Sermon Central
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Living In Marriage Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 15, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 6th study in the study "Hope In The Darkness". This study describes to husbands and wives how to live in marriage in a way that will be a witness for Jesus Christ.
LIVING IN MARRIAGE
Our study continues to stress the importance of our witness. How we live in all areas of life matter. The world is watching us. They are watching how we treat the government. They are watching to see if we follow the laws of the land. They are watching how we behave at work and with our employers or employees. They are watching how we handle situations when we are treated unfairly. This study gives us counsel on how we are to handle our spouse and marriage so that the lost will be led to Christ. We will first look at how the Christian wife should treat her husband and then we will look at how the Christian husband should treat his wife.
Wives
Wives are to be responsive to the needs of their husband. This does not mean that the wife is a slave. The motive of submission is love.
The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:16 that women would struggle with submission. Our text lets us know that submission of the wife is necessary in a successful marriage especially if her husband is not a believer. What does an unsubmissive wife look like?
Proverbs 19:13;21:9,19
What does a submissive wife look like?
The most important thing to remember about submission is that submission is not slavery and it is motivated by love. Now that we have looked at some things about the wife, let us turn to the husbands.
Husbands
The men are probably thinking, “We only got one verse!” Let’s look at this important verse and follow it through Scripture. Men you are not the “slave owner”. You are the spiritual leader of your marriage. Husbands are to lead their wives to holy living. This verse tells us that the woman is the weaker vessel. That is simply talking about physical build. Here is the most important thing to see in this text, men. As far as God’s grace, we are equals. God created man and woman different physically and psychologically but He created us the same spiritually. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all. Women can accept God’s gift of salvation just as men can.
Men are to be good to their wives. They are to listen to them and try to keep them happy because they love them. The husband’s main responsibility is to lead his wife spiritually. For a marriage to be successful, it must be a marriage of three: Husband, wife, and God. If God will be placed at the center of the marriage it will work. Men you are to love your wives. How are men to love their wives?
Just A Thought
Does your marriage draw people to Christ and give other Christian couples a good example of marriage or does it push them away? Wives, do you submit to your husband in all things, when you feel like it, or never? Husbands are the spiritual leader of your household? If not, whose fault is that; and what must you do to become the spiritual leader of your household?
Sunday Evening Bible Study
Series: Hope In The Darkness (Study In 1 Peter) #6
March 16, 2003
Bel Aire Baptist Church
Pastor Shawn Drake