Finding the Right Person

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

- Genesis 2:15-18

God’s divine relationships are built on 3 things:

God’s appointed place

8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

- Genesis 2:8

God’s appointed purpose

God’s appointed provision

9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

- Genesis 2:9

When Love Falls Short

We need to love one another.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

- Ephesians 4:1-3

Our love falls short.

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

- Ephesians 4:29-31

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord…

- Ephesians 4:1

We need to experience God’s love. It is our shelter.

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

- Ephesians 3:17-19

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

- Psalm 46:1

We extend God’s love. It is our standard and source.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32

Mixed and Fixed Messages

We’ve heard mixed messages about marriage.

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

- Ephesians 5:15-17

God intended marriage to mirror the message of the Gospel.

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, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

- Ephesians 5:25-32

What does the Gospel message teach us about the love of Christ for us?

“The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died—in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God and offering the gift of salvation and forgiveness of sins to everyone who repents and believes in Him.”

- Dr. Rice Broocks, Every Nation co-founder and author of God’s Not Dead

1. He rejected sin to remain committed and exclusive.

2. He sacrificed His life.

3. He created a covenant.

4. He cleansed us and sanctifies us.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

What does this teach us about God’s will for marriage?

1. Marriage is committed and exclusive.

2. Marriage is built on sacrificial love.

3. Marriage is a covenant.

4. Marriage sanctifies us.

Marriage reaches the peak of its beauty when it reflects the love of Christ.

God's Purpose for Marriage

​​26 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 1:26-28 ESV

Reflection - Marriage is designed to mirror God and his Kingdom.

27 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

Replication - Marriage is designed for reproduction and multiplication.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply…”

- Genesis 1:28

Rulership - Marriage is designed to empower us to act on God’s behalf.

…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 1:26-28 ESV

You Can't Dispute the Fruit

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

- John 15:1-11

Real fruit can only come from abiding in the Vine.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”

- John 15:1

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

- John 15:5

The character of the tree determines the nature of the fruit.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

- John 15:8

 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. “

- Matthew 12:33

The fruit we bear is always visible.

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

- Matthew 7:16-20

Fruit exists for the benefit of others and for the glory of God.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

- John 15:16

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

- Colossians 1:10

Check Yo Self

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

- John 8:31-32

Three conditional promises with one relevant statement: “If you abide.”

• We will truly be his disciples.

• We will know the truth.

• The truth will set you free.

We are slaves by default.

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

- John 8:34

Jesus frees slaves.

We remain free by being disciples.

16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. - Romans 6:16-18 (NASB)

Staple Foods

Everyone depends on something.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

- John 6:25-26

The things we depend on can reveal what we’re desperate for.

“27 Do not work for the food that perishes…”

- John 6:27

30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

- John 6:30-31

God wants to meet our greatest needs through “the Bread of Life.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

- John 6:35

How does one eat “the Bread of Life”?

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

- John 6:48-51

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

- John 6:63

We deepen our dependence on God.

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

- John 6:66-69

When in Doubt

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids – blind, lame, and paralyzed – waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.

- John 5:2-4

Doubts exist in our damaged world.

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

- John 5:5-7

Jesus has the ability to give life.

8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

- John 5:8-9

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

- John 5:20-21

Jesus has the authority to judge.

22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son… 

- John 5:22

Acknowledge Jesus.

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

- John 5:23

Jesus gives us assurance.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

- John 5:24

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

- John 5:25-29

To Know the Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

- John 1:1-17, NIV

Jesus is “the Word” of God.

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

- John 1:18

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

- Hebrews 1:3

To know the Word is to know God.

39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me…

- John 5:39

14 We have seen his glory. the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

- John 1:14, 17

We can know God’s grace.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

- Ephesians 2:8

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

- John 1:16

We can know God’s truth.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

- John 1:9

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

- John 14:6-7

We can come to God with nothing hidden.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

- John 4:23-24

The Day After Christmas

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:17-20

Three ways to respond at the end of Christmas.

Ponder - Reflect the meaning of the event and the gift.

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

- Luke 2:17

Praise - Celebrate the gift.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:20

Proclaim - Celebrate the giver.

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

- Luke 2:17-18

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

- Isaiah 53:5-6