The Vow of Partnership

Why people might live together first:
Financial benefits, To test compatibility, To Clarify intentions

What studies actually show about living together before marriage
Higher divorce rates, Lower marriage quality, Increased conflict

Sometimes, people want to pretend marriage and practice divorce.

The Vow of Priority
I vow that God will be my first priority and my spouse will be my second.

The Vow of Pursuit
I vow to always pursue my “two.”

The Vow of Partnership
I vow that my marriage will be about “we” and not “me.”

Question: What are your thoughts about partnership and marriage? 

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife and the two become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

You can’t change our past, but you can change your future

and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?, 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:5–6.

Marriage is covenant, not a contract

A contract is based on mutual distrust.
A covenant is based on mutual submission.

Marriage is not dividing everything in half, it’s giving everything you’ve got.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. I John 3:16 NLT

A Covenant Partnership consists of Godly Leadership and Mutual Submission.

Question: What does “mutual submission” mean to you? What would be an important aspect of a godly life?

Covenant Partnership.
Mutual Submission
…submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. Ephesians 5:21

Wives role
Wives, submit, to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:22–23.
Respect your husband so that he will the man God has called him to be. 
Husbands role
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her Ephesians 5:25

Men, You are called to 
lay down your life.
lead as you follow Jesus.

Dictatorship is not leadership

Humility is godly. Domination is sin.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8
Your marriage will only be as good as you BOTH want it to be.

I vow that my marriage will be about “we” and not “me.”

Reflection/prayer
Do I seek mutual submission in my marriage?
(Wives) Do I respect my husband? Publicly?
(Husbands) Do I lead and not dominate my wife and family?