Honor in Marriage
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Spiritual Vitality
1 Peter 3:1-7 (ESV)
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Sermon Outline
We need grace to reshape our thinking so that honor becomes a chief way we imitate Christ in the institution of marriage.
1. Vulnerability
“the woman as the weaker vessel”
“understanding”
2. Honor
“husbands, live with… showing honor”
3. Inheritance
“heirs with you of the grace of life”
“so that your prayers may not be hindered”
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, help us. Our actions have been motivated by pride, greed, fear, and all sorts of self-serving desires. We have sought our own advantage at the expense of others. We have dishonored those we deemed weak. We are guilty of exploiting others with our strengths. In failing to acknowledge our own vulnerability, we have greatly underestimated our desperate condition. Thank you for showing us grace, and for granting us life and all good things through Jesus. Strengthen us, guide us, protect us, and help us to become more like Jesus, who comes with power and glory, and as one who serves. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
As you imagine life in the garden of Eden, how you do you picture the relationship between man and woman? How do you imagine they relate?
In what ways do human beings dishonor God? How do we dishonor one another?
Is vulnerability weakness? How? Or why not?
What makes marriage hard?
How are you tempted to take advantage of people who are vulnerable? Why is showing honor a right way to engage a vulnerable person?
Andy Crouch defines authority as the capacity for meaningful action and vulnerability as exposure to meaningful risk. Do people need both authority and vulnerability? Why?
How is Jesus a picture of authority and vulnerability? What is striking about the way Jesus came to save humanity? Why was it needed?
How does being an heir of the grace of life require a new understanding about everything? What kinds of things have you learned? Where do you need to grow in understanding?
What does it look like to imitate Christ in marriage? Are there distinctive ways for husbands to honor wives and wives to honor husbands?