Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33
Scripture Memory: Ephesians 5:18-20
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Journey: If you were here a few months ago when we did our series on marriage I’m guessing that you’re thinking “We’re not talking about marriage again are we?” Well, yes we are and here are just two reasons why:
(1) We all have a tendency to forget, or to fail on following through with even important priorities. More than likely, most of us who are married were thinking a few months ago something like “I really do need to work harder at my relationship with my spouse.” And I’m guessing that quite a few of us in the intervening months, even those if us who took steps forward with our spouses, have also dropped the ball on one or two of the initiatives we established in that regard. This sermon should give us a chance to reevaluate and renew our intent to bless our wives and husbands.
(2) The biblical model for marriage is based on Christ’s relationship with His church and that in turn is a model for all of our relationships within the church. Christ intends for His followers to be “others” centered in a way that causes them to pour their lives out for the blessing of other people. We are not called to live for ourselves but for others and looking at how Christ calls people to do that within a marriage covenant provides us a picture of how all of us (married and singles) should seek to serve and relate to others (especially in the church).
Thankful for His call on you,
Will (for the pastors)