Stay faithful for the sake of…

1. God’s reputation in the world

Stay faithful for the sake of…

2. Your relationship with God

Stay faithful for the sake of…

3. God’s redemptive purpose for your marriage

For Further Thought and Discussion

Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?

Going Deeper
2. What twin sins were the men of Israel committing (see vv. 11, 14, 16). Why did God prohibit Israelite men from marrying the women of the surrounding nations (v. 11)? How did God punish these men for their actions (v. 12)?
3. Who is this passage addressed to (see vv. 15-16)? What’s God’s admonition? Why is it critical that we learn to respond to God in marriage, rather than reacting to our spouse?
4. Why does Malachi emphasize both the oneness of God’s relationship with his people
(v. 10) and the oneness of marriage (v. 15)? What’s the connection between the marriage covenant, and God’s covenant with Israel?
5. Why does God no longer accept the Israelites’ worship (vv. 13-14)? Why won’t God permit me to have close communion with him while I mistreat my spouse (1 Peter 3:7)?
6. What is God’s redemptive purpose for marriage (see v. 15)? How does this verse speak to both the creation mandate (“be fruitful and multiply”; Genesis 1:28) and the kingdom mandate (“make disciples of all nations”; Matthew 28:18-20)?

Application

7. Jeff gave spouses three questions for reflection: (1) Am I honoring God in the way I’m treating my spouse? (2) Do I want an intimate relationship with God? (3) What mission has God given to me and my wife? Which of these stood out to you? Why?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this passage?