Sermon Outline

[poeticwatcher]

Sunday 2 April 2006

Last of the Back to Eden series: "What's missing in Paradise?"

"Marriage is God's Idea; It's a good idea."


Four Ingredients of Paradise

• Beauty
• Abundance
• Pleasurable
• Peaceful

Peace is the most important aspect of Paradise!
"Everybody is looking for Peace"

Foundations for Real True Peace in Marriage

(1) Prior Agreement
{ beware of idealism, there will never be total agreement }
{ major issues have been discussed beforehand }
{ to journey together, you must agree on the destination first }
{ Remember: "Agreement removes Argument" }

Three Levels of Communication in Marriage:

(a) Proactive communication
{ come into agreement before beginning our journey }
{ Remember: "Agreement displaces Arguments" }

(b) Reactive communication
{ deal with issues as they arise }

(c) Radio-active communication
{ these are things that can not be discussed anymore }

(2) Clear & Common Purpose
{ Read: Prov 29:18 }
{ Important to Ask: "Why did God put you Together" }
{ Good Read: A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren }
{ DO NOT get STUCK in the SMALL STORY }

Three Purposes for Marriage:

(a) raise Godly children

(b) be a witness of God's Love
{ "live and let live" }

(c) use your gifts & grace in building local church

(3) Equal Partnership in Relationship
{ Beware: dominance destroys the peace of relationships }
{ Remember: partnership develops/ builds the relationship }
{ Important to Ask: "Why be Married if you're not Partners?" }

(4) Foundation of Prayer
{ prayer brings peace }
{ Read: Phil 4:6-7 }
{ there is power when husband & wife pray together }
{ when you pray together, you recieve peace together }
{ prayer is intimate }

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PEACE, YOU DO NOT HAVE PARADISE!!!