In marriage, men and women have different roles.
Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Reading Questions: What does it mean to submit? Why are wives to submit to their husbands? In what way are husbands to love their wives? What is the difference between love and respect? If God commands women to respect their husbands what does that mean men need? If God commands men to love their wives what does that mean women need? Why do men and women need to be treated differently?
Journal Writing: What is an important truth from the Bible reading? Why do you need to know that truth?
Application Prayer: Write out a prayer for God’s insight and help into how you can apply the truth from the reading.
Week’s Memory Verse: Mark 10:6-8
6″But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.’ 7`For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh. ‘So they are no longer two, but one.