HOW TO BUILD STRONGER MARRIAGES
Eph 5: 18-29

I. Introduction
   A. Marriage is supposed to be a lifelong, ever changing relationship between a
man and woman  Mt 5:32
   B. It is the oldest institution that God purposed for man - Gen 2-3
   C. Implemented by God's word  it is the sweetest relationship between
human beings
   D. Implemented improperly it can be destructive and cause hurt beyond the
husband and wife
   E. Background is : be filled with the spirit - vs. 18 and submit to each other - vs 21
   F. The key issue is what principles are we going to follow?
      i) God's way that is tried and true and has worked for thousands of years or
      ii) secular ways where there is no " lifetime " commitment ; today's divorce rate is
1 out of 1.8 marriages

II. What God Tells The Wife
   A. Submit to your husband - vs. 22a
      i) submission does NOT mean man is superior to woman
      ii) Gal. 3:28 there is neither Jew or Greek , bond or free , male or female -
in God's sight we are all the same
      iii) an example of this principle is I Cor. 11:3 where the head of man is Christ ,
the head of woman is man , and the head of Christ is God
      iv) even though Christ is equal to God and a member of the Godhead , he chose
to be under his Father
      v) there is order to every good thing or there is chaos
   B Motive for submitting - as unto the Lord - vs 22b
      i) you do it as we would to our Lord
      ii) good motive for how we deal with everyone
      iii) limits to submission is if it conforms to the scriptures - Acts 5:29
   C. Model for submission - Jesus serving his disciples - Jn 13:12

III. What God Tells Husbands - vs 25
   A. Didn't says love her IF she submits or IF she is lovable - we are told to LOVE her
   B. How much do I love her: as Christ loved his Church; he gave his life for her
   C. If we would give up our life for her , what could we withhold ?
   D. Agape love means I love  " regardless " and just keep on loving her
   E. Be faithful to her physically and emotionally
   F. Love is both Eros and agape but agape must lead for it will never fail

IV Conclusions
   A. Marriage is a choice , a promise , a commitment
   B. If the wife submits and the husband loves that marriage will last a lifetime
   C. If " me " and " I " take over it will surely fail