I think without realizing or thinking about it people act in rebellion to the Lord and their spouses. God calls us to love no matter what and we often hold back because of fear or insecurity or a need to control. I’m not saying we give in to every whim. There needs to be a godly balance. It’s just everyone has needs and they all need to be…

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[11] And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. [14] For by a…

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Hebrews 10 describes the sanctifying work of Jesus in the same terms, but adds in the theme of temple sacrifice, referencing how Christ completes and surpasses a system that did not make people holy (v 11).

First, our sanctification comes not from the destruction or cost of the sacrifice, but the submission of human will:

[5] Consequently,…

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Both the wife and the husband’s role in marriage is based on Christ’s relationship to the Church in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In the case of husband’s Paul says:

[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,…

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What do you think are the main symptoms and causes of these marriage problems? Maybe make a quick list?

Marriage in the NT

1. Sermon on the Mount
2. Mt 19:3-12 Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question on divorce, likely based on a controversial interpretation of Deut 24:1-4. He references Genesis 1 (v.4) — where humanity is created in God’s image as male and female. He makes an appeal to Yahweh’s creator-authority then connects this immediately to…

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Almost a year ago I was hearing about many marriages that were struggling nearly to the point of failure. I found it very discouraging. This was around the time Jackie and I were hosting a ladies retreat. I thought a weekend to encourage husbands and wives to thrive would be a help to those I knew.

Suzy and I have been praying about doing something to help all the married couples out there — a retreat or something as a place to start. It’s probably our life stage, but we can’t think of many couples we know who are doing well and feeling profoundly blessed to be together. A great many have been or are now contemplating divorce. As a…

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Bereshit Rabbah 18:2

Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Vayaven is written16The letters of vayiven can also be read vayaven, He acted with thought. – He...