In this sermon, I discussed the importance of understanding and embracing the biblical concept of marriage and the roles of husbands and wives within it. I emphasized that many of the problems we face today are a direct result of us either ignoring or rejecting God's design for us as humanity, and marriage is one of those fundamental things that the Bible addresses. I stressed the importance of restoring God's blueprint of marriage and functioning on biblical truths. I also touched on the topic of headship within marriage, acknowledging that it can be a sensitive topic for many, but it is where Genesis starts and is therefore crucial to understand.

In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into the role of headship in marriage, referencing passages from 1 Corinthians and Ephesians that highlight the husband's role as the head of the wife. I also discussed the ongoing war against God's Authority and God's created order, which is under attack. I pointed out that the enemy's intention is to destroy all that God has intended to be good, including the individual person, marriage, family, and a healthy functioning society. I concluded the sermon with a prayer, asking God to help us live the fullness of what He intended marriage to look like.

Key Takeaways:
- The importance of restoring God's blueprint of marriage and functioning on biblical truths cannot be overstated. This is a crucial step towards addressing many of the problems we face today. ([00:25])
- The concept of headship within marriage, while sensitive and often debated, is a fundamental aspect of God's design for marriage. Understanding and embracing this concept is vital. ([00:59])
- The ongoing war against God's Authority and created order is a significant challenge that we must recognize and confront. The enemy's intention is to destroy all that God has intended to be good, including the individual person, marriage, family, and a healthy functioning society. ([22:56])
- The role of the husband as the head of the wife, as highlighted in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians, is a key aspect of God's design for marriage. This role should be understood and embraced by both husbands and wives. ([03:43])
- Our prayer should be for God to help us live the fullness of what He intended marriage to look like, so that our families and communities can reflect His design and purpose. ([22:49])

Bible Passages:
1. 1 Corinthians 11:3
2. Genesis 2:18-24
3. Colossians 3:18-21

Key Points from the sermon:
1. The importance of understanding and embracing God's design for marriage and the roles within it.
2. The concept of headship within marriage, and the responsibility it carries.
3. The societal pressures and narratives that often conflict with God's design for marriage.

Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Corinthians 11:3 say about the structure of authority within a marriage?
2. How does Genesis 2:18-24 describe the creation of marriage and the roles within it?
3. What instructions does Colossians 3:18-21 give to husbands, wives, and children?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Corinthians 11:3 reflect God's design for marriage and the roles within it?
2. What does Genesis 2:18-24 reveal about God's intentions for marriage and the roles of husband and wife?
3. How can we understand the instructions in Colossians 3:18-21 in the context of a healthy, God-centered marriage?

Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the principles of headship and submission, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 11:3, in our own marriages?
2. In what ways can we honor God's design for marriage, as described in Genesis 2:18-24, in our own relationships?
3. How can we live out the instructions in Colossians 3:18-21 in our roles as husbands, wives, or children?

Day 1: The Importance of Marriage in Society

Marriage is a sacred institution, a covenant between two people and God. It is a commitment to love, honor, and cherish one another. It is a bond that should be respected and valued by all.

Hebrews 13:4 - "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

Reflection: Reflect on your current or past relationships. How have you honored the sanctity of marriage in these relationships? If you're not married, how do you uphold the value of marriage in your interactions with others?

Day 2: The Role of Headship in Marriage

In a marriage, both partners have roles to play. The Bible speaks of the husband as the head of the wife, but this is not a position of dominance or control. It is a role of love, respect, and consideration.

1 Peter 3:1-7 - "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

Reflection: Consider your role in your marriage or future marriage. How do you or would you demonstrate respect and consideration for your spouse, as outlined in 1 Peter 3:1-7? What specific actions can you take to embody these principles more fully?

Day 3: The Role of Men in Society

Men have a unique role in society. They are called to be leaders, protectors, and providers. They are to be examples of godliness and integrity.

1 Timothy 3:1-5 - "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)"

Reflection: Reflect on your role as a man in your family and society. How do you strive to live up to the standards set in 1 Timothy 3:1-5? Are there areas where you could improve?

