COMPARE/CONTRAST – SUBMISSION IS, IS NOT

T/F Christian Submission is about always giving in to others.

T/F Christian Submission is about who can be the lowest common denominator.
T/F Christian Submission flows out of strength, not weakness.
T/F Christian Submission must come in relationship.
T/F Christian Submission is about sacrifice.
T/F Christian Submission is about honor.
T/F Christian Submission flows from the filling of the Spirit.

_________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 5:18-33 (NASB)

18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody with your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of
Christ. 22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the
head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the
body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their
husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the
washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her
glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and
blameless. 28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and
cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His
body. 31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND
SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32This
mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless,
each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must
see to it that she respects her husband.
_________________________________________________________________________

SUBJECTION / SUBMISSION – v. 18-21

1) What is the appeal to all believers? (v. 21a).

2) For what reason does the author prescribe the activity of subjecting/submitting to one
another? (v. 21b)

3) What does the author mean in his usage of fear?

MARRIAGE AS A MODEL OF THIS ATTITUDE – v. 22-33
4) Why focus on marriage?

Women:
5) What is Paul’s appeal to Christian wives? (v. 22)

6) What reason does Paul give for this submission? (v. 22)

Men:
7) What do you think is meant by the references to headship in v. 23?

8) What is Paul’s appeal to Christian husbands? vv. 25-27. Based on the Christ example, is
this something that has been done, will be done, or both? How can husbands “give
themselves” for their wives on a day-to-day basis?

9) What are the results of Christ’s love for the church? In what way does this connect to the
attitude of husbands?

10) How is v.31 talking about v. 32?

11) What is Paul’s summary of mutual respect and submission in marriage? v. 33.

12) Why do you think Paul left out the “love” in speaking to wives in v. 33? What is the root of
this respect he calls wives to?

CREATE A SITUATION FOR DISCUSSION / How does Christian submission play out in
real life?

REVIEW/APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. In vv. 21-22, what do you feel the word "submit" means?
2. How can two people both submit to each other? Give examples.
3. What are some of the reasons people don't submit to each other? Think of some times
you haven't submitted to your spouse (or parent if not married), what were the reasons?
What do those reasons have to do with reverence for Christ?