How to Choose the Right Spouse (101)

Step 1: Know what to Look For.

Step 2: Know what’s at Stake.

Step 3: Choose Prayerfully.

The 3 C's of Spouse Selection

1. Christ

   Proverbs 19:14 - House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.



2. Character

   Proverbs 31:10 - An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.



3. Counsel

   Proverbs 15:22 - Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Appendix A: Am I a Wise Choice?

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Sermon Audio: (no recording)

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read Proverbs 12:4

1. How would you instruct a teenager/young adult to look for character when it comes time for them to consider a spouse?
    
2. Suppose a friend of yours (a Christian) is in a serious relationship with a non­-Christian. 
   Would you say something to your friend, or just let him/her be?
   If you did have opportunity to speak to him/her about this situation, what would you say?
    
3. Suppose another Christian friend of yours is married, but comes to you and says they are considering divorce and want your opinion. What would you say?

Breakout Questions:

1. What is your weakest area as a spouse? (for the unmarried, what do you foresee as a weak area for you when you do get married?)
    
2. Pray for one another.

Be Who You Are in Christ

Who am I?

1. I am United with Christ. (Rom 6:1-5)


2. I am Free from the power of sin. (Rom 6:6-7)


3. I am Alive to God's purposes. (Rom 6:8-11)


4. I am God's Instrument. (Rom 6:12-14)

Guest Speaker - Taylor Brown

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read Romans 6:1-14

1. Romans 6:3-5 talks a lot about baptism and its role in the Christian life. Why is baptism so vitally important to the Christian life? Share your baptism story with your group and how it has impacted you.
    
2. Why is being transparent and open about our struggles and sins with close Christian friends so important to living in freedom from sin on a daily basis? Why are we so afraid of being known by others and how can we combat against this?
    
3. Romans 6:11 declares, “So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” What does this look like on a daily basis and how can we pursue taking advantage of the new life God has given us everyday?
    
4. Romans 6:13 commands us to “not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and you members to God as instruments for righteousness.” How can we obey this verse and instead of giving ourselves over to our sin, give ourselves over to the purposes of God? What does living this verse out on a daily basis look like?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another.

To the Powerless: I am the Vine

1. The cast of this passage: (Jn 15:1-6)


1. Vine = Jesus Christ = The Source of Life.


2. Vinedresser = God the Father = The Active Worker.


3. Branches = Man = The Fruit Bearers.


2. How do I know I'm abiding? (Jn 15:7-11)


1. I experience a powerful Prayer life. (Jn 15:7)


2. I experience a fruitful Ministry. (Jn 15:8)


3. I experience a loving Obedience. (Jn 15:9-10)


4. I experience a supernatural Joy. (Jn 15:11)

So what do I need as a Christian?

• I need money
• I need happiness
• I need more time
• I need to get things done
• I need to be the best
• I need to be perfect
• I need to abide!

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 15:1-11

1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? (Jn 15:4-7, 9-10) Describe specifically what that looks like in the life of an “abider”.
    
2. Tell of a way God has “pruned” you with hard circumstances, and how that has resulted in fruitfulness in your life.

Breakout Questions:

Take the Test! Evaluate the proofs of abiding from John 15:7-11
Rate the following from 1­-10 (1 = poor, 10 = strong).
Go around the group for each question, then everybody answer the last one.

1. I am experiencing a powerful prayer life. (Jn 15:7)
2. I am experiencing a fruitful ministry. (Jn 15:8)
3. I am experiencing loving obedience. (Jn 15:9-10)
4. I am experiencing supernatural joy. (Jn 15:11)
5. In the area I am weakest, what choices can I make to abide in Christ?

To the Troubled: I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

1. There is a PEACE that Jesus PROVIDES (Jn 14:1)


2. There is a PLACE that Jesus PREPARES (Jn 14:2-3)


3. There is a PATH that Jesus PRESCRIBES (Jn 14:4-6, Jn 3:16)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 14:1-6

1. How does “believing in God, Believing also in <Jesus>“ keep your heart from being troubled? (Jn 14:1)
2. How does Jesus calling heaven “My Father’s House” make you think about heaven? (Jn 14:23)
3. How would you respond to someone who says, “There are many ways to God.” (Jn 14:6)

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

To those in Despair: I AM the Resurrection

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

1. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Timing (Jn 11:1-16)


2. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Ability (Jn 11:17-27)


3. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Motives (Jn 11:28-38)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 11:1-46

1. John 11:5-6 says Jesus loved Lazarus, so He waited 2 days before He went to him! Why does it seem that God is always late?
    
2. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so Jesus’ glory could be revealed in raising him. Tell of a time God allowed suffering in your life, and you saw how He revealed His glory through it.
    
3. In Jn 11:24, Martha said she believed Lazarus would resurrect in the future, but not now. Why do we sometimes fall into that kind of thinking, hesitating to believe God can do something now?
    
4. Why did Jesus weep (Jn 11:35)? What does this tell you about God?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.