Day 4: The War Against God's Authority

We are in a spiritual battle. The enemy is constantly trying to undermine God's authority and lead us astray. But we are not defenseless. God has given us spiritual armor to stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-12 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Reflection: Think about the spiritual battles you face in your life. How do you put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil’s schemes? Are there areas where you need to strengthen your spiritual armor?

Day 5: The Importance of Masculinity

Masculinity is not about being tough or aggressive. It's about being strong and courageous, but also loving and kind. It's about standing up for what's right and protecting those who can't protect themselves.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love."

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of masculinity. How do you balance being courageous and strong with doing everything in love, as instructed in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14? What steps can you take to better embody these qualities?

1. "Lord if there are things that are hidden in our hearts or minds that oppose the truth and the way that you've created us to function and to live together, Lord that you would expose that. That the light of Truth would reveal that Lord and that we as husbands would truly embrace the role that responsibility that you have given us." [22:56] - 22:49

2. "Many of the problems and the troubles that we are facing at the moment are a direct result of us either ignoring or moving away from or flat out rejecting God's ways his plans his purpose his design for us as humanity and marriage is one of those fundamental things." [01:40] - 0

3. "The war is not a war between men and women it's something bigger than that it's a war against God's Authority and God's created order which is under attack and the enemy is intent absolutely intent and bent on destroying every single thing that God has made good." [13:21] - 11:22

4. "The enemy is incredibly Sly in trying to feed this narrative into every aspect of society and have us believe that with the purpose of you and I who are men who are husbands that we would shrink back from that role that we would actually step away from that god-given responsibility um to lead as he has called us to lead." [16:14] - 15:09

5. "We can't reject the ways of God just because we haven't followed them the way that he intends us to his ways are perfect and good. It's the same I believe with the role of headship of husbands is that even though they are those cases and and possibly each one of us have been guilty of that to some extent that we don't reject men's Authority in the headship of husbands." [18:10] - 15:09

Well, a very good morning to you, church. I hope that you're all doing well on this beautiful, beautiful morning.

I said to Michelle yesterday, this is like a throwback to COVID, recording messages on a Sunday morning.

Yeah, but again, our apologies for the late notice about not being able to meet today. We thought we would be able to in the hall, but they weren't able to carry away everything they needed to from the wedding yesterday.

So here we are. Just a quick announcement: if you could please take note that on the 10th of September, Sunday the 10th of September, we're having a combined meeting with Fountains Church, and they're going to be joining us at the hall in the marina, which would be great. I'm really looking forward to hosting them there.

The reason I'm saying that is if we could ask you, parking might be a little bit tight on that morning. So if we could ask you to try and catch a lift with a friend or family on Sunday the 10th, just so that we have enough parking space there. We'll organize extra chairs for that.

But welcome to you, wherever you are, wherever you might be watching this recording from.

I want to speak this morning just the second part of the magnificence of marriage. You might be asking the question, like, why are we dealing with this topic? There are so many other challenges that we're facing at the moment, like one particular marriage.

I think one of the reasons is because many of the problems and the troubles that we are facing at the moment are a direct result of us either ignoring, moving away from, or flat-out rejecting God's ways, His plans, His purpose, His design for us as humanity.

Marriage is one of those fundamental things that the Bible addresses in Genesis, and being the cornerstone of every relationship pretty much in society, it is a vitally important topic for us to cover.

For us as followers of Jesus, we need to restore God's blueprint of marriage, if you like, that we're working towards in our own marriages. We need to make sure that we have that in place so that our marriages and families are built and functioning on biblical truths and the way that God has designed that to work.

At the same time, it also provides a wonderful encouragement, example, and hope for others to look at in marriage to realize there's actually a way that God has called us to work that is beautiful, that is healthy, and it bears so much incredible fruit.

So before moving on to the role of husbands and wives in marriage, I felt it would be important just to lay a bit of a foundation for headship. It's something which for many people is quite a sensitive topic, and there's a huge debate about it. Some people feel it's controversial, but I want to start there because I do believe that that's where Genesis starts.

