God's Design for the Family

Sermon Series - Ephesians 5:22-33

I am updating our sermon audio page with more sermons from the series we went through in 2003-04 as a church. It was a series of 32 messages titled God's Design for the Family. We examined everything from the source of and solution for family conflict, Jesus' definition of marriage, and the specific roles that God has designed for wives, husbands, and children in the home and at church.

This series is a compilation of years of Bible study and preaching combined with years of experience in pre-marital and marriage and family Biblical Counseling. It would be a good series for any single person or couple to examine much of what the Bible has to say about marriage and the family.

Please visit our "God's Design for the Family" page and check for updates. The series includes the following messages:

Dealing with Conflict

1. The Source of Family Conflict - Genesis 3:1-19
2. The Solution for Family Conflict - Ephesians 5:18-21
3. Strategies for Success - Romans 6:12-13
4. Successful Spirit-Filled Living - Galatians 5:16-26
5. The Assault on Marriage - James 4:1-6
6. Divorce and Remarriage - Matthew 19:1-10

God's Three Purposes for Marriage

First Purpose - Lifetime Partnership

7. Lifetime Partnership - Genesis 1:6-27; 2:15-25

Second Purpose - Lineage through Children

8. God's Purpose for Children - Psalm 127
9. God's Plan for Parenting - Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4
10. God's Providential Exception: The Barren Womb - Psalm 113:9

Third Purpose - Living a Parable

11. Marriage as a Picture of Christ as Savior - Ephesians 5:23-25, 32
12. Marriage as a Picture of Christ as Sanctifier - Ephesians 5:26-27
13. Marriage as a Picture of Christ as Shepherd - Ephesians 5:29
14. Marriage as a Picture of the Body of Christ - Ephesians 5:30, 32

Jesus Defines Marriage

15. Jesus Defines and Defends Marriage - Matthew 19:3-8

The Role of the Wife

16. The Wife's Role at Home: Submission - Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18
17. The Wife's Role at Home: Incorruptible Beauty - 1 Peter 3:1-6
18. The Wife's Role at Church: Covered - 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
19. The Wife's Role at Church: Serving - 1 Timothy 2:9-15
20. The Wife's Role at Church: Teaching - Titus 2:3-5
21. The Portrait of a Godly Wife - Proverbs 31:10-31

The Role of the Husband

22. The Husband's Role at Home: Love - Eph 5:25-27; Col 3:19
23. The Husband's Role at Home: Nourish and Cherish - Eph 5:28-33
24. The Husband's Role at Home: Understand - 1 Peter 3:7
25. The Husband's Role at Church: Elders - 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
26. The Husband's Role at Church: Deacons - 1 Tim 3:8-13
27. The Husband's Role at Church: Younger/Older Men - Titus 2:1-2; 6-8
28. The Portrait of a Godly Man - Proverbs 31:1-9

The Role of Children

29. The Children's Role at Home: Obedience - Ephesians 6:1
30. The Children's Role at Home: Honor - Ephesians 6:2-3
31. The Children's Role at Church: Worship - Deuteronomy 6:1-6
32. The Portrait of a Godly Child - 1 Samuel 2; Luke 2