Courageous Love: Husbands' Call to Lead and Cherish

 

Summary

In today's exploration of Ephesians 5:25-30, we delve into the profound calling for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This is not a superficial or conditional love but a deep, sacrificial, and courageous love that mirrors the divine love God has for His Son and the church. The title "Courageous Husbands" encapsulates the essence of this calling, emphasizing the need for strength and courage to fulfill the biblical role of a husband amidst cultural opposition and personal challenges.

The scriptural mandate for husbands is to love their wives with an agape love, a love that is unconditional and selfless. This love is not just a feeling but an action, a commitment to cherish, nourish, and honor one's wife. It involves verbal affirmation, public and private expressions of delight, and a commitment to her well-being. Just as God expressed His love for His Son, husbands are called to express their love for their wives, building them up and affirming their value.

Leadership in marriage is another critical aspect discussed. Husbands are to lead their families with strength and courage, much like Joshua was commanded to lead Israel. This leadership is not about dominance but about guiding the family towards God's purposes, ensuring unity, and fostering an environment of love and joy. The husband's role is to be the head, taking initiative, making decisions in unity with his wife, and setting a spiritual tone in the home.

The sermon also highlights the importance of joy and playfulness in marriage. A joyful home is a reflection of a husband who is rooted in Christ, living out his faith with purpose and passion. This joy is contagious, creating a stable and secure environment for the family. Husbands are encouraged to be proactive in addressing issues, maintaining unity, and ensuring that their leadership is characterized by love, compassion, and understanding.

Ultimately, the call is for husbands to be courageous in their love and leadership, to prioritize their wives above all else, and to glorify God in their marriage. This requires a daily commitment to die to self, to seek God's guidance, and to live out the biblical principles of love and leadership.

Key Takeaways:

1. Agape Love in Marriage: Husbands are called to love their wives with an agape love, mirroring the love God has for His Son and the church. This love is unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial, requiring verbal affirmation and a commitment to cherish and honor one's wife. [13:40]

2. Courageous Leadership: Just as Joshua was commanded to lead with courage, husbands are to lead their families with strength and purpose. This leadership involves guiding the family towards God's purposes, ensuring unity, and fostering an environment of love and joy. [16:16]

3. Joy and Playfulness: A joyful home reflects a husband rooted in Christ, living out his faith with purpose. This joy is contagious, creating a stable and secure environment for the family. Husbands are encouraged to be proactive in addressing issues and maintaining unity. [22:06]

4. Proactive Problem Solving: Husbands are called to be proactive in addressing issues, maintaining unity, and ensuring their leadership is characterized by love, compassion, and understanding. This involves taking initiative and being appropriately aggressive in solving problems. [27:50]

5. Daily Commitment to God: The call for husbands is to be courageous in their love and leadership, prioritizing their wives above all else, and glorifying God in their marriage. This requires a daily commitment to die to self, seek God's guidance, and live out biblical principles. [35:40]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Ephesians 5:25-30
- [02:15] - The Role of Husbands
- [04:00] - Courageous Husbands
- [06:45] - Agape Love Explained
- [09:30] - Verbal Affirmation and Love
- [12:00] - Leadership in Marriage
- [14:30] - Joy and Playfulness in the Home
- [17:00] - Proactive Problem Solving
- [19:45] - Daily Commitment to God
- [22:30] - Sacrificial Love
- [25:00] - Unity and Purpose
- [27:30] - Addressing Cultural Opposition
- [30:00] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Courageous Husbands

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:25-30
- Joshua 1:7-9
- Colossians 3:12-14

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Ephesians 5:25-30, how are husbands instructed to love their wives, and what is the comparison made to illustrate this love? [13:40]

2. In the sermon, what role does courage play in a husband's leadership within the family, and how is this related to the example of Joshua? [16:16]

3. How does the sermon describe the impact of a husband's sacrificial love on his wife and family? [40:55]

4. What are some specific ways mentioned in the sermon that husbands can express their love verbally to their wives? [31:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of agape love challenge the cultural norms of love and marriage today? In what ways does this sermon suggest husbands can embody this love? [13:40]

2. The sermon draws a parallel between Joshua's leadership and a husband's role in the family. What are the key characteristics of Joshua's leadership that are applicable to husbands today? [16:16]

