Honor and Cherish
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
How Can a Marriage Thrive for the Long Haul?
1) Return the User Manual to the Shelf
(will come up separate but build onto the same slide… slide will come down b/w moments of talking)
User Manuals
- Christian Marriage Book Manuals
- Parents’ Manual
- Friends’ Manual
- Society’s Manual
At the end of the day, the only user manual we have to relentlessly cling to is The BIBLE!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
How Can a Marriage Thrive for the Long Haul?
2) Realize the Uniqueness of our Spouse
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
Let’s treasure our differences, not trash them!
How Can a Marriage Thrive for the Long Haul?
3) Restore Honor and Cherish your spouse
Honor = To hold in high regard; meaning I value what they value
Cherish = To hold dear; meaning I value who they are
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)
Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Romans 12:9-10 (MSG)
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)
“Very few marriages would ever approach divorce if each spouse would make one of their first daily comments to each other be this: ‘How can I support you today? How can I make your day better?’” – Gary Thomas
A man’s greatest treasure is his wife—she is a GIFT from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 (CEV)
Ask God to show you how you may have not honored or cherished your spouse or others.
What’s one way I can grow in how I honor & cherish those of the opposite sex?
What will I do this week to intentionally show that I honor and cherish my spouse/someone of the opposite sex?
