Series: Family: Covenant Relationships
Message Title: Husbands and Wives – The Covenant of Harmony
Introduction
Marriage is not a contract—it’s a covenant. At the heart of every covenant is intimacy: knowing and being known. God designed marriage to reflect His everlasting covenant love, to bring harmony out of differences, and to be a living sermon of Christ’s love for His church.
Take time this week to reflect on your marriage (or your perspective on marriage if you are single) and ask God to strengthen your understanding of covenant relationships.
Reflection Questions
1. Intimacy with God
- Read John 17:3 (NLT): “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth.”
- How would you describe your current intimacy with God?
- In what ways does your relationship with Him shape the way you love your spouse (or prepare you to love a future spouse)?
2. Intentionality in Relationships
- God designed intimacy to be intentional, not automatic.
- Where do you need to be more intentional in showing love, respect, or attention in your marriage (or close relationships)?
- What practical step could you take this week to nurture covenant intimacy rather than letting convenience take over?
3. God’s Design for Marriage
- Read Genesis 2:24 (NLT): “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
- How does viewing marriage as God’s idea—not society’s—change the way you approach it?
- Where might your perspective need to realign with God’s original design?
4. Covenant vs. Contract
- Read Luke 22:20 (NLT): “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”
- Are there areas in your marriage where you’ve slipped into “contract thinking” (keeping score, withholding love, waiting on the other to act first)?
- What would it look like to shift back to “covenant thinking”—giving 100% no matter what?
5. Your Marriage as a Sermon
- Read Ephesians 5:25 (NLT): “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her…”
- If your marriage is a sermon, what message is it currently preaching?
- What changes might help your marriage (or future marriage) better reflect the love of Christ to others?
Closing Thought
Covenant love always requires intentionality, sacrifice, and grace—but it produces harmony and life. This week, invite God to realign your relationships with His design and to help you live out covenant intimacy that reflects Christ’s love.
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