The Power of Three: Building Strong and Lasting Relationships

2. 1. Created for Community 2. Two Are Better Than One 3. Marriage Made in Heaven 4. Three Relationships Everyone Needs in order to Grow.

3. Ecclesiastes 4 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor

4. Ecclesiastes 4 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

5. Ecclesiastes 4 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone

6. Ecclesiastes 4 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

7. USA Divorce Stats: 50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. (divorcerate.org)

9. The Honeymoon Phase The Accommodation Phase The Challenge Phase The Crossroads Phase The Rebirth Phase 5 Phases of Marriage

10. The Honeymoon Phase Everything is new. Look what we get to do.

11. The Accommodation Phase Everything is changing. Look what we have to do.

12. The Challenge Phase Everything is busy. Look what we can’t do anymore. Life is demanding. Very little free time.

13. The Crossroads Phase Everything is permanent. Look what we did. Look at our choices. We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.

14. The Rebirth Phase Everything is settled. Look who we are. We are wiser, more committed. Life is renewed again with babies, young love, laughter, and family. We made it and it was worth it!

15. Practical Advise for Marriage from the Garden of Eden: 1. Walk with God Together 2. Work and Play Together 3. Walk and Talk Together 4. Be Naked and Unashamed Together 5. Eat Together 6. Tell Each Other When You’re Being Tempted (Stay Pure)

16. THE COVENANT OF MARRIAGE The biggest problem I see in Christian marriages today is not the ability to please each other, but the casual approach to keeping their marriage covenant with God. If it’s a marriage of 2, we get selfish with our needs. If it’s a marriage of 3, God helps us with our needs.

17. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. You can build a good marriage or a godly marriage. You can be a good man or a godly man. You can be a good husband or a godly husband, a good wife or a godly wife.

18. God Designed Marriage

19. Ephesians 5:25-29 Msg Good Husband vs. Godly Husband • Cover your Family in Prayer/ Love (everyday) • 2. Love her more than yourself (give yourself) • 3. Wash her with your words • 4. Present her well to others • 5. Treat her as the gift that God gave to you • 6. Forgive her

20. 1 Peter 3:1-6 Msg Good Wife vs. Godly Wife 1. Submit to God 2. Pray for your husband, then submit to him 3. Win him with your conduct and words 4. Win him with your beauty/body - inside and out 5. Show him honor, respect and appreciation 6. Forgive him

21. 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband . Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband . The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self control.

22. Even if one of the three cords get broken, I promise you, God’s cordis still there! Hold on to God’s cord until you can re-tie the other two.

23. Ecclesiastes 4 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.