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Do we dare cover a study on what God’s Word (the Bible) tells us about his expectations of a loving relationship between husband and wife?

— Let’s start when things were pure and uncomplicated, as in the beginning… (Using ESV Bible here)

Genesis 1:26-28… Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  (28)  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 2:18-28… Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”  (19)  Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.  (20)  The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.  (21)  So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  (22)  And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  (23)  Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”  (24)  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

— Q1. Okay, as a safe start, I invite you to share how you met your spouse, and perhaps what relationship you had with both your sets of parents…

(Vs.23) Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

— Q2. Now, does anyone want to share how they met their spouse and what were your first thoughts?

(Maybe something like Adam’s comment, “At last!”)

— Q3. To finish this scripture passage, can you share how Vs.24 worked out in your relationships? (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

(How did you make your start in married life?)

It is interesting to note that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God and therefore, were meant to be like Him in their role in God’s creation. – SEE Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over… (all the earth).

(How are we to rule or “have dominion over” the earth, with all its creation and creatures?)

(Does this apply in any way in a marriage?)

— Q4. God is a plurality, Father; Son; and Holy Spirit.
Does that tell us anything about how God intended Man and woman to cooperate in a marriage?

— Q5. Are there any other ways a married couple should reflect God’s image to the world around us?

(Can a marriage reflect God’s glory?)

— Q6. I’ve saved the hardest question for last… Noting how the Holy Trinity, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are one and yet retain their individual role as persons of the Trinity, How do we become one in a marriage, and yet retain our individuality?

Bible references about the Trinity:

John 15:26… (Jesus told them) “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Mark 16:19-20… So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.  (20)  And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. – (KK… So, which person of God is here with(in) us?)

— Jesus closes with His instructions to us… John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you (agápē) love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35)  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – (KK… Did Jesus loves with just words, or actions?)

(Click here for PDF copy of study)