Sermon Notes from Sunday, 7.10.11

Here are the sermon notes from today's sermon, part 1 of the miniseries called Taking Aim at Marriage.  On the audio (found at sermons.heritagepark.org and on iTunes), you'll note that I only got through two of the three statements.  We'll see about picking that point up later.

Taking Aim at Marriage

Part 1 – Ephesians 5.31-33

Marriage is God’s portrait of Christ’s relationship with His people through the selfless and passionate covenant of husband and wife.

God defines marriage (v.31)

• One flesh:  their lives become a life for a lifetime.
• Culture tries to shape and twist the things of God to its own selfish ends.
• Covenant marriage is selfless and passionate.
• Selflessness grows because you have a reason to be selfless.
• Passion grows because the soil is fertile.
• None of this is possible without the reality of the Gospel pressed into us.

God designed its purpose (v.32).

• God designed marriage with God in mind.
• It’s primary purpose:  display the beauty of Christ’s relationship to His people. 
• It’s secondary purpose:  a means for the transformation of our lives (v.26-27).

God established its roles (v.33).

• Husbands:  love your wives unconditionally.
• Wives:  respect your husbands unconditionally.