25 Oct
2026

One Flesh

Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

REFLECTION QUOTE

“In Genesis 1 you see pairs of different but complementary things made to work together: heaven and earth, sea and land, even God and humanity. It is part of the brilliance of God’s creation that diverse, unlike things are made to unite and create dynamic wholes which generate more and more life and beauty through their relationships…the creation and uniting of male and female at the end of Genesis 2 is the climax of all this. That means that male and female have unique, non-inter-changeable glories-they each see and do things that the other cannot. Sex was created by God to be a way to mingle these strengths and glories within a lifelong covenant of marriage.” — Tim Keller

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

OUTLINE

1.What is the Origin of Marriage?
2.What did Jesus think about Marriage?
3.How do we work out these teachings?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

Share an instance when you’ve experienced boundaries being for your good.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. What does this passage show you about God’s character and about being his follower? What challenges, encourages, or sparks questions for you in this passage?

Read also Genesis 1:27-28 and 2:18, 24-25. How do these verses help us understand the original purpose of marriage? Discuss what it means for the purpose of marriage to include mission, holiness, and companionship.

What difference does it make to understand marriage as a covenant not a contract?

How does Paul express the idea of mutual equality in practical terms within a marriage?
What should determine an unmarried Christian’s choice about whether to marry (vv 8-9)?
What sorts of behavior by husbands and wives will help prevent the desire for divorce?
Read Hebrews 4:15-16. How can you see Jesus empathize with your weaknesses in the context of marriage (your own or the impact of marriages around you)?
What from this passage and this discussion is something you want to put into practice or be more aware of this week or praise God for?

 

PRAYER

Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” 1 Corinthians 6:14