Sermon on Marriage: Resolving Conflicts (Outline)

Conflicts in marriage exist, but they should not be able to undo a marriage. The Bible teaches what constitutes a healthy marriage and how relationships can function.

Main Text: Matthew 19:6

Theme: Resolving Marital Conflicts

Main Statement: For a marriage to be successful, both the husband and wife need to be able to resolve conflicts that arise in the development of their marital relationship.

Objective: Lead the listeners to the decision to seek full fulfillment in marriage, based on the ability to resolve conflicts in the marital relationship.

Sermon Outline

What makes a marriage successful is not the absence or the intensity of conflicts, but rather the ability and determination to resolve those conflicts.

This message brings:

3 attitudes that can help resolve conflicts in the marital relationship.

• An intimate and personal communion with the Lord
• Open and effective communication in marriage
• A practical understanding of biblical and true love

Introduction

1. Base Text: Matthew 19:6

2. Illustration: "The Anniversaries"

It is very common today for couples to celebrate their "Anniversaries."
The most famous are:

• "Silver Anniversary" (25 years of marriage)
• "Golden Anniversary" (50 years of marriage)

In addition to these more famous anniversaries, there are other types:

• 1 year – Paper Anniversary
• 5 years – Wood Anniversary
• 10 years – Tin Anniversary
• 20 years – Porcelain Anniversary
• 25 years – Silver Anniversary
• 30 years – Pearl Anniversary
• 40 years – Emerald Anniversary
• 50 years – Gold Anniversary
• 75 years – Diamond Anniversary
• 100 years – Centenary Anniversary/ Obsidian Anniversary

3. The Backstory:

• However, why do many couples not even make it to the "Paper Anniversary"?
• One of the answers lies in the inability to resolve conflicts.
• It is not the absence of conflicts nor the intensity of the conflict that leads a marriage to failure.
• What leads a marriage to failure is the inability to resolve conflicts.
• Sources of potential conflicts:
  • Family inheritance
  • Marital expectations
  • Sexual relationship
  • Finances
  • Relationship with in-laws
  • Children

4. Main Statement:

For a marriage to be successful, both the husband and the wife need to be able to resolve the conflicts that arise in the development of their marital relationship.

3 attitudes that can help resolve conflicts in a marital relationship:

I. An intimate and personal communion with the Lord

1. The author of Ecclesiastes emphasizes that it is much better for two to be together than one.
2. To illustrate this, the author uses the example of a cord with three strands.
3. Many see this as a prophetic reference to the presence of the Lord in the relationship of the couple.
4. Marriage cannot be complete without the presence of the Lord.
5. Both the husband and the wife need to be in communion with God.
6. Seeking God through prayer and meditation on the Word of God (the Bible) is essential.
7. This pursuit can be joint (both together), but it must also be individual.

II. Open and effective communication in marriage

1. Open communication involves speaking the truth: Ephesians 4:25
2. However, this truth must be spoken in love: Ephesians 4:15
3. We can become angry, but we must not sin: Ephesians 4:26
4. For communication to be effective, it must be kind and gentle, without anger or animosity.
5. Do not give place to the devil: Ephesians 4:27
6. When husband and wife stop communicating, both become vulnerable to the enemy's influence.
7. This means giving place to the devil.

III. A practical understanding of biblical and true love

1. Biblical and true love has 4 characteristics:

• Commitment: The relationship is grounded in a covenant.
• Unconditional: It does not impose conditions for love.
• Decision: It is independent of feelings.
• Action: It practices good towards the other.

2. However, it is not enough just to understand this; it is necessary to live out these concepts.
3.This biblical and true love is the result of a rational decision, grounded in a solid covenant between the couple and God.
4.It is a love that does not demand anything in return but loves even when it is not loved.
5. This love is the "bond of perfection."

Conclusion

1. Main Statement:
   For a marriage to be successful, both the husband and the wife need to be able to resolve the conflicts that arise in the development of their marital relationship.

2. Base Text: Matthew 19:6

3. Prayer for the couples...

May God strengthen your relationship with His love, wisdom, and peace, helping you to resolve conflicts with grace and grow together in unity.

See also:

• 57 Themes for Christian Marriage Retreats That Couples Will Be Blessed By
• 3 Couples In The Bible That Will Inspire You In Your Marriage