Marriage - Part 1

Marriage: The Rule Breakers – Part 1

Welcome to Marriage: The Rule Breakers, where Joe and Ann Lester dive into one of the most transformative topics—marriage as God designed it. This is more than just a discussion; it’s a call to reject the world’s view of marriage and embrace God’s perfect plan.

What is Marriage?

Marriage isn’t about legal contracts, government recognition, or societal expectations—it’s a divine covenant between a born-again man and woman, ordained by God to reflect Christ’s love for the Church. Ephesians 5:25-33 gives us a clear blueprint: selfless love, sacrificial care, and unity. It’s not about control or tradition—it’s about relationship. Just as Jesus came to build a relationship with us, marriage mirrors that commitment and love.

Common Struggles in Marriage

Marriage is beautiful, but it’s not always easy. In this episode, we tackle some of the biggest challenges couples face and provide biblical wisdom to overcome them:

• Lack of Communication – James 1:19-20 reminds us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Honest, open conversations lead to a stronger marriage.
• Selflessness – Philippians 2:3-4 teaches us to put our spouse’s needs above our own, just as Christ sacrificed for us.
• Unequal Yoking – 2 Corinthians 6:14 warns against partnering with unbelievers. A marriage built on faith in Christ is unshakable.
• Not Putting God First – Matthew 6:33 makes it clear: Seek first His kingdom, and everything else will follow.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Marriage

Marriage isn’t about just surviving—it’s about thriving together in Christ-centered unity. In this episode, we break down real-life struggles and practical steps to build a strong foundation:

• Put Christ at the center – A marriage without Jesus is like a house built on sand.
• Pray together – Keeping God in your daily conversations strengthens your bond.
• Love selflessly – True love isn’t about what you get; it’s about what you give.

If you’re looking for truth, encouragement, and biblical wisdom to strengthen your marriage, this podcast is for you. Listen now to Part 1 and stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive deeper into handling conflict, balancing responsibilities, and building a lasting marriage!

The only reason we are doing any of this is, We want everyone to know Jesus, either for the first time ever, or just to know Him better, without Jesus we wouldn’t be here, and we would have no reason for living and we wouldn’t have our blessed hope.
We don't want you to know a god made up in your own image or by your "church" or religion, we want you to know the only WAY, TRUTH and LIFE. Jesus Christ the one who was, the One who is, and the One who is still to come!
I hope somehow someway something that we say or do here will help someone out and maybe help grow your relationship with Jesus, if one person gets encouragement from this than this will be 100% success, and all glory and honor to God the father and to the Lord Jesus Christ for his wonderful love endures forever!
Joe & Ann Lester

Check out our website
https://www.therulebreakers.org/
Email: therulebreakers@icloud.com

Transcript

Marriage: The Rule Breakers

Part 1

Welcome to the Rule Breakers

Hey there, folks! Joe Lester here with my lovely wife, Ann, and we’re diving into one of the most important and transformative topics: marriage. This isn’t just any conversation; we’re talking about marriage as God designed it. We’ll touch on biblical truths, personal struggles, and practical advice to help strengthen your relationship with your spouse and Jesus Christ.

We know this might step on a few toes, but sometimes, a little truth does. So, let’s jump right in.

What Is Marriage?

To put it plainly, marriage is a divine covenant between a born-again man and a born-again woman. It’s not about paperwork, government recognition, or societal standards. It’s a union ordained by God to represent Christ’s love for the Church.

In Ephesians 5:25-33 (ESV), Paul gives us the blueprint for marriage:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

This isn’t about control or dominance; it’s about selfless love, sacrificial care, and unity.

Marriage isn’t about religion or tradition—it’s about relationship. Jesus didn’t come to create religion; He came to build a relationship with us. Marriage mirrors this. It’s a living, breathing reflection of Christ’s love for us, His bride, the Church.

Problems in Marriage

Let’s be real. Marriage is beautiful, but it’s not always easy. Here are some common issues we see, along with biblical principles to address them:

1. Lack of Communication

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

• Bottling things up leads to bigger issues. Talk it out—even if it’s uncomfortable.
• Listen more, speak less, and seek understanding.
• Pray without ceasing—take everything to God and always keep open communication with your spouse.

2. Selflessness

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

• Marriage isn’t about “me”; it’s about “us”.
• True love is selfless, not self-seeking.
• Jesus showed the ultimate love by laying down His life for us—this is the love we should reflect in our marriage.

3. Unequal Yoking

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3)

If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)

• If you’re married to someone who doesn’t share your faith, pray for them and remain steadfast in your walk with Christ.
• Don’t marry someone that is unequally yoked, and think you can change them, only Jesus Christ can save them.

4. Not Putting God First

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

• If God isn’t first, your marriage will struggle.
• Prioritize your relationship with Him above all else.
• Jesus Christ, Spouse, Children, then Others.

Marriage isn’t about just making it work—it’s about thriving together in Christ-centered unity. Whether you’re newly married, struggling, or years into a strong marriage, God’s design is the key to a joyful, fulfilling relationship.

Let’s be the rule breakers—rejecting the world’s view of marriage and embracing God’s perfect plan.

📖 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive deeper into practical ways to strengthen your marriage, resolve conflicts, and build a relationship that lasts a lifetime!