Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [a]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she [b]respects her husband.

Family Relationships

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Question: Why would I even care what a family is and how do I begin to know?

1. Our starting point is biblical truth.

• The biblical portrait of a family is found in the absolute, governing standard of God’s truth…His word.
• God’s truth is applicable to families of all cultures, race, ethnicities, and situations.

2. The father is the primary example of Christ’s love in the family.

• The father has the awesome opportunity to demonstrate sacrificial love.
• The father has the awesome opportunity to demonstrate servant leadership.

3. The mother is the completion of the father.

• The mother facilitates cleaving and the ability for two to become one.
• She has the awesome opportunity to demonstrate submission while at the same time remaining equal to the father.
• She has the awesome opportunity to fulfill her God-given role as helpmate to her husband.

4. Children are the fruit of oneness.

• A husband and wife have the opportunity to produce life that bears the image of our creator!

Children have the opportunity

• To demonstrate obedience.
• To honor those in authority over them.
• To learn self-governance through the discipline and instruction of the Lord.