Hope for the Family
A Tim Keller Sermon Summary
A Christian marriage is based on deep appreciation and respect for Christ and humbly submitting to each other (Ephesians 5:18-33).
Marriage is not for status or a sense of security. It is also not for fulfilling our needs, like consumers looking for products to satisfy them.
Instead, Christian couples should submit to each other, each committing to serve the other. Wives should learn to grant leadership to their husbands, while husbands should learn to love their wives as they love their own bodies. Each side acts appropriately, even if the other side doesn’t reciprocate.
Submitting and serving do not equate to giving in. Look at Christ. He loves us and served us to the point of death, but He confronts us with the truth to help us grow and be holy.
We shouldn’t be self-centered because we know we are sinners saved by Christ. We shouldn’t be needy for others’ affirmation since we know the Almighty God loves us.
Also, note that marriage is not the ultimate relationship, and will not fill the deepest void in our hearts. Only Christ can. Don’t think that (a) marrying the right person will guarantee a perfect life, (b) having a wonderful family will be nirvana, or (c) marrying the right person will make us somebody. No one can replace God in our life. Putting someone in the place of God will totally destroy our relationship with the person.
Furthermore, don’t worry excessively about not finding the right person. There is no ideal mate. Even if you think you have found a perfect match, that person will change and will be influenced by others. So don’t be too cautious.
To conclude, Christ should be our ultimate spouse, who loves us and never lets us down. Let Him be the center of our life, so that we may love and serve our earthly spouses.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-the-family-6025/
Marriage is not for status or a sense of security. It is also not for fulfilling our needs, like consumers looking for products to satisfy them.
Instead, Christian couples should submit to each other, each committing to serve the other. Wives should learn to grant leadership to their husbands, while husbands should learn to love their wives as they love their own bodies. Each side acts appropriately, even if the other side doesn’t reciprocate.
Submitting and serving do not equate to giving in. Look at Christ. He loves us and served us to the point of death, but He confronts us with the truth to help us grow and be holy.
We shouldn’t be self-centered because we know we are sinners saved by Christ. We shouldn’t be needy for others’ affirmation since we know the Almighty God loves us.
Also, note that marriage is not the ultimate relationship, and will not fill the deepest void in our hearts. Only Christ can. Don’t think that (a) marrying the right person will guarantee a perfect life, (b) having a wonderful family will be nirvana, or (c) marrying the right person will make us somebody. No one can replace God in our life. Putting someone in the place of God will totally destroy our relationship with the person.
Furthermore, don’t worry excessively about not finding the right person. There is no ideal mate. Even if you think you have found a perfect match, that person will change and will be influenced by others. So don’t be too cautious.
To conclude, Christ should be our ultimate spouse, who loves us and never lets us down. Let Him be the center of our life, so that we may love and serve our earthly spouses.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-the-family-6025/