ASSEMBLIES OF GOD ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MARCH 3, 2024.

Lesson Bible Text:

Ephesians 5:22-25; Colossians 3:18; Proverbs 31:10-12,27-29; 1 Peter 3:1-6.

Lesson Central Truth:

The Christian wife’s devotion to her husband reflects the church’s relationship to Christ.

Society today affords women more opportunities than ever to contribute their talent to the world.  But society continues to need women who are dedicated wives and mother if the family unit is to survive and thrive. This week’s lesson offers a Biblical guidelines for women to follow to build strong marriages. The challenge is to keep those guidelines in focus while considering opportunities and goals few women during Biblical history could ever dream of. If you are a wife, then God has called you to a wonderful position. As a Christian wife, God has given you a very big responsibility to respect your husband, take care of your home and then live a lifestyle that will glorify Christ in your home.

A. Timeless Example – Ephesians 5:22-23

B. Loyalty Priorities – Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 3:18.

A. Priceless Partner – Proverbs 31:10-12

B. Home Builder – Proverbs 31:27-29.

A. Lifestyle Evangelism – 1 Peter 3:1-2

B. Inner Beauty – 1 Peter 3:3-6

LESSON NUGGETS

Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 3:18

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God has designed authority structures in every area of life. He has put authorities into place in the political sphere (governments), the social sphere (bosses and masters), the spiritual sphere (elders over the church), and the family sphere (parents over children and wife submit to husband.) This should not be a surprise to us. God is an orderly God. Wives are to submit to their own husbands, as unto the Lord. The secular views is the opposite of Biblical guidelines.

In today’s world, women are now taught to “shine their eyes” in their homes. “Women’s liberation movement” and other numerous women’s groups are all geared towards making wives to see themselves as the head or the neck that turns the head around. Though there are women’s rights groups that have pursued positive goals. The spiritual principle of marriage is that husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the Church. As a Christian wife, you can not respect or submit to your boss at work or pastors/leaders in the church and disrespect your own husband at home. A wife’s submission to her husband is part of her Christian life and obedience. When a wife doesn’t obey this word to submit to your own husband, as to the Lord, she is not only falling short as a wife. She is falling short as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Read Ephesians 5:24 and let’s digest the deep meaning together. Note that the context of a wife’s submitting to her husband is that of the Church submitting to Christ. What does “in everything” means in the verse?

This means wives should submit in everything to their husband. The wives are expected to be under the rule of their husbands in all things. It does not say a wife can pick and choose areas in which she will respect her husband’s wishes. A Christian wife is not to follow her husband’s wishes if doing so would involve any kind of sin or abuse. Wives are to obey their husbands as if it was the Lord Himself directing them. God asks us to submit to Him with a good attitude and without complaining. He wants wives to treat their husbands the same way.

This can be possible in our homes when Christ takes the priority in our family. It is not easy to have a Christ-centered godly family in this day and age. But neither is it impossible. Through God’s grace and through His revealed plan for families we can be victorious. We do not have to navigate these family challenges on our own. God has already revealed to us the principles which our families should be guided by.

Proverbs 31:10-12,27-29

To be virtuous means to be full of virtue ie having excellent moral character. The Bible, in Proverbs 31, defines a virtuous woman as one who leads her home with integrity, discipline, and more. All the virtues she practices are aimed at making her husband’s life better, teaching her children, and serving God.

This, essentially, is the meaning of a virtuous woman. Note that verse 10 begins with the question, “Who can find a virtuous woman?” The implication is that a woman like the one described in these verses is not necessarily easy to find–but they are out there. The worth of a virtuous woman is far above rubies ie diamond or gold in our days. One of the captivating qualities of a virtuous woman is that she has respect for her husband. She can be trusted and is respected by the elders.

Her husband is fully confident in her, and she inspires confidence in her husband. She is not annoying, impatient, or unpredictable. She will never deliberately let her husband down. A virtuous woman brings good to her husband. Remember this saying: “Behind every successful man, there is a strong woman.” She is the best asset to her husband. She will never intentionally bring harm his way. As a Christian wife, are you an asset or a liability to your husband?

