Many of the men in our church have embarked on a study of marriage. The goal is to eventually determine a framework for the biblical process whereby the unmarried become married. Various terms for this are courtship, betrothal, or engagement. We are studying the Scripture with a desire to limit extra-biblical influences. All of us have opinions and cultural backgrounds. We aren't necessarily rejecting these, but trying to find the scriptural principles. We hope to apply these in wisdom so that each of our children begin their married lives with the Lord's richest blessing.

Here are my summary notes on purpose. Several of us searched the scripture independently, then we discussed our findings on a Sunday afternoon. Here's the summary of what I took away from our meeting.

Purpose for Marriage

God initially created Adam/Man as a single person. The Man was single – he was alone. Man was good, but his aloneness was not good. God then intentionally took the Woman out of the Man. Marriage is the action by which two alone people join together in a holy companionship that is so complete and so deep that the two become a single flesh.

The separation of the woman from man and their rejoining in marriage is not an after thought by God. It is His intentional action to show His glory in a unique way. The mystery of marriage whereby two become one gives insight into the nature of Christ’s relationship to His church. It may also reveal some of the mystery of the Trinity, where 3 distinct Persons are so profoundly united that Theirs is a single Essence and Nature. It allows for the deepest possible human love in a companionship where man and woman are thrilled with one another.

As two become one flesh, fruitfulness is the natural result. Children come into the family, surrounded by the love present in the thrilling companionship of father and mother. Together the family subdues and rules the earth. The man provides for and protects his wife and family. The woman is his helper, bearing children, tending the home. In a home of purpose, work, love, and joy, children thrive and mature to follow their parent’s calling, expand the work of God, and surpass the parent’s righteousness.

Scriptures on the purpose of marriage, supporting this summary:

· Companionship, helper for man Gen 2:18-23, Mal 2:14-16
· Male/Female distinct, yet united portray God’s image (Gen 1:26-28)
(Gen 2: 22-24) Women from man (distinct), so must re-unite w/ Man as one flesh for completion, fruitfulness
· Fruitfulness, godly offspring taking dominion Gen 1:26-28,Lev 21:13-15, Jer 29:6, Mal 2:14-16
· Happiness of bride Deu 24:5, Song of Solomon
· Happiness of husband Prov 5:18, Song of Solomon 4:9-10
· Husband’s crown, Lord’s favor; Husband receives God’s blessing in his wife
Prov 12:4, Prov 18:22
· Prophetic message to God’s people Hosea 1:2
· To meet need of a non-eunuch Matt 19:3-12, even one w/ impeccable self-control?
· To avoid sexual immorality 1 Cor 7:2-9
· To satisfy a man’s longing for a beautiful woman - Deut 21:10-14
· Authority, legal protection for wife. Numbers 30
· Place of rest (comfort, stability, protection) for the wife - Ruth 1:8-9
· Displays Christ/Church relationship Rev 19:6-9

Remarriage purpose
· To “establish a name” for a deceased husband Deu 25:5-7, Ruth 4:10, Matt 22:24-33, Luke 20:28-34
· David/Abigail – reason unclear, merely David taking opportunity to marry a godly woman? David feels responsible for her after she’s widowed? 1Sam 25:32-42
· Resolve woman’s sensual desires - marry; bear children; keep house 1 Tim 5:11-14

Each Christian family must have a routine time of focusing on the scripture and praying for one another.  Here's what has worked well for us...

A Word in Season is a language arts instruction curriculum for K-12. The keystone of this curriculum is a four-year high school program that provides an orderly approach to developing language arts skills by integrating western history, literature, and writing.

A common objection is that the "Old Testament" God is mean and violent while Jesus and the "New Testament" God are nice, peaceful and mild. Serious Christians readily agree that God is the same throughout, yet many still find the Old Testament outdated or not "relevant" to our modern lives. We're tempted to turn chiefly to the New Testament for insight and wisdom and largely ignore the Old Testament, though it comprises 75% of inspired scripture. We may read the classic stories of David and Goliath and Noah's Ark but generally skip the mysterious prophetic books of Jeremiah, Obadiah, Amos, and the like.

As our family nears the completion of reading the Old Testament together, we are reading through these prophets. I can see why many are discouraged reading these books, and why many would not read these to their children. For example:

Amos 9:1-4
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said, "Smite the capitals so that the thresholds will shake, And break them on the heads of them all! Then I will slay the rest of them with the sword; They will not have a fugitive who will flee, Or a refugee who will escape.
"Though they dig into Sheol, From there shall My hand take them; And though they ascend to heaven, From there will I bring them down.
"And though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent and it will bite them.
"And though they go into captivity before their enemies, From there I will command the sword that it slay them, And I will set My eyes against them for evil and not for good."

