1. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2. How To Make Marriage Great!!!

3. Believe It Can Be

4. What do you believe about your marriage? • My marriage is a mess. • My marriage is a trap. • My marriage is a failure. • My marriage will never be any good. • The greatness of our marriage is predicated upon the belief of greatness we have in our marriage. • Our beliefs determine our actions (Num 13:31-33; 14:11). • Do you believe God’s teaching can make a great marriage? • (Phil 4:8) • The man who says he can’t and the man who says he can are both right.

5. Honor Marriage

6. Honor It • Let marriage be held in honor among all, (Heb 13:4a). • Honor = Thayer Definition: • 1) as of great price, precious • 2) held in honour, esteemed, especially dear • God gave us marriage (Gen 2:18-25). • Did he do us a service or disservice? • Do you honor the Divine institution of marriage? • Our marriage can be great if we honor the great blessing God has given us. • Would you say you honor marriage or dishonor it?

7. Cultivate Your Character

8. Matthew 5:1-11 • Have A Selfless Spirit 5:3 poor in spirit • Be Sorry For Your Wrongs 5:4 they that mourn • Have A Gentle Disposition 5:5 meek • Champion Fairness 5:6 hunger and thirst • Be Lenient In Executing Judgment 5:7 merciful

9. Matthew 5:1-11 • Have Clean Thoughts 5:8 pure in heart • Be The Appeaser 5:9 peacemakers • Do Right 5:10 persecuted for righteousness • Endure When You Are Done Wrong 5:11 bless when others revile you

10. Don’t Be Self Deceived

11. Ignaz Semmelweis July 1, 1818 – August 13, 1865 (born Ignác Fülöp Semmelweis) was a Hungarian physician now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "savior of mothers,” Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal, with mortality at 10%–35%. Semmelweis postulated the theory of washing with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital’s First Obstetrical Clinic, where doctors' wards had three times the mortality of midwives’ wards. He published a book of his findings in Etiology, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever.

12. The Cause For His Discovery • He taught in a school of medicine. • He taught the students using cadavers. • The hospital was also a maternity ward. • After teaching on cadavers he delivered babies • He passed germs onto the women and they died. • When he was away fewer women died giving birth. • Only God knows the number of patients who went prematurely to their graves because of me.

13. Self Deception • You are convinced the other person is the problem. • You are sure that as soon as you can convince them of it they can fix themselves. • You might be self deceived.

14. Learn To Fight Fairly

15. Fights Will Happen • Don’t Get Historical (1 Cor 13:5) • Listen More Than You Speak (James 1:19) • Don’t Be Hypocritical (Matt 7:1-5) • Judge Righteously (John 7:24) • Fight Honestly (Rom 12:17) • Serve (Phil 2:5, 7) • Humble Yourself (James 4:10) • Forgive (Matt 6:14; Eph 4:32) • Be Patient (2 Pet 3:9)

16. Practice Self Control

17. You Are The Only One You Can Control • Control your tongue James 3:1-12 • Control your anger Eph 4:26-27 • Control your desires James 4:1-3 • Control your attitude Phil 4:13 • Control your thoughts Phil 4:8 • Control yourself Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:10

18. Learn From Other Marriages

19. Written For Our Learning • Isaac’s Home Had Favoritism Gen 25:24-28 • Jacob’s Home Had Multiple Wives Gen 2:24 • David’s Home Had Infighting 2 Sam 12:9-10 • Solomon’s Home Had False Religions 1 Kings 11:9-11  • Eli’s Home Had No Discipline 1 Sam 2:22-24; 3:13-14

20. Remember God

21. Make Your Marriage More About God Than You Or Your Spouse • Do unto others (Matt 7:12) • Love the Lord (Matt 22:37-40) • Esteem others better than yourself (Rom 12:10) • Renew your mind (Rom 12:1-2)

22. Help Out Around The House

23. Marriage Is Not Slavery Keepers at home does not mean the “cleaner” at home Common curtsey should rule our lives and marriages. Have the mind of Christ in your marriage (Phil 2:4-7). Christ served others – let us serve your wives. Christ helped others – let us help our wives. Helping with the dishes, cleaning, cooking and washing will help us in the bedroom.

24. How To Make Marriage Great!!! • Believe it can be • Honor marriage • Cultivate your character • Don’t be self deceived • Learn to fight fairly • Practice self control • Learn from other marriages • Remember God • Help Around The House