140708 PM LESSON 5 The Joy Of Truth In Our Family Relationships

 “A More Excellent Way”    Lesson 5: The Joy Of Truth In Our Family Relationships (1 Corinthians 13:6)   Intro:   1. Love finds joy in truth. Honesty promotes love while deceit will destroy it.   2. Love motivates us to honor commitments and responsibilities to our families.    3. Love and joy should permeate our homes. (Proverb 15:17)   I. Love and Truth in our marriages.   1. “Let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:4-6)   a. Love honors the blessing of marriage. (Genesis 2:18; Proverb 18:22)   b. Fill a marriage with love and optimism. (1 John 4:7-11)   2. Respect for one another promotes joy. (1 Peter 3:1-7)    3. Nourish and cherish. (Ephesians 5:28-33)   a. “As unto myself” (Apply principle: Luke 6:31)   b. Express our love through appreciation. (Apply principle: Ephesians 1:15-16)   4. Giving honor to the way God has created us. (1 Peter 3:7)   a. Love as Christ loved. (John 11:33-35)   b. Be thankful for the creative genius that created them male and female.   5. “Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled.” (Hebrews 13:4)   a. Fornication and adultery wreck marriages, lives, and homes.   b. It is more than just a physical act. It is the breaking of a bond and a trust. True love will not do that. When the temptation presents itself address it from the true source. Why has the love for my spouse lowered so much that I would consider breaking our marriage bond? Once you start being honest about those truths you can strive to improve the relationship and avoid the temptations.   c. Rekindle the love and joy with the “wife of your youth.” (Malachi 2:15)   II. Love promotes truth within the family of God.   1. “Whatsoever things are honorable” (Philippians 4:8)   2. “Especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10)   Conclusion:   1. Love promotes truth and honest in every relationship. It is especially necessary in marriage.   2. Lies and deceit destroy relationships.   3. Our love for one another is the bond that keeps us from falling into the temptations that can sever and injure those relationships.