“Selfless Marriage & Relationships”

Introduction:

1. Read Ephesians 5:21-33

2. What difference does Jesus make in your relationship? ●How about specifically your marriage?

●We all, married or not, reflect Jesus as His image bearers.

3. This passage starts at verse 18 – “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”

●Paul gives 4 manifestations of a Spirit-filled relationship and community. ●Submitting to one another?? (vs. 21)

●Submission = definition:

I.) “Wives, Submit To Your Husbands As To The Lord” (vs. 23)

A. Why is this a positive command? (It doesn’t say OBEY!) What does this command mean? Are women less important?

B. When the church tries to operate apart from God’s system of authority, it creates confusion and disorder. (Hebrews 13:17)

C. “as to the Lord” = for God’s glory and pleasure.

II.) Husbands, Love Your Wives As Christ Loved The Church And Gave Himself Up For Her... (vs. 25)

A. Men agape your wife! (Ephesians 5:2) ●What does that mean? Give yourself up for her!

AGAPE =

●”A husband is not commanded to love his wife because of what she is or is not.”

B. Verses 28-20 = “Like his own body!”

C. One of the greatest barriers to marriage is the failure of one or both partners to leave (father/mother) and cleave to (be

connected) to each other. (vs.31-32)

D. “Love And Respect Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin”! ●Men need affirmation and respect. (vs.33)

III.)“For The Husband Is The Head Of The Wife As Christ Also Is The Head Of The Church, His Body.” (vs. 23)

A. What is headship? ●The head gives direction and the body responds!

B. Jesus is the divine role model for husbands, who provide, protect, love, and lead their wives and children,

as Jesus cares for His church. (Key) ●How can men be a Savior to their wife?