The Power for Marriage

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Sermon Notes

May 6, 2012

The Power for Marriage Aaron Brockett | Ephesians 5:21-25

The power for marriage is found when two people serve one another out of reverence for Jesus.

A good marriage is a series of deaths and resurrections. You die to yourself and your spouse brings you back to life.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her … — Ephesians 5:21-25 (ESV)

… having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. — Ephesians 1:18-23 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

— Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV)

… submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

— Ephesians 5:21 (ESV)

The power for marriage is found when two people serve one another out of their reverence for the position they have in Christ.

Biblical Headship: the divine calling of a husband to take primary responsibility for Christlike, servant leadership, protection, and provision in the home.

It is an expression of authority.

It is an expression of responsibility.

The Provider

The Protector

The Pastor

It is an expression of sacrificial service.

“I want you to grow closer to Jesus because of me, not in spite of me.”

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. — Ephesians 5:22 (ESV)

Headship that manifests itself as domination or abdication is sin.

Submission that manifests itself as loud contention or silent compliance is sin.

Submission does not mean agreeing with everything your husband says.

Submission does not mean leaving your brain or your will at the wedding altar.

Submission does not mean avoiding every effort to encourage growth in your husband.

Submission does not mean putting the desires of your husband before the intentions of Jesus.

Submission does not mean that you are primarily dependent on your husband for personal and spiritual strength.

Submission does not mean a suppression of your gifts and strengths.

Biblical Submission: the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.

How do you think about your husband?

How do you talk about your husband?

What do you do for your husband?

When I outrank you, I destroy us. When I outserve you, I build us.