The Burning Bush
“Godly Conduct for Husbands” 1 Peter 3:7 Sermon Date: November 8th, 2015 Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon **(The Sunday morning Scripture reading this week will be Ephesians 5:25-33 if you would like to read and prayerfully consider it in advance)**
Prayer As we continue on with our focus of honorable conduct within the marriage relationship (1 Peter 3:1-7), spend some more time praying about the quality and health of marriage relationships within the body of Christ. If you are currently married, pray for the gospel to be displayed in your own marriage; if you are not married, pray for the beauty of the gospel to be displayed in the marriages of your friends and family who are married. In particular this week, pray that husbands would be a shining example of the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride- the church. As you pray, consider the following words of a prayer taken from Sharing Christ’s Sufferings: 1 & 2 Peter and Jude by David Helm and make them your own before the Lord. “Our Heavenly Father, help every man and woman, husband and wife to live in a way that pleases you. In this fallen world, where distortion of your Word and ways abound, have mercy. Where wicked acts against women are still being perpetuated, bring relief, healing, and judgment. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
Scripture 1 Peter 3:7 – (English Standard Version) 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.
1
Handling the Word 1. Again, the first word in our text this week is “likewise.” This word connects it to that which was said in the verses immediately prior. Look back over verses 1-6 and explain the connection between the two passages?
2. Read through Ephesians 5:22-33 and make note of anything that further enhances your understanding of both last week’s passage regarding wives (3:1-6) and this week’s verse regarding husbands (v. 7)? What roles and responsibilities are laid out in that passage? Wives – Husbands –
Understanding and Applying 1. The initial charge given to husbands in verse 7 is that they are to “live with [their] wives in an understanding way.” The sentence could also be translated, live with your wives according to knowledge. Husbands are to live with their wives in a considerate, thoughtful, and understanding way as they grow in their knowledge of who their wives are and what their deepest longings and desires are. What does it look like to live according to the things a husband knows about his wife? What are practical ways a husband can gain a better understanding of his wife?
2. As a husband, would you say that you know your wife well enough to live with her in an understanding way? Why or why not? As a wife, how can you encourage your husband in this area?
3. The second charge given to husbands is that they are to “show honor to the woman as the weaker vessel” (v. 7). Stuart Scott describes the showing of honor in this way, “Honor carries with it the ideas of showing esteem and thankfulness to the highest degree.” What are some specific ways that husbands can show their wives honor?
2
4. Both husbands and wives are “joint heirs of the grace of life” (v. 7), as are all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, the life-giving grace of Jesus Christ is experienced equally by all who believe in Him, regardless of gender or any other distinction. How is the gospel of Jesus Christ the great equalizer of all distinctions between people (Galatians 3:28)? What are the implications of this truth for all human relationships?
5. What does the phrase “so that your prayers may not be hindered” teach us about how serious God takes the husband’s duty to love his wife and treat her in the ways described in this verse? What is the relationship between a husband’s spiritual health and his treatment of his wife?
6. Why do the actions of husbands matter, not only in their own marriage, but also to the world around them (refer back to verse 12)? What is communicated about our God when husbands act in a manner consistent with this passage, regardless of the actions of their wives?
7. Since this passage provides us with ways in which husbands ought to treat their wives, what are the implied ways that they should not treat their wives? Of those you listed, which, if any, seem to be acceptable to, or maybe even advocated by, our culture around us?
8. What have you been challenged by in our text this week? What help do you need to seek from God and from others in order to address the ways you have been challenged by His Word?
“The resolve to walk humbly with God and our wives will help us to obey God’s command to dwell with them [our wives] in an understanding way.” Stuart Scott 3
Prayer As we continue on with our focus of honorable conduct within the marriage relationship (1 Peter 3:1-7), spend some more time praying about the quality and health of marriage relationships within the body of Christ. If you are currently married, pray for the gospel to be displayed in your own marriage; if you are not married, pray for the beauty of the gospel to be displayed in the marriages of your friends and family who are married. In particular this week, pray that husbands would be a shining example of the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride- the church. As you pray, consider the following words of a prayer taken from Sharing Christ’s Sufferings: 1 & 2 Peter and Jude by David Helm and make them your own before the Lord. “Our Heavenly Father, help every man and woman, husband and wife to live in a way that pleases you. In this fallen world, where distortion of your Word and ways abound, have mercy. Where wicked acts against women are still being perpetuated, bring relief, healing, and judgment. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
Scripture 1 Peter 3:7 – (English Standard Version) 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.
1
Handling the Word 1. Again, the first word in our text this week is “likewise.” This word connects it to that which was said in the verses immediately prior. Look back over verses 1-6 and explain the connection between the two passages?
2. Read through Ephesians 5:22-33 and make note of anything that further enhances your understanding of both last week’s passage regarding wives (3:1-6) and this week’s verse regarding husbands (v. 7)? What roles and responsibilities are laid out in that passage? Wives – Husbands –
Understanding and Applying 1. The initial charge given to husbands in verse 7 is that they are to “live with [their] wives in an understanding way.” The sentence could also be translated, live with your wives according to knowledge. Husbands are to live with their wives in a considerate, thoughtful, and understanding way as they grow in their knowledge of who their wives are and what their deepest longings and desires are. What does it look like to live according to the things a husband knows about his wife? What are practical ways a husband can gain a better understanding of his wife?
2. As a husband, would you say that you know your wife well enough to live with her in an understanding way? Why or why not? As a wife, how can you encourage your husband in this area?
3. The second charge given to husbands is that they are to “show honor to the woman as the weaker vessel” (v. 7). Stuart Scott describes the showing of honor in this way, “Honor carries with it the ideas of showing esteem and thankfulness to the highest degree.” What are some specific ways that husbands can show their wives honor?
2
4. Both husbands and wives are “joint heirs of the grace of life” (v. 7), as are all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, the life-giving grace of Jesus Christ is experienced equally by all who believe in Him, regardless of gender or any other distinction. How is the gospel of Jesus Christ the great equalizer of all distinctions between people (Galatians 3:28)? What are the implications of this truth for all human relationships?
5. What does the phrase “so that your prayers may not be hindered” teach us about how serious God takes the husband’s duty to love his wife and treat her in the ways described in this verse? What is the relationship between a husband’s spiritual health and his treatment of his wife?
6. Why do the actions of husbands matter, not only in their own marriage, but also to the world around them (refer back to verse 12)? What is communicated about our God when husbands act in a manner consistent with this passage, regardless of the actions of their wives?
7. Since this passage provides us with ways in which husbands ought to treat their wives, what are the implied ways that they should not treat their wives? Of those you listed, which, if any, seem to be acceptable to, or maybe even advocated by, our culture around us?
8. What have you been challenged by in our text this week? What help do you need to seek from God and from others in order to address the ways you have been challenged by His Word?
“The resolve to walk humbly with God and our wives will help us to obey God’s command to dwell with them [our wives] in an understanding way.” Stuart Scott 3
