Ephesians 5:22-33
Read Ephesians 5:18-33
The sermon this past Sunday surveyed (1) the heart of marriage, (2) the desired outcome of marriage, and (3) the dance that husbands and wives play out in marriage.
1. In your observation, what would you estimate are the the predominant reasons for why people get married today? How might those reasons be in line with God’s design for marriage, or contrary to God’s design for marriage.
2. Describe some of the differences between “consumer” and “covenant” models of marriage.
“If God had the gospel of Jesus’s salvation in mind when he established marriage, then marriage only “works” to the degree that approximates the pattern of God’s self-giving love in Christ.” (Tim & Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage)
3. What do you think helps one improve in “the pattern of God’s self-giving love in Christ?”
4. What do you need to make marriage work? How does “living by the spirit” (Eph. 5:18) fit into your life?
5. What would you estimate is the hardest yet most important function of being a husband or a wife?
“If our views of marriage are too romantic and idealistic, we underestimate the influence of sin on human life. If they are too pessimistic and cynical, we misunderstand marriage’s divine origin.” (Tim & Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage)
6. If you are married what do you think are the greatest potential threats to your marriage, and how do you propose to manage that?
If you are not married, what do you think are the greatest potential threats to your heart: “idolizing” marriage, being cynical and heard hearted towards marriage.