Last Week

---

WEEK 8 - JUNE 12 & 15, 2014

Texts: Isaiah 49:14-18, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12-13, Romans 5:1-5 Big idea: Your love for God and your spouse is designed to flourish, not grow

stale.

One Degree Follow Up (5 minutes)

Last Week:

Apologize for your pride and selfishness. Repent from fighting with the intent of winning the fight. Commit to winning the heart of your spouse in conflict. Study Mark 10:45 and Philippians 2:5-7 and commit to serve. Pursue Reconciliation Tool: -When you ___________, I feel _______________. Listen and Respond. Don’t defend your side.

Accountability Question

1. How did you handle conflict this past week? 2. Did you fight to love or fight to win? The Recap (10 minutes) This past week Pastor Joby unpacked Song of Solomon chapter 7 to reveal a constant pursuit of love between husband and wife. God relentlessly pursues the hearts of people with an undying love. God IS Love, therefore we can love because He first loved us. We have the ability to create a flourishing environment or a toxic environment in our relationships that will either grow or kill love. God’s love is not stale and boring and He did not create marriages to be loveless and lifeless. Growing old together should result in 1

deepening one’s knowledge and love of their spouse and stirring up worship for God the Giver of such good things.

Questions (From the Weekend Sermon) 1. Has your love for your spouse grown deeper or grown stale over time? 2. Has your love for Jesus grown deeper or grown stale over time? No matter where you are, COME TO JESUS. He is the source of Love and is in the business of raising things up from the dead.

Teaching & Dialogue Growing Old Together It is a beautiful scene when you see a gray haired couple hold hands as they walk across the street. All of their years on this earth are shown in their winkles, but their years together as one are more deeply engraved in their hearts. As they look down at their wedding bands they are reminded of the covenant they made before God and the love they have chosen to live out while growing old together. In Isaiah 49, the picture is even more beautiful as Isaiah tells Israel that God has engraved them on His hands and has not forgotten His covenant with them. Have someone read Isaiah 49:14-18 out loud. Israel often doubted God and believed they had been forgotten, but through all the trials and tribulations God promised restoration to His bride. With the fulfillment of the new covenant through Christ, the surrendered can live their faith out with blessed assurance. Once justified in Christ and adopted into God’s family, the surrendered are in a process of sanctification. This process is the maturing of faith to become more like Christ. Have someone read Galatians 2:20 out loud. Have someone read Philippians 2:12-13 out loud. Have someone read Romans 5:1-5 out loud. As one grows up in their faith they continually die to themselves, work out their faith with reverence for Christ, and persevere through sufferings. The process is a journey just like a marriage is. There are times of joy and times of sadness. There are times when passion is present and times when the foundation of friendship is essential to survive. 2

Whether it comes to your marriage and/or your relationship with Jesus, it is necessary to stir up passion and remember why you love. In your marriage you must cultivate an environment that sparks fond memories of each other and areas of romance as you grow old together. In your faith you must place things in your life that cultivate a life of worship and renew your divine romance with your Savior.

Questions and Application To those that are married: Marriage is not based on feelings, but it is a commitment where friendship is pursued and romance ignited. Our God is a creative and passionate God who reveals His character to His children. Your marriage should be just as creative and intimate. 1. When is the last time there was romance in your marriage? How can you cultivate romance? 2. How do you pursue friendship with your spouse? 3. How can you be creative with your time together? (If you need some help go to Google and type in the thinking closet 101 date ideas…plan some!) 4. What do you appreciate about your spouse’s character? How often do you validate these qualities? 5. How do you and your spouse grow in your faith together? How do you grow separately? (Everybody’s relationship with Jesus is their own, which means everyone needs their own individual time with the Lord.) 6. How are you cultivating a life of worship and renewing your passion for Christ? (This looks different for everybody. Some feel the presence of the Lord more when they explore God’s creation and some feel closer to Him when they serve people, etc.) 7. As you grow old together what is your hope for your marriage? (Evaluate the path your marriage is on now and set it to head towards this goal.) 3

To those not married: Whether married or not, God’s character and covenant does not change for you. He desires an intimate relationship with you. 1. How are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling? (Remember, you cannot earn your salvation or more of God’s love. The process of sanctification is living out your faith as you become more like Christ.) 2. How are you pursuing God honoring friendships? 3. How are you cultivating a life of worship and renewing your passion for Christ? (This looks different for everybody. Some feel the presence of the Lord more when they explore God’s creation and some feel closer to Him when they serve people, etc.) 4. How can you be creative in the way you express love to others? 5. If your desire is to get married one day how are you preparing yourself now to be in an intimate friendship with your spouse? (Think about how you can guard your heart in areas, specifically with the opposite gender.)

Moment of Truth:

The way you respond to your spouse and/or the call of God cultivates the environment where love is grown or stunted.

One Degree Turn:

Tonight, pull out your calendars and plan a time of creativity and renewal of passion this week. Plan a creative date night with your spouse, an intimate time with Jesus that is outside of your normal schedule and execute the plan! Growing old together in your marriage or growing in your faith is not supposed to be boring and monotonous!

4