This post is about Sunday’s message, “Looking for a Sign,” which can be heard on iTunes and our podcast feed. As always, you can get all messages in this and other series in the same place.
If you are the discussion leader in your group, read over these questions and use the ones that best apply to your group. Before you start, make sure your group has their BIbles, or their YouVersion Bible App ready.
In this series, we’re asking the question, “What exactly is a Christian marriage?” There is one key truth that we get from Ephesians that we’ll start from each week.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. –Ephesians 5:31-32 NLT
This key truth is that Christian marriage draws a picture of Christ and the Church. What does this mean?
In this week’s message, Steve talked about “signs of love and hope” in marriage. What is one way your spouse has shown you a sign of love in the past?
On Sunday, we talked about how God’s ultimate sign of love for us is Jesus. What are some other signs of His love for us? Yeah, I thought that might be tough. It is a little abstract, isn’t it? Let’s look at four “signs” of God’s love for us, as described in Scripture, and talk about how our marriages mirror the Gospel, drawing a picture of Christ and the church:
God’s Grace
God’s grace is His unmerited favor towards us. Read the following verses about His grace, and describe how we show grace in our marriage.
Ephesians 2:5, Romans 11:6, John 1:17, Romans 6:14
God’s Forgiveness
Forgiveness is freeing a person from guilt and consequences. Read the following verses about HIs forgiveness, and describe how we forgive.
1 John 1:7-9, Mark 2:5, Psalm 103:1-18, Isaiah 43:25
God’s Truth
God’s truth is absolute, not relative. What does that mean? God shows His unique integrity and consistency in His truth. Read the following verses about truth, and describe how we are truthful in marriage.
Psalm 43:3, Romans 3:4, John 3:33, John 14:6
God’s Mercy
Mercy has been defined as “compassion on the miserable.” God extends compassion to us, knowing that we could never earn it. Read the following verses about mercy, and describe mercy within marriage.
John 1:16-17, 1 Chronicles 21:13, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 9:23