A Marriage in God's Image
Introduction
Marriage isn’t just a romantic bond or legal agreement. It’s meant to be a living parable...the Gospel story written in the everyday actions of two people who’ve committed to love and honor one another. That’s what we explored in this week’s Thrive Together message, walking through Ephesians 5:22–33.
Discussion Questions
Outline
Submit Like Jesus. Eph 5:22-24
What we do in marriage should be countercultural.
Love Like Jesus. Eph 5:25-30
The Gospel message of the cross should be built into your relationship.
Reflect Jesus Together. Eph 5:31-33
Marriage is meant to be a complete reflection of the image of God.
Study Questions
What’s one relationship lesson you learned from watching marriages (good or bad) in your family or community?
What was countercultural about Paul’s instructions to wives in the Greco-Roman world, and how does biblical “submission” differ from cultural ideas of subordination or inferiority? What does it mean to say, “respect is the posture of submission”?
Read John 13:12–17. How does Jesus’ act of service and submission to his disciples shape our understanding of submission and love in marriage?
What does it mean for husbands to love “as Christ loves the church”? In what ways does a husband’s sacrificial love impact the emotional and spiritual health of his wife and family?
Last week, Pastor Keven said most mental health issues and marriage problems boil down to women not feeling loved and men not feeling respected. How has God built emotional counterweights into the design of marriage? How can this knowledge help improve all your relationships, even outside of marriage?
Read Gensis 1:27. What does it mean to say the image of God is reflected best through both man and woman? How is a spiritually healthy marriage a living parable of the Gospel?
CALL TO ACTION: Memorize Romans 12:10. Talk with someone about your struggle to show love or respect, or about your struggle in feeling a lack of love or respect. If married or in a committed relationship, make an effort to meet your significant other at the point of their greatest emotional need (love or respect). If not in this kind of relationship, use this knowledge and test how it can help improve a relationship you do have.