Managing Your Household – Marriage

     We exist to Fill the City with Jesus. 

We empower the willing to come fully alive in God’s presence for the renewal of our cities.

  Imagine a group of people in an authentic community, loving each other honestly, covering each other’s sins with forgiveness, prayer, confession, and encouragement, and serving and supporting each other genuinely. It’s in spaces like these where we begin to see the supernatural work of God within our relationships. 

Use this guide with your community, in concert with the Field Journal, as you Strengthen Yourself in the Lord, Manage Your Household, and Fill the City with Jesus.

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Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Sermon Summary

Marriage is not an isolated subject—it is part of the greater story of God. Ephesians 5 reveals that marriage begins with hearts awakened to God. Before Paul ever speaks to husbands and wives, he calls us to be filled with the Spirit and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. The issue is not simply learning better marriage techniques; it is becoming people whose hearts have been transformed by God’s grace, love, sacrifice, and truth. These inputs of God shape the outputs of marriage. As we are filled with God, husbands are called to lead through sacrificially loving, wives are called to walk in willing submission, and both are formed into the image of Christ. Different roles. Same heart. One purpose. Marriage is not to make us happy—it is one of God’s great instruments for making us holy and more like Jesus. When two people continually connect to God and to one another, they realize their battle is not against their spouse but the enemy, against whom we can stand.

Scripture References from the Sermon

Ephesians 5:22   |   Ephesians 5:25-29   |   Ephesians 5:18   |   Matthew 19:7-8   |   James 4:1-3   |   Ephesians 5:21   

Discussion Questions

• If maturity leads to unity with God and others, where do I see division in my life?
• If the outputs (my actions, words, and perspective) are shaped by my inputs (those things I see, hear, and experience), what do I need to change to become more like Jesus? 
• If married, in what ways do you see the need to get rid of your preferences for the benefit of your spouse? 
• Husbands, how might you lead your wife like Christ led the church?
• Wives, how can you submit to your husband out of reverence for Jesus?
• Why would Paul say be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)?

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Manage Your Household 

Practical spiritual activities:

• Worship together – Dedicate time each week to worship with those in your household.
• Pray together – Dedicate time each day for listening to and speaking with the Lord individually, and as a household. Record ongoing prayer requests into your journal or Field Journal.
• Intercede for one another – Ask those in your household what is on their heart, then pray for one another. Refer to “Prayer Requests From Our Community” below and prayer recorded in your Field Journal and pray together for your city.
• Read together – Spend time together reading God’s Word. Consider the Bible reading guide on our website.
• Journal & Share – Share insight from what you’ve been hearing from the Lord and capturing in your journal weekly.
• Take communion together – For those who are followers of Jesus, consider taking the elements together. There is a communion guide on our website.

Event Highlight 

• Join us for Child Dedication on October 22 and 25 to publicly commit to raising your children in the ways of the Lord. Attending a class on intentional parenting  the week prior to the event is required. 
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/events 

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Fill Your City

Prayer Requests From Our Community

• Pray for the Aberdeen Police Department’s protection on duty and for a safe, healthy work environment.
• Pray for those with kidney disease: for restored function and quick approval onto transplant lists.
• Pray for Sandhills Alliance Church and Pastor Ed Shuck.

Serve Opportunities 

• In the Church – Join the gKids Team: Make an impact serving children from six weeks through fifth grade in a variety of classroom, non-classroom, or administrative volunteer roles.
• In the City – Bed Build Oct 24: Partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build bunk beds for local kids in need! This family-friendly event has roles for all ages. Spots fill fast—register today!
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/serve 

Your City

• There are six areas of the city: family, health & wellness, business, education, government, and media. What are ways you can serve in your city?
• Share Your Story about what God is doing in your life and your city here: https://gracechurchsp.org/story/