Fresh Start With Family

Ephesians 5:15–30 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of His body

There is CONTROVERSY in this passage…

I. The status of the American Family is not good.

A. We need to walk wisely vs 15-16

1. “Pay Careful Attention” vs 15 – To search carefully (Matt 2:8)

2. “Make the Most of the Time” vs 16 - Take what Satan meant for evil and using it for Good (God’s Glory).

3. “days are evil” vs 16 – Evil is all around us, if we don’t walk wisely we will be victims of the “evil days.”

B. We need to stop being “foolish” vs 17-18

1. We must “understand what the Lord’s will is.” vs 17

2. “don’t get drunk with wine…but be filled by the Spirit” vs 18

C. We need to build up the family vs 19-21

1. In how we speak “to one another” vs 19

2. “Being thankful for everything” vs 20

3. Submitting to one another vs 21

II. The Wife’s Role in marriage vs 21-23

A. What submitting is NOT vs 21-23

1. Submission is NOT Slavery

2. Submission cannot be compelled

3. Submission does not mean unequal

B. What submission is vs 21-23

1. Power under control (its not about being powerless)

2. An attitude of the heart

3. Placing someone else ahead of yourself

a. We submit to our boss (or should)

b. We submit to our parents (or should)

III. The Husband’s Role in marriage vs 23-30

A. The Husband is to mimic Christ

1. Christ is the Head of the church vs 23

a. The protector

b. The servant leader

2. Christ is the Savior of the church vs 23

a. Christ takes responsibility for what is NOT his fault

b. Christ is redemptive, forgiving and freeing

B. Husbands are to love their wives vs 25 & 28

1. This is a command not a suggestion.

2. Selfless Love

3. Servant Leadership

C. Goals for the Husband

1. Have a wife that is loved vs 25

2. Have a wife that is “provided and cared for” 28

3. Have a wife that is growing in holiness vs 26

Application:

1. How are you doing in Obeying God in your role?

2. Are you willing to submit to God?