How Can I Be a Better Husband?

1. How Can I Be a Better Husband? Ephesians 5:25-30

2. Ephesians 5:25-30 Esteem, revere, adore, cleave to or hold close…or…treats her with tenderness and affection “Cares for, strengthens, encourages, supports —helps her to be all she can be” • “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”

3. 1 Peter 3:7 • “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” • Consideration • Respect • Recognition

4. Intimacy: 1 Corinthians 7:3 • “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”

5. Be a man…not just big boy • Some husbands act as though they want another “mother” • Solomon told to “show” or “prove” himself a MAN 1. Do so by keeping God’s commands 2. Men take responsibility

6. Finally… • Woman is the “glory” of man—1 Cor. 11:7 • Position a man places his wife in speaks either well or ill of him • Back to Ephesians 5 …Marriage relationship a physical pattern of spiritual relationship of Christ and his bride (church) • Husbands: Does your relationship with your wife mirror Christ and church?

7. Invitation… • A failing husband must repent and confess his sins to those he has sinned against • No husband who sees his failings can be a better husband unless he is willing to CHANGE…To do otherwise is to be stubborn—and risk the judgment of God