Husbands and Wives “Where Love Is In The Home… there’s happiness… joy…harmony…bliss… contentment…peace.”

Love of Husband Husband – agapao (Eph. 5:25,28,33) Balances headship with selflessness – “as Christ loved the church” Communicates by words and actions “Poor communication is the main problem in 86% of all troubled marriages”

Both words apply to each – but a reason for the different words Love of Wife Wife – phileo (Tit. 2:4) – directed at great problem of feeling absence of affection Both words apply to each – but a reason for the different words

Honor His Wife Understanding the difference The weaker vessel – physical, emotional, position, more delicate (1 Pet. 3:7). Understanding the difference “Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus” (John Gray) Solve, not share - Talk, not solutions Think and react - Feel and respond Fix it without help - Share feelings Hunt, shoot, bag & go home - Shopping

(Reader’s Digest, Feb. 1988)

“She’s glorious – But she’s not Sarita from Kiniwata “She’s glorious – But she’s not Sarita from Kiniwata. I heard she was homely.”

“You think eight cows were too many “You think eight cows were too many?...Do you ever think what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought?... When the women talk, they boast about what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two? This could not happen to my Sarita… I wanted Sarita to be happy…But, I wanted an eight-cow wife.”

Wife - Honor Husband Honor his position/responsibilities (Eph. 5:33) As the church honors its head (Eph. 5:28-33) Shown by way she speaks to and about him

He protects her and provides her needs Husband - Cherish Wife As his own body; as Christ the church (Eph. 5:28,29) “To keep warm, as of birds covering their young with their feathers, Dt. 22:6” (Vine) He protects her and provides her needs

God’s plan for happiness Wife - Obey Husband Headship likened to Christ over the church (Eph. 5:22-24) God’s plan for happiness “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3) “…obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Tit. 2:5 1 Pet. 3:1-2)

Acronym of L-O-V-E Listen Communication involves talking and listening Overlook faults Major on the positive; minor on negative Value Opinions Be considerate of others Express yourself Speak well of and to one another

Conclusion Wives – Have you heard these words – “Love, honor and obey”? Husbands – Have you heard these words – “Love, honor and cherish”? That’s what God teaches, and that’s what we promised!