TOPIC: ESSENCE OF MARRIAGE [SUNDAY, 4TH MARCH 2018]
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
OPENING PRAYER
Father, give us many marriages this year. Terminate factors which prevent our youths from holy marriage.
MEMORY VERSE ‘’Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” – Hebrews 13:4
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 2:15-25
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
INTRODUCTION
Marriage is the oldest human institution. It is older than the Church or any human government. Marriage has been ordained of the Lord for companionship and the procreation of the race. Marriage leads to the establishment of homes for children where happiness and joy can reign (Proverbs 18:22). Although we live in the days of low moral standards, when marriage vows are easily broken and divorce is considered common, God’s law and standard do not change. Any Christian who breaks his marriage vows is therefore playing with fire.
TEXT REVIEW: Gen 2:15-25
i. The Lord God said, “it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a help meet for him”. Gen 2:18
ii. The Lord God noted, ” But for Adams, there was not found an help meet for him”. Gen2:20
iii. The Lord God went into action and “made a women, and brought her to the man”. Gen 2:22
iv. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Gen 2:25.
Some deductions can be made out of the above stated biblical references:
i. God created the woman (He also created the man). Gen. 1:27, 2:7
ii. God created woman for man
iii. God knows the need of every man
iv. God hate isolation or loneliness.
v. God knows the perfect help meet for every man
vi. God can source for help meet.
vii. God can meet all our needs
viii. God is the provider.
ix. God ordained openness between husband and wife.
x. God ordained them to live together.
xi. God ordained them to consummated their union with the following words: ” cleave “, ” one flesh” “naked”.
xii. God blessed the marriage with joy, acceptance and unity not shame and disparity, etc.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Why should we marry?
2. Who should a Christian marry?
WHY SHOULD WE MARRY?
1. Teacher should ask those who are married in their classes to explain why they got married
2. Teacher should note the reoccurring reasons in their responses for possible emphasis or correction.
3. Teacher should teach the students biblical reasons for marriage as highlighted below:
i. To obey the command of God (Genesis 1:28; 2:24).
Ii. For fellowship (Genesis 2:18).
iii. For partnership (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11). It takes to make “one flesh”. (Genesis 2:24).
iv. To satisfy the sexual and emotional desires that are good, holy and legitimate but can only be satisfied in marriage (1Corinthians 7:2, 9).
v. For the propagation of the human race (Genesis 9:1).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Class should mention other forms of marriages which did not satisfy the above-stated reasons for marriage.
WHO SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MARRY?
Question:
Who should a Christians marry?
Answer:
i. Christians should marry Christians. 2Corinthians 6:14-17.
ii. Husband and wife should worship Christ together. 2Corinthians 6:14-17
Question:
Why should these positions stand?
Answer:
i. God’s command: ‘be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers’. 11Cor. 6:14a
ii. Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness. 11Cor. 6: 14b
iii. Light has no communion with darkness. 11Cor. 6:14c
iv. Christ has no concord with Belial. 11Cor. 6:15a
v. Believers have no part with infidels 11Cor. 6: 15b.
vi. God’s temple has no agreement with idols.11Cor. 6: 16a.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Mention reasons why light and darkness should not stay to together.
SUMMARY
God commanded Christians to marry only Christians
CONCLUSION
If you are a man, then, look for a godly woman and marry her.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, give believers understanding to discover your purpose in marriage.
ASSIGNMENT
Find out five reasons why some men do not want to marry in line with God’s directives. Give five pieces or advice to the identified reasons.
