1. MAN UP BIBLE SERIES How to be a Godly Husband Lesson One

2. The Real World As an officer I have officiated at tons of weddings including my own children. At each of their weddings I have an opportunity to look back at what it means to be a husband and how do I love my wife like Christ Loves the Church. I only have pictures from my wedding day and to be honest it is a bit of a blur. The world had not entered the digital age in 1978 and I have no recordings of the day. I do remember coming out with the Minister ( who was to be my father in law) and the best man and being so nervous that my leg would not stop shaking. When my future wife came down the aisle I was amazed at how beautiful she looked at that moment. It was the beginning of the greatest adventure of my life.

3. The Real Word Instructions for Christian Households 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 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. 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. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” [c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.bc

4. Real Talk When was the last time you really thought about your vows and the commitments you made on your wedding day? What does it mean to love your wife? What should those vows made on your wedding day mean to you now?

5. Real Steps In Ephesian 5: 21 -33 Paul points out five ways Christ loves his church and these are the ways we are to love our wives: The demand of love – Sacrifice – (v. 25) What Love does – Purifies – (v. 26-27) What love Builds – Nurtures – (v.28-29) The demand of love – Sacrifice – (v. 25) The example of love – Dedication – (v.31) The perfect example of love – Active - (v.21-33)

6. Time to Close As we close this first lesson lets get real for a moment: What does it mean to really sacrifice for your wife? Take out the trash. Babysit the kids on Saturday and give her two hours to herself. Make Breakfast on Saturday Morning and let her sleep in. What does it mean to be pure? Watch what you say and watch. What does it mean Nurture? How can you help your wife to be a better women of God? Sum it up in two shorts statements: Jesus Christ is our supreme example. Love is active. Don’t tell your wife you love her.. SHOW HER!