The document discusses marriage from a Christian perspective. It presents statistics showing that certain groups like the downscale, Baby Boomers, non-Christians, and liberals have higher divorce rates. However, atheists and agnostics have a similar divorce rate to the national average. The document then outlines God's blueprint for marriage from passages in Genesis, emphasizing that marriage provides completion between a man and woman, is intended for happiness, and requires a leaving and cleaving to family to form a new union. It discusses marriage as the closest union on earth and cites passages warning against adultery and promoting marriage as honorable. The document stresses that unless God builds the marriage, efforts to do so will be in vain.

2. “Building With God’s Blueprint”

3. BARNA Research (2008) The groups with the most prolific experience of marriage ending in divorce are downscale adults (39%), Baby Boomers (38%), those aligned with a non-Christian faith (38%), African-Americans (36%), and people who consider themselves to be liberal on social and political matters (37%)

4. BARNA Research (2008) Thirty percent of atheists and agnostics had been married and subsequently divorced. However, the three-point difference from the national average was within the range of sampling error, suggesting that their likelihood of experiencing a dissolved marriage is the same as that of the population at-large.

5. BARNA Research (2008) Born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce: 33% have been married and divorced.

6. Psalm 127:1a …Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…

7. MARRIAGE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE COMPLETION. God’s Plan is That…

8. Genesis 2:18-22 (18) And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."(19) Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.(20) So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.(21) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.(22) Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

9. Keep Her Close… “God chose a rib from Adam's side, not a bone from Adam's head that she would be over him, or a bone from his foot that she would be under him, but from his side that she would be next to him, from under his arm that he might protect her, and from next to his heart that he might love her.”

10. MARRIAGE IS INTENDED TO BRING HAPPINESS, NOT MISERY. God’s Plan is That…

11. Genesis 2:21-23 (21) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.(22) Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.(23) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

12. MARRIAGE REQUIRES A LEAVING AND CLEAVING. God’s Plan is That…

13. Genesis 2:24 (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

14. MARRIAGE IS INTENDED TO BE THE CLOSESTUNION ON EARTH. God’s Plan is That…

15. Genesis 2:24-25 (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.(25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

16. Proverbs 6:32 (32) Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

17. Hebrews 13:4 (4) Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

18. Ephesians 5:30-32 (30) For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.(31) "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."(32) This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

19. John 10:14 (14) I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

20. 1 Peter 3:7 (7) Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

21. Psalm 127:1a …Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…