Messy Marriage, Part 2 - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study.

Intro: (1) series recap (2) Good Wife's Guide from 1965
 
The command of submission (22)
1.Husbands: (1) wives commanded to submit to husbands — no reciprocal command to husbands, (2) recognition of unique role of servant leadership given to husbands (3) what submission is NOT — all women to all men, reduction of value for women, agreeing on everything, following into sin, fear/subservience (4) exhortation for husbands to not be passive (i.e. “let’s . . .) (5) role of church
2.God: (1) submission to husbands connected to submission to God — recognition of God’s establishment of earthly authority structures (2) husbands also subject to God, and even Christ is functionally (cf. 1 Cor. 15:28) (3) does NOT mean husbands = God (4) though submission has been sinfully abused, it is God’s idea and should not be flippantly dismissed (cf. Jeremiah 36)

The reason for submission (23)
1.Husbands and wives: (1) head = authority (cf. 1:22, 4:15) (2) this appears to be inherent in creation, not a result of the fall (cf. 1 Cor. 11:8-9, 1 Tim. 2:13-14) (3) instructions to husbands make it clear that this authority is to be grounded in servant leadership and sacrificial love (cf. Mark 10:45, Luke 22:26) (4) this is not to be equated to traditional/cultural roles of husbands and wives
2.Christ and the church: (1) understanding of headship grounded in Christ and the church — redemption in addition to creation (2) reference to Christ as “Savior” — the means by which both men and women are restored (cf. 2:1-3, 5:25, Gal. 3:28) (3) headship = care not control, responsibility not rule (cf. Mt. 11:28-29) (4) greater responsibility given to husband (cf. 1 Peter 3:7)

The nature of submission (24)
1.The church and Christ: (1) model of submission is intended to be the church to Christ (2) earlier references — gratitude (1:22), stability (2:20-21), experience of love (3:17-19), undeserved grace (4:7), caring leadership (4:11-12), spiritual growth (4:15), changed heart/life (4:22-24, 31-32) (3) rejection vs. reception of God’s authority (cf. Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 4:28-37)
2.Wives and husbands: (1) “in everything” does not mean unconditional subservient acquiescence but rather suggests a unified approach to life (cf. finances) (2) “in everything” intended to be understood within above-mentioned character/work of Christ (3) cases where husband is domineering or not leading, or wife not submitting — look at yourself, use the elders

Conclusion: Kids and Lunchroom Lady — teacher = Christ bringing husband/wife together