The first passage we're going to read from this morning is from 1 Corinthians chapter 11, where Paul references creation when talking about the role of headship and authority within marriage.

So, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, and I'm just going to quickly go through a few of the verses. I won't read that whole passage; I want to try and keep this as short as possible this morning.

1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 3 says, "I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. For a man ought not to cover his head since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor man of woman. For as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman, and all things are from God."

That is verse 3, and then verses 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12.

Then Ephesians chapter 5, verse 22 says this: "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

We know and we understand that the role of the husband is one of the key roles that the Lord has ordained for all of creation. Being a husband is being a cornerstone in marriage. Being a father is such a vital role in a healthy family. Being an elder or a leader builds an incredibly important and healthy community, which obviously then leads to a healthy society.

I'm very aware that I'm looking at this from a man's point of view, being a guy. Obviously, that's true, but at the same time, I do say that my understanding and my belief is that scripture tells us that the Lord has, throughout all of human history, appointed men in the role of headship in marriage.

This is something which I believe is clear. Those two verses or those two passages that I read earlier are just two of many, many others that help us understand this.

If we look at the example of Adam, the first man created, whom Paul says is from whom and for whom women are created, we see in Genesis chapter 2 that God gives the command to Adam of what he is allowed to and what he isn't allowed to do.

That responsibility is given to Adam to pass that on to Eve, which he communicates to Eve. In this way, we see that in giving the command to Adam alone, the Lord is establishing His headship in this relationship of marriage with Eve.

Another small example is how Adam alone, before Eve is created, is the one that is tasked with the responsibility of observing the animals and then giving them names for their different kinds.

Adam's headship is not a result of the Fall because this is something which is established before Adam and Eve sin.

Beyond Adam, we have a look at examples throughout God's dealings with His people, and that is with leaders like Abraham, with Israel's leaders, the kings David and the other kings. Then into the New Testament, we see where Jesus disciples men, women, and children.

He's discipling men, women, and children in the years that He is in ministry, but when He chooses the apostles, He chooses 12 men. I believe that that is another way that we understand that this role of headship in families and in the church is something which God has ordained for men.

There are certainly exceptions throughout the Bible, but in general, we would understand that headship in these roles is for men.

I want to say that this in no way detracts from the importance of the roles that women play in every single way. The headship of man doesn't mean that women are relegated to a secondary role in society, in family, in the church—not in the slightest.

But I think the point is for us to find our God-given roles. When we operate in what God has given us, the way that He's designed us to work, then we are all fulfilled in that.

We're not looking at the ways of the world and thinking that the way that the world does things is how we find fulfillment. In fact, that just causes strife and problems. It's when we find those roles within God that I think we find true significance, purpose, fulfillment, joy.

We see the significant role that women have played throughout the Bible, throughout history, and specifically with regard to the Bible—the significant role of Eve, who is the mother of all humans. That is a hugely significant role in something which Adam wasn't able to do by himself.

But then we look at other figures after Eve, significant roles played by women like Sarah, Miriam, Ruth, Rahab, Esther, Mary, and the others, Priscilla and other leading women that we read about in the book of Acts.

So there is no doubt that there is a huge role that women play, incredibly significant in the kingdom and in society.

We know that both men and women are created in the image of God. The Bible tells us that multiple times. It is really, really clear that we are both created to image Him, but there are some very clear differences in how we are created, which also makes a difference in why we are created.

I do believe that all of us would agree that women and men are not exactly the same. There are very clear differences just physiologically in our makeup, the entire way that the Lord has created us.

There are very clear differences between men and women, so why would we think that our roles or our purpose would be exactly the same? Why would we think that God, having made us intentionally, made men and women so different to complement one another, would make the roles to be exactly the same, our purpose to be exactly the same?

I think we run into trouble when we start confusing our value with our role and functions. When we get that mixed up, I think we start getting into difficulty.

So just to see the clear distinction between the way that God has created men and women differently for the different roles that He has called them to fulfill.

