Week 6 Summary
This past Sunday, we continued our study of core beliefs by looking at God’s design for marriage and the family, the intimacy which should exist in these relationships, and they ways in which this should be expressed. NHC’s statement of beliefs puts our church’s understanding of the scriptures into these words:
“We believe and teach that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church, and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
Therefore, we also believe and teach that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are contrary to Scripture, and perversions of God’s gift of sex, and are unacceptable behavior.”
To review the main points of Sunday’s message, we see the bible tells us:
- God created man and woman as a pair, perfectly designed to complement each other.
- Biblical marriage is a special union of one man and one woman who commit themselves to each other for as long as they both shall live.
- Physical intimacy is one of the expressions of this union, and is to be enjoyed only within the marriage relationship.
- Sex between anyone other than a man and woman joined in marriage is contrary to God’s design.
- Marriage creates a family unit between the husband and wife which becomes pre-eminent over any other family relationships shared prior to their union.
- Marriage between believers should reflect the love and commitment Christ has for the Church.

Week 6 Discussion Questions
1) GOD CREATED SEX
God is good, and all He creates is good. As we learn in Genesis, sexual intimacy is part of God’s design for the relationship between husband and wife. It is a good and beautiful thing to be shared the context of marriage. It provides another level on which to know, and be known by your spouse.
a. Please read Genesis 1:27-28. In what activity would man and woman need to engage if they are to “be fruitful and multiply?”
(Sex)
b. Please read Song of Songs 1:1-4 and 2:3-13. In this small sampling of love poetry between King Solomon and his wife, how do you see sexual intimacy described?
(Many beautiful words are used to describe their feelings toward each other and the sexual expression of those feelings.)
c. How would you describe your attitude toward sex? Have you previously seen it as something good or bad? Why?
(Encourage the discussion. Remind your group sex, as God intended it, is good.)
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2) GOD CREATED SEX TO BE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
The understanding that sex is only to occur between a man and a woman is found throughout the bible. Unfortunately, many of the times the bible is speaking to this subject, it is to correct sinful sexual practices which are outside of God’s design.
a. Please read Genesis 2:18-23. What does verse 18 say the Lord will make for the man? When the animals and birds were brought before Adam, what did this reveal to him?
(A suitable helper or partner. When the Lord showed Adam all the creatures, it was clear none were right for him.)
b. What did Adam say about the woman after she was brought to him?
(Now this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! Adam was exceedingly delighted because she was a real companion on all levels.)
c. Please read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. What are some of the sinful sexual practices named? What differences do you see between these and the relationship God set forth for Adam and Eve?
(Sexual immorality, Adultery, Prostitution, Homosexuality. These practices are perversions of what God intends for sexual intimacy. They are either outside marriage, or they focus primarily on gratification from the sexual act itself versus deeply knowing one’s mate.)
3) GOD CREATED SEX FOR MARRIAGE
Marriage is a special relationship shared between husband and wife. As we have read in Genesis, “the two are to be joined together and become one flesh.” God’s intention is for a union which produces unity and intimate knowledge of each other spiritually, emotionally, and mentally, as well as physically.
a. Please read 1 Corinthians 6:15-20. What is your understanding of what it means “to become one flesh?” Do you think “flesh” is referring only to the body, or could it mean more?
(Encourage the discussion. In this sense, “flesh” is referring to the whole person. Paul is making the point that you cannot separate body and spirit – what is done in the body impacts the spirit.
b. Please read Matthew 5:27-30. Does sexual sin occur only when we act with our bodies?
(No. Jesus is making the point that sin is in our nature, it is in our thoughts – not only in the actions we take.)
c. What are some of the problems with pre-marital sex and adultery? Besides physically, how else do people engage in these sins?
(They join us to someone who is not our spouse. These actions cause damage to us and to our current or future spouse. These sins can be engaged through pornography, chat rooms, seeking inappropriate attention, “work spouses,” etc.)
4) GOD CREATED MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY.
Marriage, as God designed it, creates a new family. This relationship between husband and wife surpasses the family relationships each shared before their wedding.
a. Please read Genesis 2:24-25. Who will the man and woman leave? What will happen when they are married?
(Their mothers and fathers. They will be joined together as “one flesh.”)
b. Have you previously understood that marriage makes the relationship with your spouse more important than any other human relationship in your life? How does this influence your attitude toward your husband or wife?
(Encourage people to share. Perhaps talk about your own understanding and feelings.)
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5) GOD DESIGNED MARRIAGE TO BE A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.
Love is more than a feeling. It is a commitment. When the bible talks about love, it most often describes loyalty, friendship, and service – doing what is right for others even at a cost to yourself. The pinnacle example is given in God’s love for the world which was demonstrated through Christ’s death on the cross.
a. Please read Ephesians 5:21-31. How should wives submit to their husbands? How should husbands love their wives?
(Wives should submit as they would to Christ. Husbands should love their wives in the way Christ loves the Church.)
b. How did Christ show His love for the Church? What picture of love does this give husbands and wives to follow?
(Christ showed His love by giving His life for the Church. This gives a picture of love framed by doing what is needed for the other even when it is difficult or undeserved. Also, doing what is in the interest of reconciling the relationship so that both husband and wife are moving toward God.)
c. What is the key element to having relationships which reflect life in Christ?
(Christ – being in Christ is what allows us to become like Him, and to have relationships based on His grace and compassion, rather than our selfishness.)
6) GOD PROVIDES FORGIVENESS AND HEALING
The unfortunate consequences of a sinful world have created relationships which will never be fully as God designed them until that day we are raised in Him. The closest relationships in our lives are often the most difficult, and can open us up to the most disappointment and hurt. In Christ, they can also be the ones in which the greatest healing and joy are found.
a. Please read John 8:2-11. Whether any of the accusers had committed adultery or not, what does Jesus’ question to them reveal?
(All of them have sinned.)
b. What does Jesus offer to the woman? What does He also tell her to do?
(Forgiveness / He does not condemn her. To stop engaging in this sin.)
c. Given the fact we are all sinners to whom God’s grace and forgiveness are freely given, how should this influence the way we approach problems in marriage?
(Encourage the dialogue while keeping in mind: We should approach these problems with humility and the understanding that we have and create problems ourselves, even if we feel we don’t have or created this particular problem. We also need to work through these difficulties to a resolution and reconciliation, just as God has not abandoned us, but has reconciled with us.)

Daily Prayer - Week 6
Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor who is the Holy Spirit, thank you for making us, and for giving us the gift of marriage. Help us to understand what you designed marriage to be, to take seriously the commitment it represents, and to act in our marriages according to your design. Teach us to love and serve in the way you do. Help us to seek understanding, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to extend your grace as it has been extended to us. Remind us that you are doing a ‘good work’ in your children, which you ‘will see through to completion.’ Thank you, God, that you are the creator of all things, the giver and sustainer of life, the one in whom there is true healing. All glory is yours. Amen.