PowerPoint Presentation

WHAT IS MARRIAGE REALLY?Living in sin, pieces of paper, & the same sex debates

ABBA I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO

BON JOVI LIVING IN SIN

LIVING IN SIN BON JOVI

I DON'T NEED NO LICENSETO SIGN ON NO LINEAND I DON'T NEED NO PREACHERTO TELL ME YOU'RE MINE

I DON'T NEED NO DIAMONDSI DON'T NEED NO NEW BRIDEI JUST NEED YOU, BABYTO LOOK ME IN THE EYE

I KNOW THEY HAVE A HARD TIMEAND YOUR DADDY DON'T APPROVEBUT I DON'T NEED YOUR DADDYTELLING US WHAT WE SHOULD DO

LIVING IN SIN BON JOVI

NOW THERE'S A MILLION QUESTIONSI COULD ASK ABOUT OUR LIVESBUT I ONLY NEED ONE ANSWERTO GET ME THROUGH THE NIGHT

AND I SAY

BABY, CAN YOU TELL ME JUST WHERE WE FIT INI CALL IT LOVE THEY CALL IT LIVING IN SINIS IT YOU AND ME OR JUST THIS WORLD WE LIVE INWE'RE LIVING ON LOVE THEY SAY WE'RE LIVING IN SIN

LIVING IN SIN BON JOVI

IS IT RIGHT FOR BOTH OUR PARENTSWHO FIGHT IT OUT MOST NIGHTSTHEN PRAY FOR GOD'S FORGIVENESSWHEN THEY BOTH TURN OUT THE LIGHTS

OR WEAR THAT RING OF DIAMONDSWHEN YOUR HEART IS MADE OF STONEYOU CAN TALK BUT STILL SAY NOTHINGYOU STAY TOGETHER BUT ALONE

OR IS IT RIGHT TO HOLD YOUAND KISS YOUR LIPS GOODNIGHTTHAT PROMISE IS FOREVERIF YOU SIGN IT ON THE DOTTED LINE

LIVING IN SIN BON JOVI

OH BABY CAN YOU TELL ME JUST WHERE WE FIT INI CALL IT LOVE THEY CALL IT LIVING IN SINIS IT YOU AND ME OR JUST THIS WORLD WE LIVE INWE'RE LIVING ON LOVE THEY SAY WE'RE LIVING IN SIN

HEY BABY, CAN YOU TELL ME JUST WHERE WE FIT IN?I CALL IT LOVE THEY CALL IT LIVING IN SINOH IS IT YOU AND ME OR JUST THIS WORLD WE LIVE INWE'RE LIVING ON LOVE OR ARE WE LIVING IN SIN?

I DONT KNOW JUST WHERE WE FIT INSOMETIMES IT SCARES ME

LIVING IN SIN

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGINI DON'T KNOW WHERE WE FIT IN

LIVING IN SIN

Apart from a piece of paper, whats the difference between living together and being married?

Who is more married those who live together in love, or those who are legally married but who fight it out most nights?

Whats the difference? What makes a marriage?Why does marriage seem to be so important to God?

DISCUSSWHAT IS MARRIAGE?

In the language of the bible, marriage is a relationship in which two things happen:

Each partner makes themselves completely vulnerable to the other nothing held back, nothing protected, complete abandon, total risk. No back up plan. No exit strategy no back door.

Each partner puts a promise around the other essentially saying before you make yourself vulnerable, before I take anything from you, I am giving you my promise to lay my life down for you in every sense.

Marriage is Gods way of protecting people particularly women from allowing the first part to be taken, without the second part being given.

(This is the essence of Ephesians 5)

Love is handing your heart to someone and taking the risk that they will hand it back because they dont want it. Thats why its such a crushing ache on the inside. We gave away a part of ourselves and it wasnt wanted.

Love is a giving away of power. When we love, we give the other person the power in the relationship. They can do what they like with our love. They can reject it, they can accept it.

A decision not to risk again is a decision not to love again. They go together..- Rob Bell, Sex God

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

Its not about morality, religion, or making it legal. Thats a contract, not a covenant, not a promise.

Its about being people that promise to give before they take. Its about recognising the vulnerability of others and promising to place nurture and protection around them. Its about pledging your wealth, your welfare, your very life in security against the chance that anybody is ever exploited by you.

Its etching this concept as the core of your character in how you relate to others and guard against your own selfishness. Most powerfully and to the greatest extreme in your most intimate relationship.

It is about embodying something more powerful than this world, its desires and our own black hearts.

It is a death sentence for selfishness and a commitment to choose life. Thats what marriage is.

In a purely political or legal contract, the stipulations are the centre of the arrangement. In the biblical covenant, the relationship is central and prior to [any] stipulations. The stipulations exist to serve the relationship - Michael D Williams, Far As The Curse Is Found

GUNSNROSES YOU COULD BE MINE + DONT CRY

He said that exploiting women for sex didnt just rob them of their humanity, it robbed him of his as well.- Rob Bell, Sex God

When its just sex, then thats all it is. It leaves the person deeply unconnected.

You can be having sex with many, and yet youre alone. And the more sex you have, the more alone you are.

And its possible to be sleeping alone, and celibate, and to be very sexual. Connected with many.

Its also possible to be married to somebody and sharing the same bed and be very disconnected. Its possible to be married to somebody and sharing the same bed and even having sex regularly and still be profoundly disconnected.

If there are secrets that havent been shared, topics that cant be discussed, things from the past that are forbidden to be brought up, it can cripple a marriage. And so theyre sleeping together, but theyre really sleeping alone.

- Rob Bell, Sex God

CHER BELIEVE

Sex becomes a search. A search for something theyre missing. A quest for the unconditional embrace. So they go from relationship to relationship, looking for what they already have.

But sex is not the search for something thats missing. Its the expression of something thats been found. - Rob Bell, God Sex

In sexuality and in our relationships we are supposed to embody Gods vulnerability, his promise of selfless protection toward others, and the oneness and unity that those elements create.

We cant do that when our hearts walk with a limp if we are closed, protecting ourselves, or managing bitterness or anger.

Bitterness and anger are false strength. Real power lies in forgiveness and healing.

What can you do to make forgiveness one of the foundations of your relationship?

DISCUSS

THE SAME SEX DEBATES

We seem to act as if we have to protect marriage. You cant violate marriagemarriage is an embodiment of God. God doesnt fear us, nor need our protection.

We need to promote the rights and protection of our entire society. In its ignorance, the State is trying to equalise marriage as another right.

Marriage isnt a right, its a promise. Its a death sentence to selfishness. Your benefit at my expense.

If need be, I will die so that you might live.

All partnerships should be entitled to legal protection. But that is a contract not a covenant. Although they use the word, this isnt really marriage.

And this is not simply a gay issue. What most heterosexual couples possess isnt really marriage.

Our job is not to protect the legal status of marriage. Our job is to demonstrate what marriage really is.

The problem is many of us dont embody this either.

MEAT LOAF WHAT ABOUT LOVE?

Are we embodying what marriage really is?

Do we embody the sexuality of freedom, connectedness and openness that comes from being connected with ourselves and God?

Do we display this wholeness regardless of whether we are single or in a relationship?

And when we enter a relationship (romantic or otherwise) do we place the other persons benefit above ours and promise our sacrifice for their gain?

This is the way of the cross. This is what marriage really is. This is the way to real life.

IN CLOSING