The Greatest of These is Love

1. The Greatest of These is Love In marriage, two become one. The hard part is deciding which one.

2. Opening Questions How did you and your spouse meet? What activities do you enjoy together? We’re supposed to complete our spouse, not finish them off.

3. Wives, submit yourselves to yourown husbands as you do to the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wifeas Christ is the head of the church,his body, of which he is the Savior.Now as the church submits to Christ,so also wives should submit totheir husbands in everything.(Ephesians 5:22-24)

4. Husbands, love your wives,just as Christ loved the churchand gave himself up for herto make her holy, cleansing her by thewashing with water through the word,and to present her to himselfas a radiant church,without stain or wrinkle or blemish,but holy and blameless.(Ephesians 5:25-27)

5. In this same way, husbands ought tolove their wives as their own bodies.He who loves his wife loves himself.After all, no one ever hated his own bodybut they feed and care for their body,just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.(Ephesians 5:29-30)

6. “Forthisreasonamanwillleavehisfatherand mother and be united to his wife,and the two will become one flesh.”This is a profound mystery—but I amtalking about Christ and the church.However, each one of you also mustlove his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.(Ephesians 5:31-33)

7. All for one and… Ask not what your country can do for you… People don’t care how much you know until… I’m stuck on Band-Aid… If you can’t be with the one you love, honey… Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but… ChiasmusA BA B B A

8. Noah and his sons (Gen 6:10)All life on earth (6:13:a)Curse on earth (6:13:b)Flood announced (6:7)Ark (6:14-16)All living creatures (6:17–20 )Food (6:21)Animals (7:2–3)Entering the Ark (7:13–16)Waters increase (7:17–20)God remembers Noah (8:1)Waters decrease (8:13–14)Exiting the Ark (8:15–19)Animals (9:2,3)Food (9:3,4)All living creatures (9:10a)Ark (9:10b)No more floods (9:11)Blessing on earth (9:12–17)All life on earth (9:16)Noah and his sons (9:18,19a)

9. Noah and his sons (Gen 6:10) All life on earth (6:13:a) Curse on earth (6:13:b) Flood announced (6:7) Ark (6:14-16) All living creatures (6:17–20 ) Food (6:21) Animals (7:2–3) Entering the Ark (7:13–16) Waters increase (7:17–20) God remembers Noah (8:1) Waters decrease (8:13–14) Exiting the Ark (8:15–19) Animals (9:2,3) Food (9:3,4) All living creatures (9:10a) Ark (9:10b) No more floods (9:11) Blessing on earth (9:12–17) All life on earth (9:16)Noah and his sons (9:18,19a)

10. Noah and his sons (Gen 6:10) All life on earth (6:13:a) Curse on earth (6:13:b) Flood announced (6:7) Ark (6:14-16) All living creatures (6:17–20 ) Food (6:21) Animals (7:2–3) Entering the Ark (7:13–16) Waters increase (7:17–20) God remembers Noah (8:1) Waters decrease (8:13–14) Exiting the Ark (8:15–19) Animals (9:2,3) Food (9:3,4) All living creatures (9:10a) Ark (9:10b) No more floods (9:11) Blessing on earth (9:12–17) All life on earth (9:16)Noah and his sons (9:18,19a)

11. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the LordFor the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the churchHe himself is the Savior of the bodyBut as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbandsHusbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the churchThat He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the wordThat he might present to himself the church in all her gloryShe would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkleSo husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodiesNo one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the churchBecause we are members of his bodyFor this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one fleshThis mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the churchNevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

12. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

13. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

14. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

15. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

16. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

17. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

18. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory She would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the church Nevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

19. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ head of the church He himself is the Savior of the body But as the church is subject to Christ, and wives to their husbands Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the word That he might present to himself the church in all her gloryShe would be holy and blameless, having no spot or wrinkle So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies No one hates his body but nourishes it, as Christ does the church Because we are members of his body For this cause a man shall cleave to his wife, and the two become one flesh This mystery is great, but I refer to Christ and the churchNevertheless, let each among you also love his own wife even as himselfAnd the wife is to respect her husband

20. ὑποτασσόμενοι ὑποτασσόμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ Submitting to one another in reverence of Christ. The wives to their own husbands as to the Lord own husbands as to Submit to one another out ofreverence for Christ.(Ephesians 5:21) ἰδίοις idiot hupó = under + tasso = arrange

21. Halftime Questions What are your favorite love songs? What are your favorite romantic movies? To make your marriage sizzle • With loving in your cup… When you’re wrong, admit it • When you’re right, shut up

22. Wives, submit yourselves to yourown husbands as you do to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.(Ephesians 5:25)

23. Wives, submit yourselves to yourown husbands as you do to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.(Ephesians 5:25)  † 

24. Give, and it will be given to you.With the measure you use,it will be measured to you.Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart,as working for the Lord!(Luke 6:38, Colossians 3:23)

25. Wives, submit yourselvesto your own husbands so that,if any of them do not believe,they may be won over without wordsby the behavior of their wives,when they see the purityand reverence of your lives.(1 Peter 3:1-2)

26. Husbands, in the same way Husbands, in the same waybe considerate as you livewith your wives,and treat them with respectas the weaker partnerand as heirs with youof the gracious gift of life.(1 Peter 3:7)

27. The wife does not haveauthority over her own bodybut yields it to her husband.In the same way,the husband does not haveauthority over his own bodybut yields it to his wife.(1 Corinthians 7:4)

28. You are not your own;you were bought at a price.Therefore honor Godwith your bodies.(1 Corinthians 6:20)

29. Honor one another above yourselves.None of you should seek his own good,but the good of others.Humbly value others above yourselves,not looking to your own interestsbut to the interests of the others.(Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3-4)

30. Your attitude should be the sameas that of Christ Jesus:Who being in the very nature God,did not consider equality with Goda thing to be grasped,But made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant,being made in the likeness of man,He humbled Himself and becameobedient to death: even death on a cross!(Philippians 2:5-8)

31. The bride belongs to the groom.The friend who attends the groomwaits and listens for him,and is full of joywhen he hears the groom's voice.That joy is mine,and it is now complete.(John 3:29)

32. Jesus answered,“How can the guests of the groom fastwhile he is with them?The time will come whenthe groom will be takenfrom them; then they will fast.(Matthew 9:15)

33. Let us rejoice and be gladand give him glory!For the wedding of the Lambhas come, and his bridehas made herself ready.Fine linen, bright and clean,was given her to wear.(Fine linen stands for the righteousacts of God’s holy people.)(Revelation 19:7-8)

34. Closing Questions As the perfect groom, how did Christ love the church? How can we as a church become a better bride? My mom is tough. She buried three husbands. And two of them were just napping. (Rita Rudner)