3. How does the sermon suggest that joy and playfulness contribute to a healthy marriage, and what biblical basis is provided for this idea? [22:06]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a husband's proactive problem-solving can lead to a more unified and joyful family environment? [27:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of agape love. How can you begin to incorporate more unconditional and sacrificial love into your marriage this week? [13:40]

2. Consider the leadership qualities of Joshua. What is one area in your family life where you can demonstrate more courage and strength in your leadership? [16:16]

3. Joy and playfulness are highlighted as important aspects of marriage. What is one activity you can plan with your spouse this week to foster joy and playfulness in your home? [22:06]

4. Think about a recent conflict or issue in your marriage. How can you apply the sermon’s advice on proactive problem-solving to address this situation? [27:50]

5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of verbal affirmation. What is one specific way you can verbally express your love and appreciation for your spouse today? [31:19]

6. Reflect on the idea of daily commitment to God in your marriage. What is one spiritual practice you can incorporate into your daily routine to strengthen your relationship with God and your spouse? [35:40]

7. The sermon discusses the importance of prioritizing your spouse above all else. Identify one distraction in your life that may be hindering this priority and discuss a plan to address it. [40:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Agape Love as a Daily Commitment
Husbands are called to love their wives with an agape love, which is unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial. This love is not merely a feeling but an active commitment to cherish, nourish, and honor one's wife. It involves verbal affirmation and both public and private expressions of delight, reflecting the divine love God has for His Son and the church. This kind of love requires a daily decision to prioritize the well-being and value of one's wife, building her up and affirming her worth. [13:40]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you express agape love to your spouse today, ensuring she feels cherished and honored?


Day 2: Courageous Leadership in the Home
Husbands are called to lead their families with strength and purpose, much like Joshua was commanded to lead Israel. This leadership is not about dominance but about guiding the family towards God's purposes, ensuring unity, and fostering an environment of love and joy. It involves taking initiative, making decisions in unity with one's wife, and setting a spiritual tone in the home. Courageous leadership requires a husband to be proactive, addressing issues and maintaining unity with love and understanding. [16:16]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: How can you take a step today to lead your family with courage and purpose, ensuring unity and love in your home?


Day 3: Cultivating Joy and Playfulness
A joyful home is a reflection of a husband who is rooted in Christ, living out his faith with purpose and passion. This joy is contagious, creating a stable and secure environment for the family. Husbands are encouraged to be proactive in addressing issues, maintaining unity, and ensuring that their leadership is characterized by love, compassion, and understanding. Joy and playfulness in marriage are essential for fostering a loving and joyful atmosphere that reflects the love of Christ. [22:06]

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"

Reflection: What is one way you can bring joy and playfulness into your home today, creating a more loving and joyful atmosphere?


Day 4: Proactive Problem Solving
Husbands are called to be proactive in addressing issues, maintaining unity, and ensuring their leadership is characterized by love, compassion, and understanding. This involves taking initiative and being appropriately aggressive in solving problems. By being proactive, husbands can create a stable and secure environment for their families, reflecting the love and leadership of Christ. This proactive approach requires courage and a commitment to prioritize the well-being of one's family. [27:50]

Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Reflection: What is one issue in your family that you can address proactively today, ensuring unity and love in your home?


Day 5: Daily Commitment to God
The call for husbands is to be courageous in their love and leadership, prioritizing their wives above all else, and glorifying God in their marriage. This requires a daily commitment to die to self, seek God's guidance, and live out biblical principles. By prioritizing their relationship with God, husbands can lead their families with strength and purpose, ensuring that their marriage reflects the love and glory of God. [35:40]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: How can you make a daily commitment to prioritize your relationship with God, ensuring that your marriage reflects His love and glory?

