Summary: This sermon explains how men and women are different and particularly how husbands can communicate with their wives.

INTRODUCTION

• Men and women are different.

• Wives need to connect - they want connectivity!

• She wants to be close!

I. CLOSENESS IS CRUCIAL FOR HER

• Genesis 2:24-25, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to

his wife; and they shall become one flesh...”

• Cleaving is multi-faceted – emotional, spiritual and physical

• Face to face…in all creation only humans are sexually intimate face to face.

• Deuteronomy 24:5, “...shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”

• By staying home and connecting.

II. INVOLVEMENT OR INDEPENDENCE

• When you walk in the door the first thing she would usually like is a few moments to reconnect.

• Involvement________vs__________independence

• Often she is at one end and he is at the other.

• Typically she leans towards involvement.

• Men lean toward independence.

• Men, when you move toward her you are doing the right thing - building bridges not walls.

• Break the crazy cycle and do the right thing.

III. OPENNESS AND UNDERSTANDING

• She is looking for both openness and understanding.

• Our openness spells love for her.

• Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”

• Deal with your heart.

• Understanding - I Peter 3:7, “Husbands live with your wives in an understanding way...”

• Command. Present tense = ongoing imperative

• Live with your wives – walk with her, listen to her.

• Understanding way = to grasp or understand

• She wants you to understand her, not fix her.

IV. LOYALTY COUNTS

• Speak highly of your wife in public.

• Proverbs 31:28-29, “Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her...”

• I Peter 3:7 - “honor her”

• This sends a message of concern and love to her.

• Many men get their self image from their work…most women get it from their family.

• Be involved in things that she likes.

• Song of Solomon 8:6, “Wear me as a signet ring on your heart, as a ring on your hand...”

• Your ring is a sign of loyalty, wear it.