Welcome to Authorized Sword Ministries. This is Building a Godly Home, Lesson One: One Flesh, God's Design for Marriage.

We're so glad you're here.

Where This Course Begins

A strong home is built when a husband and wife stand together under God. This course is for married couples, for parents, and for engaged couples getting ready for marriage. Over five short lessons, we'll look at the Bible's picture of marriage, and we'll find practical help for communicating, forgiving, parenting, and serving the Lord side by side.

Here is the verse over this whole course:

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." — Psalm 127:1 (KJV)

You can work hard on a house and a family. But if the Lord isn't the One building it, all that work rests on sand. So we start where God starts. In the beginning.

It Is Not Good to Be Alone

In Genesis chapter one, God made the heavens and the earth, and again and again He looked at what He had made and called it good. Then, in Genesis chapter two, we hear something different:

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." — Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

Not good. Adam was in a perfect garden, walking with God, and still something was missing. So God made the woman.

That phrase "an help meet" means a helper suited for him. A partner who fits. It doesn't mean someone lesser. In fact, the Bible tells us that both man and woman bear God's image:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." — Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

Marriage was God's idea from the very beginning. It wasn't invented by a government or a culture. It came from the hand of God.

Our Key Verse

Today's key verse is Genesis 2:24.

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." — Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

There are three simple words in that verse worth holding on to. Leave. Cleave. One flesh.

To leave means a new home comes first now. We still honor our parents, but our first earthly loyalty belongs to our husband or wife.

To cleave means to hold fast. To stick like glue. It's a picture of commitment that doesn't let go when life gets hard.

And one flesh means two lives truly joined. Not just sharing a house, but sharing a life. Our time, our money, our dreams, our struggles, and our walk with God.

Jesus Confirmed God's Design

When people asked Jesus about marriage, He took them right back to Genesis:

"And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." — Matthew 19:4-6 (KJV)

Jesus made it plain. Marriage is God's design: one man and one woman, joined together by God for life. And what God has joined, we are to protect.

Teammates, Not Rivals

Solomon wrote:

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV)

A husband and wife are on the same team. When one falls, the other lifts. When one is weak, the other is strong. The enemy is never your spouse.

And then Solomon adds:

"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." — Ecclesiastes 4:12 (KJV)

Many Christians have seen a beautiful picture of marriage in that threefold cord: a husband, a wife, and the Lord, wrapped together. Two strands can come apart. Three strands, with God at the center, hold strong.

Grace for Real Marriages

Every marriage has hard days. Two sinners saved by grace will still step on each other's toes. That's why the Bible tells us:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." — Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

We'll talk much more about forgiveness in Lesson Three. And a gentle word here: if there is abuse or danger in your home, please reach out for help. Talk to a pastor, and contact the proper authorities if you are not safe. God never asks anyone to stay quiet about harm.

Simple Steps for This Week

First, pray together for just two minutes each day. Hold hands, and keep it simple.

Second, say thank you for one specific thing your spouse did.

Third, sit down together and talk about this question: "What would it look like for us to be more truly one?"

Next Time

In Lesson Two, we'll look at what it means to put Christ at the center of the home.

A Prayer

Let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of marriage, and for designing it from the very beginning.

Lord, build our homes. Where we have drifted apart, draw us back together. Where we have been proud, make us humble. Where we have been hurt, help us to forgive as You have forgiven us.

Make every husband and wife who hears this one flesh in heart and in purpose, with You at the center.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us. We'll see you in Lesson Two.

This is Authorized Sword Ministries. God bless you.