Quotes

"This is the best marriage manual on the planet, and I promise you that you will not go wrong if you follow the Scriptures. And so, in God's holy word, the Bible contains all of what you need for life and godliness, and especially marriage. Last week, we dove into the subject of wives submitting to their husbands, and that was rich and wonderful. The text is very clear in that area. And now, as we have discussed Ephesians 5, 22 to 24, in regards to the wives, and now we branch into the husbands." [00:00:07] (37 seconds)


"expressed his love and delight and pleasure in his son and so husbands how then do you love your wives one aspect one one concept one way that you should love your wives as verbally you should express your love for your wife publicly and verbally you should delight in her you should speak highly of her and you should build her up verbally use your voice to publicly approve of her use your voice to privately approve and build her up this is how God expressed his love for his son and we see this and so your voice should be being used to love your wife and John first John chapter 4 verse 8 the Bible says that God is love which means that with all of who he is all of who God is God is love he expressed his love for his son and so in a similar vein the husbands should utilize all of who they are if God is love which he is then all of he all of who he is is expressing that love for his son and husbands husbands are not to reserve any of their love for their wife all of who you are is to express your love for your wife" [00:07:14] (82 seconds)


"And in Ephesians chapter 5, the role of the husband is also to unify the marriage, to be united, to become one. And above all of these great things, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Above all of these things is to put on this grand idea, this deep expression of love for the wife. This is to be higher than all other things. Listen, husbands, you can't put your children above your wife." [00:12:04] (38 seconds)


"Not only do we see these great things, compassion, kindness, and humility, which are part of who you are, but you know that your occupation cannot be perceived by your wife as more important than her. Lest you be out of step with Christ. Lest you be out of step with the Lord. Nothing is more important than your first ministry that you've been given than your wife. And you should have no restraint. In fact, the inner force of your being is to be driven to meet her needs and to love her." [00:12:48] (39 seconds)


"And as the husband expresses his love without any reserves, he develops security. Within security, it develops joy. Within this joy, you have vitality inside the home and this is what God has created, the home. These are truly wonderful things. Christ expresses his love like this. Greater love has no one than this. Then he laid down his life for his friends. And husbands, you're more than just a lover. You are a friend to your spouse. And so point number one, which we've discussed already, is courageous husbands love." [00:15:45] (41 seconds)


"extract a concept from above the text for which we have read in verse 23 from the wives section it says for the husband is head of the wife he's head and this is no new concept first Corinthians 11 3 says man is the head of the woman and so this is to be the leader this is to be the initiator this is to be the one who makes sure that the husband and wife are in unity they've talked about whatever is going to happen in the home and now he leads and so think of the husband perhaps is the stronger right arm and then you have the weaker vessel of equal value unified together and after they talk and discuss and and converge everything that they know about God and about the Word of God what they believe is the will for their household the husband then leads and and they're together in this but but he is leading she's supporting and they're unified in this you know when an aimless approach to life is deflating purposelessness is depressive it can't just exist in life and walk around in this world and say what am I here for the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever this is at the heart of what drives us as men to glorify God and to enjoy him the first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism says what is the chief end of man and you know that it is to glorify God and to enjoy him this phrase this question what is the chief end of man it gets to a person's primary purpose why are you here what are you doing why are you working why are you spending money why are you loving your wife why are you teaching your children why why why this question answers that to glorify God you've been made in God's image and he's given you a purpose gifts an aim a will and so this enjoying him is a result of delighting yourself in him the Puritans consider God's glory and God's joy as a important part of Christian life" [00:16:54] (145 seconds)


"And so if you're lacking joy in your life, if you're lacking that, then back up as the notch and start doing everything for the glory of God. In 1 Corinthians 10, verse 31, it says to do all things for the glory of God. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10, 31. And so therefore the husband is to lead in a way that is to glorify God. Their purpose is upward. It's not worldly." [00:19:19] (31 seconds)


"Everything is aimed up at glorifying the Lord. And boy, does that make a huge difference with how you spend your time, how you spend your money, where you go on vacation, what you do, what you say, how you educate, where you're at on Sunday. It makes a big difference when you're driven from within with these crucial purposes. And then you get it. Not only do we glorify God in everything that we do, but listen, husbands, you are a major part of setting the initiative or the tone in the home and the wife lives it out in regards to the home being healthy and joyful, joy -filled." [00:19:50] (40 seconds)


"Psalm 16, 11 says, it's in his presence, it's fullness of joy and pleasures evermore. Fullness of joy, not some. It's just a sporadic here and there. And if this is the case, if you're happy in Christ, you know Jesus started off his preaching ministry with this concept in Matthew chapter five, happy is he or blessed are you when. All the beatitudes are leading towards, it's kind of like a carrot on a stick. You want to be happy in Christ? You know, obey my commands and there's fullness of joy." [00:20:30] (33 seconds)


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Transcript
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