Under New Management  ·  Week 5

Faith That Shows Up At Home

BIG IDEA  When Christ is Lord of our lives — under His new management — our closest relationships are reshaped to reflect His character.

Foundation

Ephesians 5:18–21

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Mutual submission out of reverence for Christ is the posture that holds all household relationships together.

Point 1 — Marriage Reflects the Gospel

Marriage was never meant to be only about the happiness of two people. It was designed to reflect something bigger than itself.

Ephesians 5:31–32

“A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.”

For Wives

Ephesians 5:22–24, 33b

“For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything… and the wife must respect her husband.”

• Wives are a picture of the church — saved, loved, and served first.
• Respect is how husbands primarily receive love. Follow your husband’s lead respectfully.
• As a “suitable helper” (equal and adequate), wives help husbands become better men.

For Husbands

Ephesians 5:25–29, 33a

“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her… In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies… each man must love his wife as he loves himself.”

Romans 5:8

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

• God does not call husbands to lead through domination — that is sin’s distortion. Our call is to reflect Jesus: sacrificial love.
• Love means doing right by her no matter what — actions, not just words.
• Husbands are responsible for setting the spiritual tone of the home.
• Even if you feel disrespected, your calling is to love through it.

Marriage Summary

• A marriage where each spouse looks to serve the other — not self-serve — will thrive.
• Your marriage is the loudest sermon you preach. People will watch how you love each other.

Point 2 — Parenting Results in Spiritual Formation

For Children

Ephesians 6:1–3

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’”

• Spiritual formation in the home includes how children learn to respond to God-given authority.

For Parents

Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

• Discipline: guiding behavior.
• Instruction: shaping belief.

Proverbs 22:15

“A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.”

• Don’t parent in a way that crushes your children. Respond with patience, gentleness, and truth.
• The ultimate goal isn’t just well-behaved children — it’s raising children who know and follow Jesus.
• Parenting is spiritual formation. Like an archer, aim your children’s lives toward Christ (Psalm 127:4–5).

Application — What Needs to Change?

What would need to change for your home to come fully under the authority of Christ?

• Men: Love your wives more intentionally. Be gentler with your children.
• Women: Show more respect to your husband — whether fully earned or not.
• Parents: Intentionally model godliness for your children.
• Children: Stop arguing and start following your parents’ instructions.
• All of us: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Commit

• Apologize first.
• Listen instead of defending.
• Lead spiritually instead of passively.
• Show patience instead of frustration.

When we submit our home to Jesus’ authority, our relationships begin to change — and our homes become what He designed them to be: for His glory and our good.

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