Galatians chapter 3, verse 28 wonderfully says that there is, in Christ, neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Paul is just again reminding us of the incredible oneness that there is in Jesus, that in Him every single one of us has access to the same inheritance. We are saved in the same way; we have the same value and worth to the Lord as His children.

We know that these roles and the value of women were lost at the Fall, but equality is so beautifully restored by Jesus. We see the different women that He encounters throughout His life and just the way that He establishes them back to God's role of significance, value, and importance in His eyes.

The problem, I think, is when there's an overcorrection, there's a reaction to the fallen state of mankind. So we have things like feminism, which is wanting to bring down or drag down men to be able to raise up women.

In a very short and probably a very inarticulate way, I've just communicated that.

I want to read one more passage of scripture this morning, and it says from Colossians chapter 3, verse 18: "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything and do it not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord."

If you look at all of those examples that Paul puts in here in terms of obedience and submission, you'll notice that the focus on submission to authority in all of these cases is relational.

It's husbands and wives, it's parents and children, it's fathers and children, it's slaves and masters. It's a relational authority. I don't have any authority over my neighbor's children or over my neighbor's wife or any other person that I don't have that relationship with in some God-given way.

So just to say that not every man has authority over every woman. It's not as if men in general have authority over all women; that's not the point. Just because you're a man doesn't give you authority over all women.

This is a role of headship in marriage, in family, in church, and in society.

I don't think you need me to tell you that if you are observant, you've noticed that we are in a war. But the war is not a war between men and women; it's something bigger than that. It's a war against God's authority and God's created order, which is under attack.

The enemy is intent, absolutely intent, and bent on destroying every single thing that God has made good, whether that be the individual person, whether it be marriage, whether it be family, whether it be a healthy functioning society, living the way that God has called us to.

The enemy's intention is to absolutely destroy all that God has intended to be good.

If we look at our Western society, it's a harsh reality that everything that makes masculinity sacred—courage, bravery, honor, integrity, strength, chivalry, leadership—all of those things and more are under siege.

Even to the ridiculous point of people wanting to rename Father God as Mother God. Yet it's Him, the Father, who chose to relate to us as a Father and for us to be His children.

The strategy of the enemy is to undermine the role of headship, the headship of husbands in marriage particularly. We see that in movies, we see that in series, we see that prominently, I should say, in comedies. We see it in the media.

We are continually bombarded with a narrative that is trying to destroy the role of headship of men, particularly in marriage and family, being that nucleus around which all of a healthy society is built.

We see how often the husbands are portrayed as being a dull, bumbling, stupid caricature of a husband.

The enemy tries to confuse or distort or deceive us, but we need to see what our God-given roles are in society.

There are terms that we hear more and more frequently these days: the term "toxic masculinity" or "the patriarchy" is another one. These two terms are incredibly dangerous if we buy into that narrative.

Toxic masculinity, as I've said, is a term we hear more and more, and to be sure, there are some men who are toxic. By toxic, we mean that they're abusive, controlling, manipulative, critical, harsh, undermining, controlling.

But the problem is, even though there are men like that, that term "toxic masculinity" has more come to mean that masculinity in its entirety, that masculinity itself, the very thing of being a man, is toxic—that it's a problem, that it's bad for society.

That is the exact opposite of what God intends for us.

But the enemy is incredibly sly in trying to feed this narrative into every aspect of society and have us believe that with the purpose of you and I, who are men, who are husbands, that we would shrink back from that role, that we would actually step away from that God-given responsibility to lead as He has called us to lead.

But have you ever thought about this? It's not our gender that makes toxic; it's our sinful nature.

Because if we look at those things—abusive, bullying, domineering, harsh, critical, undermining—those things aren't unique to men alone. There are women that do the same thing, that operate in the same way.

So it's not a gender thing; it's the fact that our sinful nature is what is toxic.

There's no doubt that many of us men have abused the authority that God has given us; there's no doubt about that.

But we can't reject the ways of God just because we haven't followed them the way that He intends us to. His ways are perfect and good.

