Reflecting Christ's Love in Marriage and Home

Devotional

Day 1: The Home as a Crucible

The home is where our attitudes and convictions are forged. It is the most influential force in our earthly existence, shaping our character and faith. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a Christ-centered home where love and respect are paramount. The home serves as a crucible, a place where the heat of daily life refines and shapes us into the image of Christ. This environment is where we learn to practice patience, kindness, and forgiveness, reflecting the love of Christ to those closest to us.

In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul emphasizes the importance of the home in our spiritual formation. He calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. This mutual submission and sacrificial love create a harmonious and God-honoring marriage, setting a powerful example for the entire household. By fostering a Christ-centered home, we not only grow in our faith but also provide a nurturing environment for our children and others who enter our home. [38:23]

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV): "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Reflection: How can you create a more Christ-centered environment in your home today? What specific actions can you take to foster love and respect among your family members?

Day 2: Walking in Love

Walking in love as Christ loved us is the foundation of all Christian relationships. This principle is especially important in marriage, where sacrificial love and mutual submission reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. In Ephesians 5:2, Paul urges believers to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." This call to walk in love extends to every aspect of our lives, but it is particularly vital in the context of marriage.

In a marriage, walking in love means putting the needs and well-being of your spouse above your own. It involves daily acts of kindness, patience, and forgiveness, mirroring the sacrificial love that Christ demonstrated for us. By walking in love, couples can build a strong, God-honoring relationship that serves as a testament to the transformative power of Christ's love. [40:36]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate sacrificial love to your spouse or loved ones today? How can you make walking in love a daily practice in your relationships?

Day 3: The Power of Small Things

Just as woodpeckers can ground a space shuttle by pecking at its insulation, small issues like criticism and lack of respect can erode a marriage. It is essential to address these small issues before they cause significant damage. In the same way that small, seemingly insignificant actions can have a profound impact on a space shuttle, the small things we do or fail to do in our relationships can either build up or tear down our marriages.

Criticism, lack of respect, and other negative behaviors can slowly chip away at the foundation of a marriage, leading to larger issues over time. By being mindful of these small actions and addressing them promptly, couples can prevent minor issues from escalating into major problems. This requires intentionality, open communication, and a commitment to resolving conflicts in a loving and respectful manner. [45:54]

Song of Solomon 2:15 (ESV): "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."

Reflection: What small issues or behaviors in your relationship need to be addressed before they cause more significant problems? How can you approach these issues with love and respect?

Day 4: Mutual Submission

Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission and sacrificial love create a harmonious and God-honoring marriage. In Ephesians 5:21, Paul instructs believers to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This mutual submission is a key component of a healthy and thriving marriage.

For wives, submission means respecting and supporting their husbands' leadership, while for husbands, it means loving their wives selflessly and sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church. This dynamic of mutual submission fosters an environment of trust, respect, and love, allowing both partners to grow together in their faith and relationship. By embracing this biblical model of marriage, couples can experience the fullness of God's design for their union. [49:47]

Colossians 3:18-19 (ESV): "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them."

Reflection: How can you practice mutual submission in your marriage or relationships today? What specific actions can you take to show love and respect to your spouse or loved ones?

Day 5: A Picture of Christ and the Church

Our marriages are a living picture of Christ's relationship with the church. We are called to protect and preserve this picture by living out our roles faithfully and sacrificially, aiming to present our marriages as holy and without blemish before Christ. In Ephesians 5:32, Paul describes marriage as a "profound mystery" that refers to Christ and the church. This means that our marriages are meant to reflect the love, unity, and sacrificial nature of Christ's relationship with His bride, the church.

By living out our roles as husbands and wives according to God's design, we can provide a powerful testimony to the world of Christ's love and faithfulness. This requires a commitment to sacrificial love, mutual submission, and a dedication to growing together in holiness. As we strive to protect and preserve the sanctity of our marriages, we honor God and provide a living example of His perfect love to those around us. [51:24]

Revelation 19:7-8 (ESV): "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure."

Reflection: How can your marriage or relationships better reflect the love and unity of Christ and the church? What steps can you take to protect and preserve the sanctity of your marriage or relationships?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we continue our series on "Finding Our True Identity in Ephesians," focusing on Ephesians 5:22-33. The home is the crucible where our attitudes and convictions are forged, and it is the most influential force in our earthly existence. Over the next two Sundays, we will explore how our identity in Christ plays out in our homes, starting with the relationship between husband and wife.

Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ, which includes walking in love as Christ loved us. This principle of walking in love underpins the entire discussion in Ephesians 5 and 6. The relationship between husband and wife is a profound picture of Christ and the church. Just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially. Wives, in turn, are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, reflecting the church's submission to Christ.

We examined two contrasting pictures: Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," which honors Christ, and a modern depiction from the Olympic Games that mocks Him. These images serve as a reminder that we are responsible for painting a true picture of Christ through our lives and marriages. Just as the shuttle Discovery was grounded by woodpeckers pecking away at its insulation, marriages can be damaged by small, seemingly insignificant issues like criticism and lack of respect.

The big idea is that as God's beloved, we are called to protect and preserve marriage as a picture of His perfect love. This responsibility extends to everyone, whether married or single. We are all part of the body of Christ and must work together to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul outlines the roles of husbands and wives. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission and sacrificial love create a harmonious and God-honoring marriage. The ultimate goal is to present the church, and by extension, our marriages, as holy and without blemish before Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. centered home where love and respect are paramount. [38:23]
2. Walking in Love: Walking in love as Christ loved us is the foundation of all Christian relationships. This principle is especially important in marriage, where sacrificial love and mutual submission reflect the relationship between Christ and the church.

