Marriage

I've been quite blessed with the examples of marriage that God has surrounded me with. My wife and I are probably in the minority, but we don't have any immediate family members or close friends who have suffered through divorce. Not that we're surrounded by perfect people or perfect marriages - not by any means. But we are surrounded, for the most part, by couples who take marriage seriously as a covenant picture of Christ and His church.

John Piper, Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, has been preaching a series on marriage titled "Marriage, Christ, and Covenant: One Flesh for the Glory of God." Here are links to the sermons thus far:

• Staying Married Is Not About Staying in Love (It's About Keeping Covenant), Part 1 - Read or Listen
• Staying Married Is Not About Staying in Love (It's About Keeping Covenant), Part 2 - Read or Listen
• Marriage: God's Showcase of Covenant-Keeping - Read or Listen
• Marriage: Forgiving and Forbearing - Read or Listen
• Marriage: Pursuing Conformity to Christ in the Covenant - Read or Listen
• Lionhearted and Lamblike: The Christian Husband as Head, Part 1 - Read or Listen
• Lionhearted and Lamblike: The Christian Husband as Head, Part 2 - Read or Listen
• The Beautiful Faith of Fearless Submission - Read or Listen

If you really want, you can even watch video of any of these sermons at DesiringGod.org.

I've listened to the first two sermons and been humbled to be reminded that my marriage is not about me, or even about loving my wife, but is ultimately about glorifying God, who sent His Son to give His life for His bride. Whether or not you read or listen to any (or all) of the sermons, please remember to pray for the marriages of those around you. Pray that they would be examples, dim as they may be, reflecting the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.