A silly example of that would be like every one of us that has had a motor car would have had some problems with that motor car. At some point, that motor car would not have worked the way that it should have done. There would have been a breakdown or a failure of some sort.

But we don't stop buying cars, or we don't stop using cars just because a car has given us a bad experience. What we do is we fix that so that it will work the way that it's meant to.

It's the same, I believe, with the role of headship of husbands. Even though there are those cases, and possibly each one of us has been guilty of that to some extent, we don't reject men's authority in the headship of husbands.

Instead of moving away to non-use since there's abuse, we should come back to that place of correct use of His authority—the kind of authority that God has established in us to see His will being done.

There's no question; you just read through the Book of Ezekiel, and you see there how the Lord strongly warns against leaders who abuse their authority, and that would include husbands and fathers.

It is a dangerous thing when we abuse that authority that God has given us, intended for good, when we use that selfishly in a way that is harmful to those that He has intended to bless.

Then the patriarchy—the patriarchy and this system that they say, or the narrative of the enemy, is that it's something that is evil and something which is detrimental to society.

The patriarchy is referenced in the Bible. The patriarchs are the men that God has chosen. These are the men that God put in place to watch over His people, to lead His people, to be a blessing to His people.

A patriarch simply means a male head or ruler of a family; that's what it is. There's nothing inherently bad in that. In fact, the Lord intends it to be something which is really, really good.

So we can be sure that any rebellion against a husband's place of authority isn't just a rebellion against the husband, but it's actually a rebellion against God's established authority and His rule.

Because we are representatives of Him on this Earth, and it's our sinful nature that rebels against His authority.

I want to finish with this this morning: God's way is not only the best way, but it's the only way.

It is the only way that we live in the fullness of what He has intended marriage, family, community, and society to be. If we ignore that, if we walk away from it, or we reject God's ways, we are walking into a great deal of trouble.

But on the contrary, when we embrace the way that God has designed and established family, community, and marriage to work, when we embrace that, when we see the beauty of that, when we put that into practice in our lives, we live in the way that the Lord has intended us to, which is an absolutely beautiful, rich, fulfilling, rewarding, satisfying, and most importantly, a God-honoring way that reflects the glory of God in our marriages in such a beautiful way.

That's my prayer, and I believe God's will is that, and in some way this morning, what I've shared with you would really stir in you a desire to know and to embrace your God-given purpose and role, either as a man or as a woman, but not to have this conflict between the two.

Looking for an equality that the world is promoting that actually doesn't exist in the Bible—the equality of value is something which God establishes in every single person that is born again.

It is something which is there for us, but within that equality, He has assigned to us different roles and different purposes for a specific reason.

May we, as men and women, as husbands and wives, embrace God's truth for us. May we delight in who He has created us to be.

I hope that you have a wonderful, wonderful Sunday and enjoy this beautiful day together.

Let's close in prayer this morning.

Father God, once again, as we look at Your word and we look at how You have created us, we stand in amazement, in awe, and with deep gratitude.

Father God, You are the one who knows all things, Lord, the beginning from the end, the one who has infinite wisdom. Lord, You are the one who does things perfectly well.

When it comes to marriage and the headship of husbands and the submission of wives, Lord, I pray that You would really demolish every stronghold that exists in us that stands against the truth of Your word.

That You would help us to acknowledge, Lord, if there are things that are hidden in our hearts or minds that oppose the truth and the way that You've created us to function and to live together.

Lord, that You would expose that, that the light of truth would reveal that.

Lord, I pray that we, as husbands, would truly embrace the role and responsibility that You have given us.

Father God, and that as wives, Lord, we would embrace and delight in who You have created us to be.

Lord, I pray and ask this, Father God, that we would live the fullness of what You've intended marriage to look like, that our families would reflect that, Lord, that our community, church family, and community beyond that, Father God, would really reflect what it means to live in the way that You have called and created us to do.

I pray and ask this, Lord, so that Your great and beautiful name would be glorified.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Wonderful! We look forward to seeing you next Sunday.