Introduction: A 22-Year Journey

This summer, we celebrated 22 years of marriage, and we're honored to continue our marriage series with you. Before we begin, we want to thank you for the ways you've responded to last weekend's message. We were reminded that fear does not have the final word, shame does not have the final word, and our past doesn't have the final word — the gospel is still transforming lives today.

As we prepared for today, we found our old wedding photo — taken on this very stage 22 years ago. We were so young, so in love, and excited for everything ahead. We stood before God, our family, and friends, and exchanged vows, believing we knew what life would look like. But we had no idea what was coming.

Over 22 years we have welcomed five kids, grieved miscarriages, walked through family tragedy, changed careers, become foster parents, and experienced countless twists and turns that come with serving Jesus and his church. Life has been full — beautiful, messy, joyful, but also painful. We need to say plainly: we do not have a perfect marriage. Through it all, we've learned one simple truth:

Marriage is a wonderful gift from God. But it was never meant to replace God.

We recognize everyone comes to a message on marriage from a different place — some celebrating years of God's faithfulness, others just trying to make it through the week. Some have walked through divorce, others are widowed, some long to be married, and many are single and faithfully following Christ. Wherever you find yourself today, we believe God has something he wants to say to every one of us.

Priscilla and Aquila: An Ordinary, Faithful Marriage

Today's message focuses on big-picture priorities that shape healthy relationships and marriages. Next week we'll get into practical ways to live these truths out daily.

We begin with a married couple named Priscilla and Aquila. They appear only a handful of times in the New Testament. They never wrote a book of the Bible, never preached a famous sermon, never led a nation — most people read right past their names. Yet there is something deeply powerful about their marriage that we can learn from.

They did not have an easy life, but Scripture describes them as faithful followers of Jesus through the years, an example of a Christ-centered relationship.

Let's turn to Colossians 3. In these opening verses, Paul doesn't simply describe what Christian marriage should look like — he describes a Christ-follower's priorities, reminding us of who we are because of Jesus.

Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Our prayer for all of us today is this: that we will make Christ our life. Because when we do, his priorities become our priorities, and everything begins to change.

1. When Christ Is Our Life, We Pursue Him First

Paul begins in verse one: *