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Creekside Church, Sunday, July 13, 2025
Trending Toward Forever
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 8:25 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:15 AM
Today, we’re in week 2 of a series called Scrolling for Wisdom, where we explore the world of reels, shorts, and TikToks to find nuggets of wisdom. This week, we’re focusing on marriage wisdom. Social media often bombards us with entertainment, but sometimes it sparks reflection. Let’s look at how we can find wisdom for our marriages (or any relationship) and align it with God’s design.
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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MARRIAGE?
The world often portrays marriage negatively, but God’s design is for partnership and growth.
Cultural Portrayal: Social media and comedy often depict marriage as a trap or burden, with tropes like the “dumb dad” or marriage as a “prison sentence.”
God’s Design: In Genesis, marriage is described as a partnership that strengthens and supports both spouses, helping them grow closer to Jesus.
Genesis 2:23-24 (NIV):
The man said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Reflection: How do you view marriage? Are you influenced by cultural tropes, or are you seeking God’s vision of unity and support?
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WHY GET MARRIED?
Understanding your “why” for marriage builds a strong foundation centered on Jesus.
Before getting married, ask: Why do I want this? Is it for companionship, intimacy, growth, or to model God’s love?
Couples who have honest conversations about their values and goals tend to build stronger marriages.
A Jesus-centered marriage provides built-in values like sacrifice and forgiveness, guiding both spouses and their family.
Application: If married, reflect on why you got married. If single, consider what you want in a future marriage. How can Jesus be the foundation?
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HOW ARE YOU FUNCTIONING IN YOUR MARRIAGE?
Marriage requires self-awareness and humility to avoid pride and embrace vulnerability.
Common issues like bathroom clutter or small arguments (e.g., over laundry) reveal deeper patterns of pride or poor communication.
Instead of fighting to win, focus on working on yourself. Recognize your own faults before pointing out your spouse’s.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV):
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Reflection: Are you quick to blame your spouse, or do you examine your own heart first? How can humility change your approach to conflict?
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BE GENTLE, PATIENT AND KIND
Love in marriage means being gentle, patient, and curious, even in conflict.
Instead of arguing with “facts” or trying to win, acknowledge your spouse’s feelings and approach conflict with curiosity.
Gentleness (power under control) creates a safe space for vulnerability, reflecting God’s love.
Genesis 2:25 (NIV):
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV):
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Application: Practice being slow to speak and quick to listen. How can you show patience and kindness in your next disagreement?
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DIE TO SELF FOR ABUNDANT LIFE
Marriage thrives when we let go of pride and selfishness, embracing vulnerability and growth.
Jesus teaches that true life comes from dying to self. In marriage, this means letting go of pride, impatience, and selfishness.
Small, intentional changes—like listening patiently or laughing off minor disagreements—build a stronger marriage over time.
Example: A silly argument over “pickle peanuts” became a family joke through patience and understanding, not defensiveness.
Matthew 16:25 (NIV):
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Application: Identify one area of pride or selfishness in your marriage. Decide today to approach it differently with vulnerability or gentleness.
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Marriage is a project worth working on. Through small steps—humility, patience, and love—you can build something beautiful that reflects God’s image.
----------
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MARRIAGE?
The world often portrays marriage negatively, but God’s design is for partnership and growth.
Cultural Portrayal: Social media and comedy often depict marriage as a trap or burden, with tropes like the “dumb dad” or marriage as a “prison sentence.”
God’s Design: In Genesis, marriage is described as a partnership that strengthens and supports both spouses, helping them grow closer to Jesus.
Genesis 2:23-24 (NIV):
The man said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Reflection: How do you view marriage? Are you influenced by cultural tropes, or are you seeking God’s vision of unity and support?
----------
WHY GET MARRIED?
Understanding your “why” for marriage builds a strong foundation centered on Jesus.
Before getting married, ask: Why do I want this? Is it for companionship, intimacy, growth, or to model God’s love?
Couples who have honest conversations about their values and goals tend to build stronger marriages.
A Jesus-centered marriage provides built-in values like sacrifice and forgiveness, guiding both spouses and their family.
Application: If married, reflect on why you got married. If single, consider what you want in a future marriage. How can Jesus be the foundation?
----------
HOW ARE YOU FUNCTIONING IN YOUR MARRIAGE?
Marriage requires self-awareness and humility to avoid pride and embrace vulnerability.
Common issues like bathroom clutter or small arguments (e.g., over laundry) reveal deeper patterns of pride or poor communication.
Instead of fighting to win, focus on working on yourself. Recognize your own faults before pointing out your spouse’s.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV):
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Reflection: Are you quick to blame your spouse, or do you examine your own heart first? How can humility change your approach to conflict?
----------
BE GENTLE, PATIENT AND KIND
Love in marriage means being gentle, patient, and curious, even in conflict.
Instead of arguing with “facts” or trying to win, acknowledge your spouse’s feelings and approach conflict with curiosity.
Gentleness (power under control) creates a safe space for vulnerability, reflecting God’s love.
Genesis 2:25 (NIV):
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV):
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Application: Practice being slow to speak and quick to listen. How can you show patience and kindness in your next disagreement?
----------
DIE TO SELF FOR ABUNDANT LIFE
Marriage thrives when we let go of pride and selfishness, embracing vulnerability and growth.
Jesus teaches that true life comes from dying to self. In marriage, this means letting go of pride, impatience, and selfishness.
Small, intentional changes—like listening patiently or laughing off minor disagreements—build a stronger marriage over time.
Example: A silly argument over “pickle peanuts” became a family joke through patience and understanding, not defensiveness.
Matthew 16:25 (NIV):
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Application: Identify one area of pride or selfishness in your marriage. Decide today to approach it differently with vulnerability or gentleness.
----------
Marriage is a project worth working on. Through small steps—humility, patience, and love—you can build something beautiful that reflects God’s image.