Pastor Lowell Nelson teaches a topical study about God's Design for Marriage Part 5: The Battle for Godly Communication in Marriage on 9/24/2006 for our Sunday service.
This part delves into the greatest opposition to fulfilling God's design for marriage: the flesh (or "self"), emphasizing that 90-95% of marital struggles stem from selfish desires. The core issue addressed is communication, highlighting its power to build up or tear down a marriage. It uses Ephesians 4:29-32 to direct believers to speak only what is good, edifying, and imparts grace, actively putting away bitterness, wrath, anger, and slander. The session explains how miscommunication, stemming from Adam and Eve's example, often arises from not truly listening (be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath). It acknowledges that men are typically single-focused and fact-oriented, while women are globally minded and emotion-centered, and understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication. Harsh communication, originating from an "abundance of evil in the heart," must be avoided, and spouses should instead offer soft answers and be quick to say "I'm sorry". The ultimate directive for godly communication is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in one's heart to the Lord, and giving thanks always for all things – a worshipful, truth-proclaiming, God-glorifying, and thankful approach to all interactions.
