Friday First: Embracing God's Calling for Wives

God has designed marriage and family as a blessing. Scripture says marriage is the grace of life and that children are a blessed heritage from the Lord. Family is at the heart and soul of society. Marriage is a gift of God’s grace. He has made it so that we may find companionship, friendship, and respect. It is to be a place of fellowship and partnership. God intends for it to be one man; one woman; together for life.

From the very moment sin came into our world, Satan has continually attacked the family. For many, family life and marriage is characterized by bitterness, discontent, unforgiveness, separation, and divorce. Success for marriage is built on obedience to God’s word. It is empowered by the Spirit who lives in us. Both partners need to be committed to an active relationship with God. But must be committed to the principle of submission. There must always be the desire to meet the needs of the other person.

Marriage should be bathed in humility, unselfishness, and self-denial. The general spirit of all relationships should be the one of submission. Beginning in Ephesians 5.22, Paul focuses on wives as the first example. Then he will address husbands, children, and parents. The entire section from 5.22-6.4 serves as an illustration of the principle in 5.21. We don’t do this passage justice if we think submission is only for wives. Christian men and women are driven by the example of Jesus Christ, who selflessly placed the needs of others ahead of himself.

In Sunday’s lesson we will talk about:

• The historical context
• The submission principle
• How and why a wife submits
• The model for her submission
• What submission looks like in everyday life.

As you prepare for worship, please think about these questions.

1. Why is an understanding of the first century cultural context so important when studying this passage?
2. Of what value is submission to God? (1 Peter 3.4)
3. Does submission equal inequality? Why/Why not?
4. With what spirit is she to submit? (Titus 3.4)
5. What happens when God’s plan is ignored?

OPENING / WELCOME
Kody Pritt

SONG LEADER
Russ Robins

PRAYER OF PRAISE
Dave Pennington

LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Greg Morrison
 
SCRIPTURE READING
David Williams
Ephesians 5.22-24

PREACHING
Matthew Allen

CLOSING PRAYER
John Key

CLOSING COMMENTS
Russ Robins

WELCOME CENTER
Sadonna Schofield / Jessica Johnson

USHERS
Paul Braden / Rich Jacobs

CLOSING THE BUILDING
Josh Childers