GOD

GOD
I. His Being
II. His nature
III. His character
IV. His will
V. His subsistence
VI. His Fatherhood

MAN

WOMAN

FALL OF MAN

MAN
a. Man in nature
b. Man’s destiny
c. Man ‘s structure
d. Man’s sin
e. Man in God’s image

WOMAN

The organisation of the family is to work on the same principle as the church. Unfortunately, as the organisation of the church succumbs to fallen man's methods and weaknesses, so also does the family.

There are many different types of marriage in the world. Some of the main ones are:

As we saw last week with the church, the principle of servanthood applies equally in marriage.

We again have the inverted pyramid that looks so unstable to our human eyes.

Jesus, the ultimate servant is at the base. The husband is next in line, not as an authoritarian ruler but as the servant to his wife and family. Then comes the wife and finally, at the top of the pyramid, the children.

For this type of servanthood marriage structure to work, the marriage must be based upon Jesus. In the diagram below, Jesus must be inserted in the triangles to the right, left, and above.

Without the solid foundation of Jesus, God's ideal plan for marriage simply will not work. This is why it is ridiculed by those in the world who cannot understand it.

They try instead to impose, generally unsuccessfully, man-made solutions to this, the most complex interrelational situation we, as parents and children, will be involved with in our lives.

The one to one relationship with Jesus seems simple by comparison!

The Bible sets out guidelines for the respective roles of husbands and wives, and parents and children.

It must be remembered however, that the whole Bible deals with relationships, and these summarised specifics need to be looked at within the full context of the teaching the Bible gives us.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES - HUSBAND

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

FATHER

DO NOT EXASPERATE

The above are not intended as a marriage guidance course or counseling. They are God's perfect principles for the perfect marriage.

We live in an imperfect world and in imperfect individual and family situations. This does not mean however, that we should ignore God's desire for us, but rather see if we can try and move a little closer to God's ideal, whatever the situation we are currently in.

Kathy and I have been married for 50 years. We have had our ups and downs. Our marriage is not perfect. But we have hung in there and are trying to live more and more as God would have us do.

Pray together, pray separately, attend a Christian marriage enrichment course, seek help before you get desperate.

God does answer prayer, believers can help. Married or solo, we have to take the first step.

as we look at 'The 3 Waters' to see God's plan for mankind from the very beginning.

In today's world, the institution of marriage is under greater attack than it has ever been.

Personally, I think this has its basis in the introduction of effective contraception methods which has given greater freedom of choice, particularly to women, in the area of relationships.

However, God's way is always God's way! Difficult as it may seem, He knows best for us!

Just as the foundation of the church has been undermined by the application of human ways, so has marriage.

Whatever the situation you face today, remember that God does forgive and a new start is possible. May we endeavour to avoid reliving and remaking past mistakes and look to the eternal wisdom of God for our future actions.

THE CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS - JERUSALEM

The Church of All Nations, officially named the Basilica of the Agony, is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem next to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Catholic church enshrines a section of stone in the Garden of Gethsemane that is believed to be where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest (Matthew 26:36).

The Basilica of the Agony was built from 1919 to 1924 using funds from 12 different countries, which gave it its common name, Church of All Nations.

The domed roof, thick pillars, and floor mosaic give the church a Byzantine appearance. The architect of the building was Antonio Barluzzi, who also designed the nearby Dominus Flevit Church.

The symbols of each country that contributed to the church are incorporated into the inlaid gold ceilings of each of 12 cupolas. The 12 cupolas rest on six monolithic pillars. The front of the church features a colorful façade supported by a row of pillars. The mosaic above the entrance depicts Christ as the link between God and humanity.

The Church of All Nations is run by the Franciscans, but an open altar in the garden is used by the Anglican community on Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday).

The Church of All Nations lies on the foundations of two earlier churches: a 12th-century Crusader chapel abandoned in 1345 and a 4th-century Byzantine basilica, destroyed by an earthquake in 746.