Fundamental Belief on Marriage and the Family
Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For the Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who share a common faith. Mutual love, honor,
Read MoreAn Affirmation of Marriage
Issues related to marriage can be seen in their true light only as they are viewed against the background of the divine ideal for marriage. Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus Christ to be both monogamous and heterosexual, a lifelong union of loving companionship between a man and a woman. In
Read MoreAn Affirmation of God’s Gift of Sexuality
Human beings are created in the image of a relational God and designed to enjoy an intimate relationship with their Creator and one another (Gen. 1:26, 27; Matt. 22:37-39; John 17:3; 1 John 4:11, 12). From the beginning, God fashioned humankind in two genders, male and female (Gen. 1:27). Magnificent expressions of His creative genius,
Read MoreAssisted Human Reproduction — Considerations
Developments in medical technology have led to a number of interventions designed to assist human procreation. Procedures such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, embryo transfer, and cloning increasingly provide new options in human reproduction. Such interventions raise serious ethical questions for Christians seeking God’s will on these issues. The hope of having children
Read MoreBibliography for Marriage Preparation
Chidwick, Ann. (1994). New beginnings: A remarriage preparation program manual . Milwaukee, WI: Families International, Inc. Chidwick, Ann. (1994). New beginnings: A remarriage preparation workbook . Milwaukee, WI: Families International, Inc. Family Life Committee.(1987). Beginnings . Wahroonga, Australia: South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Flowers, Ron & Watts, Kit. (1985). Preparing for marriage . Department
Read MorePreparing Couples for Marriage
Marriage is a Process A wedding is one of life’s most significant celebrations. It merits all the careful thought and planning usually invested in its preparation. Of course planning for the ceremony itself is a part of preparation for marriage and you-the pastor-will have your responsibilities to attend to in every cultural setting. However, wedding
Read MoreGrace Changes Everything
Theme: The grace of God empowers and energizes us to produce happy, healthy marriages. Theme Text: Ephesians 1-5 Presentation Notes: Throughout the following outline, numbers in parentheses (1), (2), (3) will indicate illustrations, quotations and other material found in the section called Sermon Illumination that may be helpful in your sermon development and delivery. Seventh-day
Read MoreClose Companions
Theme: The close companionship of a husband and wife in marriage helps them to be better equipped to face and endure whatever crises life may bring. Theme Text: Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:28-30; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Presentation Notes: The notes presented in this section do not constitute a prepared sermon script. The following helps are designed to
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