Course Overview and Objectives
GOD CREATED US MALE AND FEMALE, ON PURPOSE!
“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
– Genesis 1:27
In the beginning God created mankind. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” Man is the only created being with an essence linked to God’s image! Then, in Genesis 1:27, it says, “In the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” God intentionally designed mankind with two distinct sexual natures; male and female to reflect Him and show different aspects of His nature. What an amazing idea! Men and women are equal, but distinctly different so they may be able to accomplish the same tasks, but will likely manage the process differently. This is good because God does not need redundancy in His Kingdom, but unique capabilities that function together in power. When God made Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over everything as vice regents on His behalf. Dominion includes the idea of power and it’s important to note that both Adam and Eve had power in their design and dignity in who they were, prior to marriage. This shows us that men and women can, and should be whole and healthy, living in agreement with their unique design in both singleness and marriage. If marriage occurs, then God’s intentional design of men and women as a powerful plan for wholeness, completion, unity and relationship continues. He brings the woman and man together in Genesis 2:24 for the first marriage, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” In God’s “reality,” one plus one makes one. This natural outcome of male and female relationships does not mean we must all be married (statistically though, marriage is the norm), but it does show a natural progression to a unified, whole relationship that is a holy picture of Christ and the church. In this course you will see how marriage is viewed in Scripture and why marriage is unique and deserving of honor. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage must be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled; for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.” NET
Course Objectives
- Enhance the importance of covenant in marriage relationships.
- Recognize the intentionality of union in all relationships, especially marriage.
- Review the focus of marriage in Ephesians.
- Understand ways to view the Song of Solomon.
- Learn how to protect all marriage from affairs and demonstrate how hope and reconciliation are possible after betrayal.
- Consider biblical reasons for divorce and outcomes of divorce.
- Examine insights on remarriage and blended families.
