

13:13)• Love is the bond that holds all things together.

(Colossians 3:14)• Love is not necessarily an emotional connection.

However, it is always a decisive action. (1 John 3:17-18)

The Marriage Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Communicate• Communication is essential for a relationship to grow.

(Ephesians 4:15,25)

Spend Time Together• It is closely related to communication. If we want to

stay together, we must spend time together. (Proverbs 5:18, Ecclesiastes 9:9)

The Marriage Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Forgive Each Other• It is absolute – we will make mistakes and we will make

each other angry. • Therefore, we need to be ready to forgive each other

often, deeply and fully. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13, Mark 11:25)

Commit to Each Other• God requires that spouses “forsake all others”. This

means that a commitment must be made. (Genesis 2:23-24)

The Christian Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Love• God• He has already shown His love for us. (John 3:16, Romans

5:8, Ephesians 2:4-7, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:16)

• Christians• God has always wanted us to love Him. (Deuteronomy 10:12,

Psalm 31:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Jude 21)• In short, we must love God in return for His love. (1 John

4:12, 19)

The Marriage Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Communicate• God• God communicates to us through His word. (1 Thess. 2:13)

• Christians• We communicate through study. (Eph. 4:18, Ps. 119:104)• We speak to God through prayer. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Spend Time Together• God & Christians• We spend time together with God when we worship Him. It

helps to maintain the bond. (John 4:24, Hebrews 10:24)

The Marriage Relationship

The Basic Requirements

Forgive Each Other• God has already shown a willingness to forgive. (Psalm

103:1-3)• We must be willing to repent. (Acts 3:19-21)

Commit to Each Other• God has shown the ultimate level of commitment by

sending His Son to die in our stead. What are we willing to commit to Him?• Time? Resources? Life?• Don’t delay!