The home is the main building block of every society. It is the nurturing ground for a nation’s future teachers, doctors, preachers, and those in government service. The Bible gives due attention to the wife’s vital role within the home. Women are seen as home builders and loving mothers in our families. A virtuous woman earns the respect and praise of her children and her husband. To bless a person is to say good things about that person.

A virtuous woman may receive compliments from her children about her love for them, her hard work on their behalf, or her caring attitude. Most importantly, they will appreciate her devotion to the Lord. A woman who exhibits the virtuous character should expect her husband to show his appreciation. He is likely to tell others how fortunate he is to be married to her. An important way for him to reflect this appreciation is with fidelity: with no eyes nor desire for another woman. As far as the husband is concerned, he is married to the best woman on earth. He will definitely echo the word of Proverbs 31:29 so loudly for all to here: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (NLT).

1 Peter 3:1-6

For wives who find themselves in marriages with unbelieving husbands, Peter offers encouragement and hope. Through a wife’s example of godly submission, her husband may be won to faith in Jesus. Wives are not called to win over their unbelieving husbands by what they say, but by their lifestyle.

The gracious submission of a Christian woman to her unsaved husband is the strongest evangelistic tool she has. In a practical terms, don’t expect your unbelieving husband to change for good when you cannot submit to him, but constantly submit to your pastors cum church leaders. Your attitude both actions and inactions has a great effect in the life of your unbelieving husband. Note that while we were yet unbelievers and lost in sin, Jesus willingly laid down His life to win our salvation. This is the example to which we are called, whether wives or husbands. We are to be willing to live in such a way that unbelieving spouses may be won to salvation through our Christlike conduct.

The Christian wife is a woman of unsurpassed beauty. Christ’s transforming work gives her a wellspring of love to share with her life companion and her children. If her spouse is unsaved, she has the opportunity to draw him to Christ. If her spouse is a believer, she has the privilege of standing with him in the service to the Lord. God’s will for Christian women is to adorn” or “beautify” themselves from the inside-out. They should let the “hidden person of the heart” show up visibly in their life. That inner self should be characterized by the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

That’s a beauty that won’t fade with age, a beauty that is of great value to God. Cultivating that inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit–and allowing her husband to see it in her–is one way a Christian woman will “win” her unbelieving husband to faith in Christ. In the world that fashion, jewelery, and make-up trends on a daily basis, a Christian wife should live her life within her reach. A virtuous woman can not pressurise her husband to get jewelleries or clothes that are beyond family means. Your real beauty is not in jewelleries, but in godly character that flows from inside-out for all to see.

Peter asks Christian women to follow the example of other holy women, women who also hoped in God. Those women adorned themselves with beauty by submitting to their own husbands. It is important to note that Peter is not commanding all women to obey, or even submit, to all men. Nor that any wife should submit to other women’s husbands, only to their own. “Submission” and “obedience” are two different things. This means a Christian wife might well disobey her husband’s sinful instructions, but do so in a submissive way. Peter cited Sarah as the mother of virtuous woman who obeyed Abraham even in difficult times.

Sarah as well honoured Abraham by calling him lord(master). At times, It is possible to obey someone without showing them the honour that is part of submission. True submission knows the place of both obedience and honour. Submission is free, not coerced by fear. The Christian woman is a free woman. When she submits to her husband–whether he is a believer or unbeliever–she does it in freedom, not out of fear. As Christian woman, do you submit and as well honour your husband?

Despite what the world may teach, being a godly wife is not about being perfect, but about striving for excellence, walking the biblical path, and daily cultivating a noble character that involves loving, respecting, and submitting to your own husband.

Lesson Prayer Point

Father, restore our marriage quickly and cause our wives to be testimonies of a virtuous woman in Jesus Matchless Name. Amen!

Remain blessed as you join us in our Sunday school both online and at any Assemblies Of God Church close to you as we study together under the Feet of the Master.