MARRIAGE AND FAMILY – GOD’S DESIGN FOR FAMILY LIFE

We’re glad you’re here as we begin this important and meaningful study on Marriage and Family: God’s Design for Family Life. Whether you’re single, married, raising children, or simply seeking to understand God’s heart for relationships, this topic speaks to all of us.

Marriage and family are part of God’s beautiful design not just for companionship, but for love, growth, and spiritual legacy. In a world where these foundations are often challenged, we’ll turn to Scripture to rediscover His perfect plan, and how we can live it out with grace, purpose, and joy. Let’s open our hearts and the Word of God together.

Before we begin, let us pray.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of marriage and family, the foundation of love, life, and community. As we begin this lesson, open our hearts and minds to understand Your purpose for these sacred relationships. Help us to learn with wisdom, reflect with humility, and grow in love for one another.

May Your guidance shape our thoughts, and may Your truth lead us in all we do.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY – GOD’S DESIGN FOR FAMILY LIFE

God created marriage and family as a sacred foundation for human relationships, growth, and the nurturing of faith. From the beginning, the Bible presents family as central to His plan.

1. God’s Blueprint for Marriage

• Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

• God created marriage to be a lifelong, exclusive covenant between a man and a woman.

• Unity, intimacy, and mutual support are central.

• Ephesians 5:22–33 – Paul compares marriage to Christ and the Church.

• Husbands are called to love sacrificially, as Christ loved the Church.

• Wives are encouraged to respect and support their husbands.

• Mutual love, service, and submission (Ephesians 5:21) form the core of a godly marriage.

2. Purpose of Family

• Malachi 2:15 – “Did he not make them one? … And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring.”

• Families are meant to raise children in faith and love.

• God desires that families reflect His character and pass down spiritual heritage.

• Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – Parents are instructed to teach God’s Word diligently to their children.

• Family is the first place children should learn about God and develop character.

3. Roles Within the Family

• Colossians 3:18–21

• Wives: Submit respectfully.

• Husbands: Love without harshness.

• Children: Obey parents.

• Fathers: Encourage, not discourage.

• Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

• Parents have the responsibility to guide and model godliness.

4. Challenges and Grace

• No family is perfect—Scripture is full of real stories of brokenness (e.g., David, Jacob, and even Adam & Eve).

• Yet God offers grace, healing, and restoration.

• Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

Key Themes to Reflect On

• Covenant over contract: Marriage is spiritual, not just legal.

• Servant leadership: Love and sacrifice are central.

• Generational faith: Parents are primary faith leaders.

• Grace in imperfection: God works through our brokenness.

Thank you for joining us in exploring God’s design for marriage and family. We pray that this study has encouraged, challenged, and inspired you to build your home on His truth with love, grace, and purpose at the center.

No matter where you are in life, remember: God is faithful to guide, restore, and strengthen families who seek Him. May His wisdom continue to shape your relationships and your legacy.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.