SUMMARY

He’s neither a ‘hopeless romantic’ nor embarrassed by romance. Love, marriage, and sex are part of His design to produce image-bearers who reflect His glory and care for each other. This unit will survey the story of romance in God’s plan, its intention for good, its limitations due to sin, and its ultimate culmination in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Join us at 7:00am in the Parlor at Colonial Baptist Church. (Come little early for coffee and a light breakfast.)

2. Do you have a health risk related to COVID-19? You can participate via Zoom using THIS LINK.

3. Immediately following the large group, we break into discussion / prayer groups. If you are not yet in a group, contact Scott Wylie.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THE LESSON

• The story of romance begins with the very first song in the Bible. Read Genesis 2:23-25. How would you describe God’s ideal for marriage in this passage?

• When mankind fell into sin, it broke our relationships, including marriages. The woman will tend to desire her husband in idolatrous ways, and the man will tend to rule over his wife in prideful ways. Read Genesis 3:16. How do we see this play out in marriages today?

• We look for connection and significance. Many of us turn to romance and love to try and satisfy these needs. But because of our selfishness, we miss out on the story God is telling. God is telling a story of grace in our romantic relationships, but it’s not ultimately about us. What do you think romance can look like when it’s about God and not us?

• God hates divorce, because it tears apart what He has put together. Read Mark 10:2-9. Why do you think Jesus refers back not to the Law but to creation?

• What was the main purpose of marriage? It wasn’t that married people would always be happy. Instead, God determined that loving a sinner was glorifying to Him. How can we find joy even when those we love fail us?

• Marriage vows exist for the bad times. We need to promise to stick together in “worse… poverty… sickness.” Why do difficult circumstances often lead us to stop loving and serving each other?

• The story of Christ and His Bride is messy and difficult. Hosea’s story is a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. Read Hosea 3:1-5. How would you feel if you were Hosea in this situation?

• Jesus doesn’t just tolerate us; He lavishes His love on us. Read Ephesians 5:22-33. How does the Gospel empower married people to love and serve each other?

• No one starts out married, and not all are called to marriage. Still, the members of the church are called to exhort and encourage one another. How can healthy marriages strengthen the entire local church?

• When Christ returns, we won’t need marriage anymore. Read Matthew 22:30 and Revelation 21:9-10. How will Jesus’s return fulfill everything that earthly marriages foreshadow?