Genesis 12:1–3 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s

household to the land I will show you. 2  “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will

make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  3  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses

you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV)

Proverbs 18:2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own

opinions.

Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning.

James 1:19   My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak

and slow to become angry, (NIV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all

your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get

blamed? (MESSAGE).

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Genesis 12:1–3 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s

household to the land I will show you. 2  “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will

make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  3  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses

you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV)

Proverbs 18:2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own

opinions.

Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning.

James 1:19   My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak

and slow to become angry, (NIV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all

your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get

blamed? (MESSAGE).

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no  [a] offenses should come,”

(NKJV)

2 Samuel 16:5-14 5  As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s

family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came

out.  6  He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the

special guard were on David’s right and left.  7  As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you

murderer, you scoundrel!  8  The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household

of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of

your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

9  Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the

king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10  But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing

because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

11  David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to

kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has

told him to.  12  It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant

blessing instead of his curse today.”

13  So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside

opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.  14  The

king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed

himself. (NIV)

1. Assume the best.

2 Samuel 16:11-12 Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.  12  It may be that

the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse

today.”

2. Refuse to receive the offense.

3. Be quick to forgive.

Colossians 3:13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  MSG

2 Samuel 19:18-23 When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the

king  19  and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did

wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.  20  For I

your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of

Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

21  Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He

cursed the LORD’s anointed.”

22  David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you

have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am

king over Israel?”  23  So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him

on oath. NIV

Ephesians 4:2-3 2  Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each

other’s faults because of your love.  3  Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and

so be at peace with one another. (TLB)

4. Allow God to defend you.

1 Kings 2:44-46 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to

my father David. Now the LORD will repay you for your wrongdoing.  45  But King Solomon will

be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

46  Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck

Shimei down and he died. (NIV)

Romans 12:17-19 17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes

of everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19  Do not

take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to

avenge; I will repay,” [d]  says the Lord.  NIV

5. Position yourself for a blessing.

2 Samuel 19:12 12  It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his

covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” (NIV)

Prov 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. NIV

Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no  [a] offenses should come,”

(NKJV)

2 Samuel 16:5-14 5  As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s

family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came

out.  6  He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the

special guard were on David’s right and left.  7  As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you

murderer, you scoundrel!  8  The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household

of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of

your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

9  Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the

king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10  But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing

because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

11  David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to

kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has

told him to.  12  It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant

blessing instead of his curse today.”

13  So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside

opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.  14  The

king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed

himself. (NIV)

1. Assume the best.

2 Samuel 16:11-12 Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.  12  It may be that

the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse

today.”

2. Refuse to receive the offense.

3. Be quick to forgive.

Colossians 3:13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  MSG

2 Samuel 19:18-23 When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the

king  19  and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did

wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.  20  For I

your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of

Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

21  Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He

cursed the LORD’s anointed.”

22  David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you

have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am

king over Israel?”  23  So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him

on oath. NIV

Ephesians 4:2-3 2  Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each

other’s faults because of your love.  3  Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and

so be at peace with one another. (TLB)

4. Allow God to defend you.

1 Kings 2:44-46 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to

my father David. Now the LORD will repay you for your wrongdoing.  45  But King Solomon will

be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

46  Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck

Shimei down and he died. (NIV)

Romans 12:17-19 17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes

of everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19  Do not

take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to

avenge; I will repay,” [d]  says the Lord.  NIV

5. Position yourself for a blessing.

2 Samuel 19:12 12  It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his

covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” (NIV)

Prov 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. NIV

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2  The

woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  3  but God did say, ‘You

must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you

will die.’” 4  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5  “For God knows that when

you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6  When

the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also

desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was

with her, and he ate it.  (NIV)

3 Wrong Expectations Of Marriage

1. You complete me

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (NIV)

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are

wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV)

2 Peter 1:3   as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through

the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (NKJV)

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for

him.” (NIV)

2. You are my purpose

Genesis 2:15 the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care

of it. (NIV)

Genesis 2:19–20 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in

the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each

living creature, that was its name. 20  So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all

the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. (NIV)

Acts 13:36   “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he

was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. (NIV)

Your purpose is to live for God

2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done

but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the

beginning of time, (NIV)

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden;  17  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat

from it you will certainly die.” (NIV)

Your purpose is to live out God’s unique purpose for your life

3. You are here for my happiness

Genesis 2:24   That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they

become one flesh. (NIV)

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2  The

woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  3  but God did say, ‘You

must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you

will die.’” 4  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5  “For God knows that when

you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6  When

the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also

desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was

with her, and he ate it.  (NIV)

3 Wrong Expectations Of Marriage

1. You complete me

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (NIV)

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are

wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV)

2 Peter 1:3   as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through

the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (NKJV)

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for

him.” (NIV)

2. You are my purpose

Genesis 2:15 the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care

of it. (NIV)

Genesis 2:19–20 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in

the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each

living creature, that was its name. 20  So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all

the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. (NIV)

Acts 13:36   “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he

was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. (NIV)

Your purpose is to live for God

2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done

but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the

beginning of time, (NIV)

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden;  17  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat

from it you will certainly die.” (NIV)

Your purpose is to live out God’s unique purpose for your life

3. You are here for my happiness

Genesis 2:24   That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they

become one flesh. (NIV)

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He

said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2  The woman

said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  3  but God did say, ‘You must not eat

fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4  “You

will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5  “For God knows that when you eat from it your

eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6  When the woman saw that the

fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took

some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  (NIV)

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your

mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(NIV)

1. Music

Jeremiah 7:8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. (NIV)

2. Hollywood

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. (NIV)

3. Family

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (ESV)

4. Friends

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV)

5. Our past experiences

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NIV)

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He

said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2  The woman

said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  3  but God did say, ‘You must not eat

fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4  “You

will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5  “For God knows that when you eat from it your

eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6  When the woman saw that the

fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took

some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  (NIV)

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your

mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(NIV)

1. Music

Jeremiah 7:8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. (NIV)

2. Hollywood

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. (NIV)

3. Family

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (ESV)

4. Friends

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV)

5. Our past experiences

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NIV)

Isaiah 59:2   But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from

you, so that he will not hear. (NIV)

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)

PICTURES: Golden Gate Bridge

Ephesians 2:13   But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of

Christ. (NIV)

3 Barriers That Keep People From Crossing The Bridge

1. Satan

2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t

believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this

message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (NLT)

2. Self

Ephesians 2:8-9   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God—  9  not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)

3. Shame

John 3:16–17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes

in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to

condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)

Isaiah 59:2   But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from

you, so that he will not hear. (NIV)

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)

PICTURES: Golden Gate Bridge

Ephesians 2:13   But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of

Christ. (NIV)

3 Barriers That Keep People From Crossing The Bridge

1. Satan

2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t

believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this

message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (NLT)

2. Self

Ephesians 2:8-9   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God—  9  not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)

3. Shame

John 3:16–17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes

in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to

condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)