Message Outline

Squad Goals For Marriage

Pastor Jonathan Stockstill
Sunday, Feb 21, 2016

Ephesians 5:21-33 MSG: "21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. 22 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. 23 The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. 24 So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. 25 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. 26 Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27 dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28 And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already 'one' in marriage. 29 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, 30 since we are part of his body. 31 And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become 'one flesh.' 32 This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. 33 And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband."

Challenge #1 - Who has the lead?

Wives

Husbands

  • Areas of leadership
    • Spiritual
    • Vision
    • Relationship
    • Kids
    • Financial
  • Wrapped up in one word: INITIATIVE
  • Steps to leading
    • Give clear vision.
    • Desire and be open to input.
    • Create an environment of peace, acceptance, and genuine interest regarding conversations about direction.
    • Win the wife's confidence.
    • Move ahead courageously.

Challenge #2 - Where is the love?

Husbands

  • We are to lead in LOVE.
    • Love means to listen.
    • Love means to lean.
    • Love means to lavish gifts.
    • Love means to labor around the house.
    • Love means to be lovey-dovey (tender).
  • It really all comes down to one key word: ATTENTION.

Wives

  • Reciprocate the love that you feel.

Copyright © 2024, Bethany Church, All Rights Reserved.

Contact Us • (225) 774-1700