The Partnership
What is God’s plan for marriage and parenting?
Ephesians 5:15-6:4 (ESV)
Chapter 5: 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use
of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will
of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the
Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for
Christ.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife
even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he
might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might
present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might
be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own
bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes
and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the
church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that
she respects her husband.
Chapter 6: 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and
mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that
you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up
in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
God’s plan starts with reverence for Christ
Ephesians 5:21 (ESV)— 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The Greek word for reverence is phobos and it is where we get our word Phobia. The word
literally means panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror
We should have a fear that we are going to go outside of the will of God, and live in a way
that is contrary to His word, His ways, and His wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)— 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of
the Holy One is insight.
In our leading of our family must first start with our own abiding relationship with Jesus
that leads us into the next areas of God’s plan
God’s plan includes submission and love
Wives
Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV)— 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the
husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its
Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their
husbands.
Wives, you are called to humble yourself and die to yourself by allowing your husband to
lead you and your family
Husbands
Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)— 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself
up for her,
Husbands, you are called to die to yourself and your desires and care more about the
interests of your wife them of yourself…this is what Jesus did for us when He laid His life
down for us. (Philippians 2:1-8)
God’s plan demands obedience
Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)— 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your
father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you
and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring
them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
It is our job as parents to make sure that our kids obey, and learn at a young age to submit
to their authority and leadership…we are teaching them to not repeat the first sin of
disobedience in Genesis 3.
We are called to raise up the next generation to know and love the Lord!
Psalm 78:1, 4, 6-7 (NLT)