A Profound Mystery
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 5:22-33 (ESV)
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Sermon Outline
There is a profound mystery in the relationship between God and his people that can be pictured in a marriage where spouses are shaped by God’s redemptive work.
1. The profound mystery
vv30-32 “we are members of his body. ‘Therefore… the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound… it refers to Christ and the church.”
2. Imaging God in marriage
v23 “… even as…”, v24 “now as”, v28 “in the same way”
v28 “husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.”
v33 “…love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
3. Safeguards
v29 “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.”
v22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
4. In process with Christ
vv25-28 “Christ loved the church… that he might sanctify her… that she might be holy and without blemish.”
Prayer of Confession
Our Lord and our God, we confess we have been unfaithful. We have not honored you with all that we are. We have not walked in your ways as we ought. We have failed to love. We have submitted only because of fear. We have tried to coerce. We have been selfish rather than sacrificial. We have been demeaning rather than respectful. We are guilty of sin. Forgive all our failings. We marvel at the profound mystery of your enduring steadfast love. Though our sins had separated us, you have dealt with our sin, making us one in Christ. We pray with thanks in his name. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What is your first reaction to the charge for husbands to love their wives, and wives to submit to their husbands?
In what ways is the relationship of Christ and his church like a marriage? In what ways is it not?
What can we learn about what marriage can be through understanding the redemptive story of Christ?
How can a marriage picture the redemptive story of the Bible? How can a married couple best live together as a sign pointing to God?
In what ways can the teaching about wives submitting become harmful? What are signs of unhealthy submission? What should (or can) spouses do when a marriage becomes very unhealthy?
How are love and respect responsibilities (rather than responses)? Why should Christians love those who are not acting lovably? Why should Christians remain respectful when relating to those who aren’t acting honorably?
What does it look like to relate to others with reverence for Christ? How does a relationship with Christ shape how we live out every other relationship?
Why is important to be shaped to do life with imperfect people? What do you need clarity on for how to relate to difficult people?