This is the stuff of nightmares, hardly conducive to sleepfulness.  Rather jolting when compared to a sweet bedtime story or the common children's bedtime prayer "...I pray the Lord my soul to keep..."  And these prophets roll on for hundreds of pages, requiring months to read. As the daily readings turn into weeks, then months, one message becomes very clear: the Lord God is angry beyond expression and is relentless in His crushing of sinners. For me, "relentless" is the word that keeps coming to mind as we continue reading.

Rather than dismissing these books as too frightening or relevant only for ancient middle eastern cultures, we should embrace all the fury revealed in these writings. For this fury is aimed directly at you and me. God is indeed relentless and will not quit punishing until His indescribeable fury is quenched. For though His anger surpasses description, it is not unjust.

We love Jesus too little when we do not appreciate His work adequately. When you understand that you are the target of the punishment described by Amos, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and the others, you will fall in eternal laughter at the feet of the Lord Jesus. He took on Himself all this wrath and exhausted every penalty which you and I justly deserve.

So read the whole Bible, even the prophets - especially the prophets. Read it out loud with all the little children gathered round. Be appalled and terrified at the incredible violence and destruction God pours out on sinners. Then turn and adore the Savior, who took away the shame and guilt of His people. Pray that He will "keep your soul", then slide off into perfect blissful rest - tearfully, gratefully laughing yourself to sleep.

More on reading the Old Testament prophets:
The Prophets and the West (by Gene Edward Veith)
The More Things Change (by R.C. Sproul Jr.)

If your family struggles with reading the Bible's Old Testament histories, you may try this idea of reading harmonious sections in two "tracks".  In a chronological reading of the Old Testament, various historical periods are covered in more than one book.  The harmony between Samuel+1&2Kings with 1&2Chronicles is well known.  Likewise many of the prophets spoke in the same time periods, sometimes to the same king or addressed similar issues.  So another way to read the Old Testament is to read these harmonious sections in two tracks. 

In both tracks, you'd start with Genesis through Ruth.  As you come to the time of David, you can then follow one of the tracks.  Follow that track until the time of the return from Exile, when you'd finish with Ezra, Nehemiah, and other books of that period.

Specifically, here's the "common" start for either track:
Genesis 1 - 22
Job
Genesis 23 - 50
Exodus.... [More]

Then choose one of these tracks to continue past the Judges period:
Samuel/Kings Track
I Samuel 1 - 16:13
Psalm 23
I Samuel 16:14 - 19:11, Psalm 59....[More]

Chronicles Track
I Chronicles 1-10
Psalm 63
I Chronicles 11-12
Psalm 32, 69, 70...[More]

and finish the history with this "common" end:
Ezra 1 - 5:1
Haggai
Zechariah...[More]

Here's a plan that covers the major themes of the Bible in smaller readings of about 10 to 15 verses.  Young children can do at least one reading daily.  Older children may read several throughout the day.  Adults unfamiliar with the Bible can use the plan to more quickly learn the major themes.

The readings alternate through the New and Old Testaments, with Psalms and Proverbs mixed throughout.  The table below shows the first 135 readings of the 700+ total included in the attached file.  Print out the file and let your children use it as a daily checklist - it will help them develop a lifelong habit of daily scripture reading...

There are about a dozen verses in the Bible that refer to coming before God in "fear and trembling".  Most seem to refer to a discomfort in God's presence.  We generally categorize "fear" as a negative emotion.  "Trembling" seems to amplify the fear even further.  But then there's this verse... [Read on]

While there are various proofs for God's existence, I've found this to be the simplest and therefore the most compelling. If you can refute this, let me know. Seriously, I believe this sums up the claim in Romans 1:19-20 and is undeniable. I'm sure others have expressed this argument, but here it is in my words....

Generations have enjoyed learning Biblical truths with various catechisms.  The Children's Catechism is simple enough for the very young, yet contains the most profound truths of the Christian faith.  Here are ways to have a rich, daily time of family devotion.  See our online Family Devotion booklet for more ideas.

The family should work together on memorizing passages of scripture.  You can memorize sections of scripture up to a chapter or more in length by simply taking a verse at a time. Memorize a phrase or sentence, making sure not to start the next phrase until everyone has the current phrase well memorized.

Before going on, be blessed and motivated by this video of captivating "preaching" straight from the scripture: Ryan Ferguson presents Hebrews 9 and 10

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