FIGHTING FOR AN AWESOME MARRIAGE

BUILDING AWESOME RELATIONSHIPS

May 3, 2026  Pastor Sam Goins

“Marriage should be honored by everyone…”  Hebrews 13:4a (NCV)

“St. Paul: ‘We all are given different gifts. God gives the gift of marriage to some and to others he gives the gift of singleness.’” 1 Corinthians 7:7 (NLT)

WHY MARRIAGE MATTERS: GOD CREATED IT . . .

1. AS A CURE FOR ISOLATION: MAKE A COVENANT CONNECTION 

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who is right for him.”  Genesis 2:18  

Jesus said, “God’s plan has been seen from the beginning of creation, when he made us male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united as one body. Now since they are no longer two but one, no one should separate them, for GOD has joined them together.”  Mark 10:6-9 (NLT) 

2.  TO EXTEND HIS LEGACY: MULTIPLY GOD’S IMAGE 

“So God created people in his own image; He patterned them after himself—creating both male and female with his image. Then God blessed them and commanded them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth!’”     Genesis 1:27-28a (NLT)  

“God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Godly children from your union. So guard the spirit of marriage within you.”  Malachi 2:15 (MSG) 

3. TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET: CREATE A REFUGE FOR YOUR CHILDREN 

“Those who obey and respect the Lord have a secure fortress; their children have a place of refuge and security.”  Proverbs 14:26

4. AS A REFINING FIRE: WHERE I TRADE SELFISHNESS FOR CHARACTER 

“It’s selfish and stupid to think only of yourself...”  Proverbs 18:1 (CEV)  

“Love sincerely... Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.”  Romans 12:9-10  

5. AS THE FOUNDATION: CONSTRUCT A HEALTHY SOCIETY 

“Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin brings disgrace to any society.”   Proverbs 14:34 (GW)  

6. AS THE ULTIMATE MIRROR: REFLECT THE HEART OF CHRIST 

“Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... He died so that he could give the church to himself as a Bride in all her beauty... In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies... No one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for his church, his body. The Scripture says, ‘a man is united with his wife, and the two become one body.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church! So each husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and each wife must respect her husband.”  Ephesians 5:25-33