THE MINISTRY OF MARRIAGE

THE BIBLICAL CALLING OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES IS TO BECOME ONE BY SERVING ONE ANOTHER, IN OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST

A Decisive Wife

A married couple was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

At the party everybody wanted to know how they managed to stay married so long in this day and age.

The husband responded, “When we were first married, we came to an agreement. I would make all the major decisions, and my wife would make all the minor decisions.”

At which point the wife took up the tale, “And in 60 years of marriage, we have never needed to make a major decision.”

Source: Unknown

Intro: I learned that both James and Ally are involved in Church and are answering their calling to serve God. Today, I want to talk about the most important calling for married couples

CALLED TO SUBMIT

THE WIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT CALLING IS TO SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND

Ephesians 5:22–24 NIV

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 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. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Ally, you are called to submit to James as to the Lord

You must lay down your own desires and dreams

Luke 9:23 NIV

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

You submit to James as Jesus submitted to the Father

Luke 22:42 NIV

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Submission does not mean inferiority

Illustration - General Contractor

James is the head, he has been called to lead

He bears the responsibility

He will be held accountable before God

Ally, you are called to submit to James as the Church submits to Christ

Ephesians 5:23 NIV

23 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.

The Church loves Christ

The Church serves Christ

The Church obeys Christ

God will only hold you accountable for your responsibility

Ephesians 5:24 NIV

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

God will deal with James if he does not fulfill his responsibility

You must submit to your husband