3. The Power of Small Things: Just as woodpeckers can ground a space shuttle by pecking at its insulation, small issues like criticism and lack of respect can erode a marriage. It is essential to address these small issues before they cause significant damage.

4. Mutual Submission: Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission and sacrificial love create a harmonious and God-honoring marriage.

5. A Picture of Christ and the Church: Our marriages are a living picture of Christ's relationship with the church. We are called to protect and preserve this picture by living out our roles faithfully and sacrificially, aiming to present our marriages as holy and without blemish before Christ.

### [38:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:23] - The Home as a Crucible
[39:15] - Walking in Love
[41:28] - Marriage as a Picture of Christ and the Church
[45:54] - The Power of Small Things
[49:47] - Mutual Submission
[51:24] - A Picture of Christ and the Church
[53:05] - Counter-Cultural Instructions
[56:12] - Voluntary Submission
[57:36] - The Role of Husbands
[60:09] - The Weight of Responsibility
[63:49] - Sacrificial Love
[67:58] - Setting Apart with the Word
[69:43] - Radiance of Marriage
[71:41] - Unity in Marriage
[73:08] - The Mystery of Oneness
[74:54] - Marching Towards Revelation 19
[76:32] - Love and Respect
[78:01] - Invitation and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul compare the relationship between husband and wife to in Ephesians 5:22-33? ([41:28])
According to the sermon, what are some small issues that can erode a marriage, similar to how woodpeckers damaged the shuttle Discovery? ([45:54])
How does the sermon describe the role of husbands in loving their wives? ([49:47])
What is the ultimate goal for marriages as described in Ephesians 5:27? ([50:33])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "walking in love" as Christ loved us influence the way we should approach our relationships, especially in marriage? ([40:36])
What does mutual submission look like in a marriage, and how does it reflect the relationship between Christ and the church? ([49:47])
Why is it important to address small issues like criticism and lack of respect in a marriage before they cause significant damage? ([45:54])
How can single individuals contribute to protecting and preserving the picture of marriage as described in the sermon? ([46:36])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own home environment. How can you cultivate a more Christ-centered home where love and respect are paramount? ([38:23])
In what ways can you practice "walking in love" in your daily interactions with your spouse or family members? ([40:36])
Identify a small issue in your marriage or close relationships that you have been neglecting. What steps can you take this week to address it? ([45:54])
For those who are married, how can you and your spouse work together to create a harmonious and God-honoring marriage? ([49:47])
If you are single, how can you support and uphold the sanctity of marriage within your community or church? ([46:36])
Think about the way you and your spouse present your marriage to others. What changes can you make to better reflect the picture of Christ and the church? ([51:24])
How can you ensure that your actions and attitudes within your marriage or relationships are contributing to a picture that is "holy and without blemish" before Christ? ([50:33])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We are to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. See, I would submit to you that the whole of chapters five and six are based upon that principle of walking. We are to walk in love." [39:54] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We all have a responsibility to paint the picture that the world sees. We all have a responsibility to our Lord Jesus Christ to be a demonstration of his love, to be a demonstration of his love, to not just those who would come to know Christ, but for the entire world, for God so loved the entire cosmos, the entire world, even those lost souls who were in that picture in Paris. He loves them." [45:06] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "As God's beloved, protect and preserve marriage as a picture of his perfect love. As God's beloved, are you in Christ this morning? As God's beloved, protect and preserve marriage as a picture of his perfect love. It is up to you, wives. It is up to you, husbands. It is up to you, beloved, who are single." [47:30] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "This is the picture that we paint in the marriage that God has given me, and in the marriage that maybe God has given you, and in the marriages of every married person in this church, whether you're single or not, it is your responsibility to be a part of what God is doing, painting that picture. Amen?" [49:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The dumbest things I've ever done in my life are all because I didn't listen to my wife. Write it down. The dumbest things... The dumbest things I've ever done in my life are all because I didn't listen to my wife. This is from the first book of Pastor John, okay? I know it's true. I know it's true because I've lived it." [01:02:28] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Let me just say to you, marriages are often most damaged not by big things, not by physical infidelity or physical abuse or mental abuse or emotional abuse or abandonment, but by the little things. Criticism, lack of respect, taking each other for granted, peck away at that relationship and keeps those who are married from reaching the picture that God designed us to reach." [46:36] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Again, back to verse two. And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, both male and female, Jew and Gentile, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Guys, if you aren't loving your wife with a sacrificial love, then you're not loving the way that God has called us to love." [01:04:25] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "This is a mystery, it's the same mystery again where one plus one equaled one in chapter two. This is putting two together to become one. This is the picture of Christ and the church. This is the picture of Christ and the church we are every day moment by moment hour by hour day by day week by week month by month year after year decade after decade for century until Christ comes again we are marching our way towards revelation 19 where this perfect picture will finally be seen." [01:14:54] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Marriage will never work in this order. Yes, husband is head of the wife just as Christ is head of the church. Yes, the wife voluntarily orders herself under her husband. But if we're both believers, if we're both beloved, then we're seeking to outdo one another in showing each other honor. We're seeking to submit to one another as we love each other." [01:16:32] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Let me say to you again, God's beloved people preserve marriage as a picture of Christ in the church and this picture is for all of us, all of us in this room whether you're married or unmarried it is up to you it is up to me to preserve marriage as a picture of Christ's church." [01:17:30] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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