MAN UP BIBLE SERIES How to be a Godly Husband Lesson Three

The Real World One of the major concerns today is the lack of real male leadership in the home. In many cases men are just not around or interested in helping their wives and children reach their potential spiritually. This causes all kinds of conflicts in the family and leads us to be so much less than we could be in the Lord. The reality is that we as men are our own worst enemy. Our children long to have a father who they can look up to who puts the most important things first in his life. The destruction of the family is not the schools fault or society’s problem. The blame lays right at our feet. We need to be spiritual leaders in our families. The Good News is that it is not too late. Lets look today at ways that we can become the spiritual leaders that God created us to be!

The Real Word Luke 1: 5 & 6 – “ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” (* Note both were righteous and observing the commands.) Eph 5: 25 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing [b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.b

Real Talk Do you take the spiritual lead in your family? What are some ways you could be a better spiritual role model to your wife? Why are men afraid to take the lead in their families?

Real Steps Lets look at some steps you can take to be a spiritual leader: Encourage Growth – Luke 1: 5&6 – Are you growing in the Lord? Protection – Eph. 5: 26&27 – Are you a loving spiritual protector? Love By Leading – Eph: 5: 25 - Start growing yourself – Give Spiritual Guidance – Pray Together – Team work around house – Treat her with respect -

Time to Close Wow! This is a lot to take in. It may have been a long time since you thought about your spiritual role as a husband. You are not alone in this realization. Men can get stuck in the rut of being the “Man”. We are not called to lead our families with harshness and yelling. We are called to be examples of Jesus Christ who loved the church so much that he was willing to die for it. I am not so sure we are there yet. But the good news is today can be the first day of a new way to live! Look over these three steps and see if you can find a way to be the spiritual leader for your wife that God created you to be. May your life be filled with these three characteristics: Encouragement – Protection – Love … Time to MAN UP!