My church, Harvestfield, just completed the “Marriage [seated]” series.  This is the 3rd year in a row that our pastor, Eric Reaves, has preached about marriage.  He plans to continue this tradition as an annual series because it is such an important topic that we all need to be reminded of regularly.  The [seated] part of the series is about being seated with Christ and with each other.  We need to be seated together with Christ before we can “accomplish” anything.

Here are the highlights of each week’s sermon.  I hope you, married or single, will take this to heart and pray this over your marriage or possible future marriage.

1) The Priority of Marriage – When God thought of marriage, He intended that this special commitment between a man and a woman would be more important than any other human relationship.  There should only be 3 people in your wedding band = You, Your Spouse, and Jesus…. not your kids, your in-laws, your friends, your job, money, hobbies, etc…

2) The Roles of Husband and Wife – God thought that a man and woman should mutually submit to one another in marriage so as to recognize the roles that best promote a healthy “oneness”.   (Ephesians 5:22-33)

3) The Purity of Marriage – God gave sex to husbands and wives to be a sacred expression of “oneness” for procreation, union, and mystery.  Sex is to be respected and protected and the “marriage bed” kept pure.

4) Love is a Choice – At the heart of marriage, love is a choice; a life-long pursuit of an imperfect person without the option of divorce.  Marriage is giving love with no strings attached.  (Of course, there are always exceptions when abuse is involved)

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24 NIV

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24 AMP

(I love the use of the word “cleave” in the Amplied version… Please, cleave to your husbands and wives… if you give your marriage to God, He will bless it!)