1. Achieving Spiritual Growth
Husbands and Wives
Achieving Spiritual Growth
Ephesians 5:22-33

2. Defining Spiritual Growth
More than knowledge
Understanding and accepting the realities of relating to God
Coming closer to God

3. Modeling the Divine
Marriage accomplishes God’s purpose and demands man’s trust
To fill the earth with image bearers
To fill the need for community
To fill a spiritual as well as a social purpose

4. Modeling the Divine THE DIVINE PURPOSE DEMANDS TRUST
Adam had to accept the charge of God.
Adam had to realize that Eve was the helper suitable.
Eve had to place her trust in both Adam and God, in order to accept her role.

5. Modeling the Divine The home reflects the church
The authority structures are very similar.
This hierarchy is not based on one person being greater than the other.
Authority is in the role and is to be exercised sacrificially.

6. Modeling the Divine The home reflects the Godhead
The Godhead is composed of three equally divine persons, who operate within an authority hierarchy.
Each carries out their role with consideration and submission to the other.
Likewise, husbands and wives operate within a caring sacrificial authority structure.

7. The Interplay of Authority and Submission
Divinely given roles
The role of the wife is characterized by submission.
The role of the husband is to love.

8. The Interplay of Authority and Submission
The submission under consideration is “as the church is subject to Christ.”
Submission demonstrates the power of faith and the value of liberty.
How much more will submission to the perfect head bring one peace?

9. The Interplay of Authority and Submission
Four Verbs that Describe Christ’s Love for the Church
He gave himself up for her
To sanctify her
Having cleansed her
That He might present her

10. To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8–9
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