Built To Last | Hands Waffled Together and Never Letting Go

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

• Marriages that last are not built in ; but over a of choices, you make together.
• Like houses, marriages benefit when you perform routine maintenance checks and determine what needs to be , , or just .
• Like houses, marriages, are meant to I .

Decreasing Value Patterns:

• : Things are bad; but there’s nothing I can do about it. So I just face the reality and accept that the situation will not change.
• : Things are bad, but there is nothing I can do about it. End it now and get out as fast as I can.
• There’s a third option:

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

 Acts 17:28 (NIV) ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’

1. The ENTRYWAY: Commitment Projects: Knowing what love and relationship is really all about

2. The CLOSETS: Emotional Projects: Being in touch with and understanding each other’s feelings

3. The KITCHEN: Practical Projects: Tackling everyday chores as a team

4. The DINING ROOM: Social Projects: Connecting with people bring enriching relationships into your lives

5. The FAMILY ROOM: Recreational Projects: Finding the fun and laughter of life together

6. The STUDY: Intellectual Projects: Sharing our thoughts, ideas, and opinions

7. The HALLWAY: Conflict Projects: Resolving differences with respect

8. The SAFE ROOM: Crisis Projects: Pulling close during challenges and difficulties

9. The PATIO: Aesthetic Projects: Enjoying the beauty that surrounds you, together

10. The PRIMARY Bedroom: Intimacy Projects: Making touch and intimacy a way of strengthening your bond in relationship.

11. The ADDITION: Future Projects: Dreaming and planning for tomorrow.

12. The : Spiritual Projects: Connecting with God and His purpose for your lives.

 Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

5 Spiritual Practices for Married Couples and Non-Married People:

1 Chronicles 28:9 9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

2. Together

3. with God Together

Philippians 4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

 1 Thessalonians 5:17  pray continually,

Deuteronomy 30:20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Matthew 22:37-38 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• The more that we learn to God and the love God, the more capable I am of love the love of God to others.

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

James 2:17 (TLB) Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all – it is dead and useless.

6. Together

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

FINAL THOUGHT: The ever after comes to the couple that pursues the ever after.

Psalm 1:1-3 1 How truly happy are the ones who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the pathway of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in obeying God’s commands, and they meditate on them day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by irrigated water canals that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.