PRAYER POINT: Father, please correct every faulty foundation in my life.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE:

Leader should ask members to mention some requirements, which vessels to be used must meet.

MEMORY VERSE: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 127:1-5, Matthew 7:24-25

Psalm 127:1-5

1 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.

2 [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth.

5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Matthew 7:24-25

24 # Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

It is the foundation of every building that determines to what extent that building can keep standing. Once the foundation is weak, the whole building would be defective. A strong and solid foundation ensures the ability of the structure to withstand storms and stress of life. This is the reason E foundation must be laid with care. A lot of marriages begin with the journey along the downward slope even before they got to the altar. Many people unknowingly signed a contract of marital failure before their wedding as a result of the choice of life partner and the foundation they laid.

TEXT REVIEW: Psalm 127:1-5, Matthew 7:24-25

i. If God is not the beginning of the house, then the foundation is faulty.

ii. Any house built without God will not last the test of time.

iii. When God is in charge of your life, you are internally secured.

iv. Obedience to God precept is an example of a life built by God.

v. Storms of life will come but those that trust in God will will not be put to shame.

LESSON OUTLINES

1 FOUNDATION OF MARITAL FAILURE

The very core and basis of marriage which is love and commitment are shunned. Many relationships are based on lies, deception, societal and peer pressure, materialism, financial gains, contracts, sexual prowess, parental selfishness, competition, selfish ambitions, immaturity, traditions and culture and so on.

2 CHALLENGES FACING RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGES TODAY

Challenges facing relationships and marriages today include infidelity, traditions, cultural influences, lack of adequate and proper education on marital, emotional and sexual issues, lack of knowledge, lack of trust, jealousy, lack of discipline communication issues, time, financial pressures, inadequate preparations for marriage, parental influences, peer pressures, materialism, societal pressures from family members, colleagues at work places even church members. Other challenges confronting relationships and marriages today is Internet and its effects such as cyber-sex, phonographic sites, and materials and so on. Addiction to phone messaging, social media chatting, selfies, browsing etc has ruined many relationships and marriages.

3 HOW CAN THESE CHALLENGES BE TACKLED?

a. A solid foundation must be based on Christ Jesus. Make Jesus your foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11

b. Avoid sexual sins in courtship as much as possible Hebrew 13:4

c. God is the only genuine match matchmaker since he is the manufacturer of man and woman. Allow Him to choose for you.

d. Confess your sin, repent genuinely and ask for mercy from God.

e. Renounce your past misdeeds and restitute your ways.

f. Forgive your spouse.

g. Do the things you used to do when you were first dating: Show appreciation, compliment each other, contact each other through the day and show love to each other.

f. Respect each other. Learn to say “thank you” and “I appreciate…”

g. Apologize when you are wrong.

h. Develop trust in each other.

SUMMARY: With God your insurance is is eternally secured.

CONCLUSION: Many Marriages fail as a result of faulty foundations. A marriage without premarital courtship has a faulty foundation. A premarital relationship involving sexual intercourse has a faulty foundation. A lie-driven relationship is a relationship built on faulty foundation. A marital relationship that is built on the dictates one one of the party’s parents has a faulty foundation. A marriage established and normalized without divine approval has a faulty foundation. A marriage in which blood covenants were formed is built on a faulty foundation and soon. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”. Make Jesus your foundation. Adhere strictly to The Word of God.

ASSIGNMENTS: Discuss with Biblical examples of those who built without God.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Thank God for upholding marriage institution and Christian courtship.

2. Father, please guide all the youths that are due for marriage to make right choice that will glorify Your name.

3. Father, please intervene and repair all marriages that are on shaky foundations in Jesus Name

4. Pray for rapid growth of RCCG physically, spiritually and numerically.

5. Pray for Daddy G. O and his family

6. Personal prayer request.

GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY: 1 Corinthians 14:10

Before you say ‘I do’.

TUESDAY: Isaiah 28:16

Ideal foundation.

WEDNESDAY: Proverbs 18:22

Knowing God’s will in marriage

THURSDAY: Ephesians 6:4

Successful parenting

FRIDAY: Ephesians 5:33

Precious Relationship

SATURDAY: Colossians 3:5

Christian courtship

SUNDAY: Hebrews 13:4

Marital unfaithfulness