DEV 12FN Healthy Family (Husband-Wife)

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=Session 12: Healthy Family (husband-wife) =

''In this session, you will discover what God’s Word has to say about healthy relationships between a husband and a wife. ''

Heart of a Leader (40 minutes)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning about abiding in Christ? How are you practicing abiding through His Word, obedience, prayer-care-share, relationships and fellowship?
 * Where in your life is it a challenge to obey God?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
'Have you experienced trials and sufferings? If so, this is a normal part of life on earth for followers of Christ. After all, we follow and seek to be like Jesus who still bears the scars of His own crucifixion!'

'In Luke 9:23 Jesus made it clear, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. Peter, one of the early church leaders experienced these things too. Towards the end of his life, he wrote two letters to believers who were facing trials and they needed encouragement. Listen to his words and let them encourage you too. '

'Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 and 2 Peter 5:6-10. '

'You are not alone. Not only do your brothers and sisters experience the same things, but the Lord Himself knows what it is like and cares for you. '

'Hebrews 12:2-3 encourages us to: “Run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”—Hebrews 12:2-3. '

'Let us help each other on life’s journey by reminding each other of these truths. '

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 minutes)
NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.

Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals they set from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 minutes)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” 


 * Have everyone return to their Iron-on-Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches, and then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?
 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 minutes)
Discovery Bible Study - Husbands and Wives

Relevant Topic: Why is it important and helpful if we know what has been revealed about the submissive relationships between husbands and wives?


 * Have participants get into groups of 4-5 people.
 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages and tell what they learned to the group.

Section 1: Marriage Origins

Original Design—Genesis 2:20-24

Consequences of the Fall—Genesis 3:16b

Expectation for Relationships—Ephesians 5:15-21


 * Each person read their assigned verses. Next, have each individual answer to the group:
 * What caught your attention? What did you like best? Why?
 * How would you describe the struggle between husbands and wives?

'Summary: The marriage relationship was designed to be the closest of all human relationships. God provided Eve for Adam because there was no suitable companion found among the animals God created. God’s pattern for marriage is one man and one wife. The bond between husband and wife overrides all other obligations including ones to parents. Because of their disobedience, there is an ongoing struggle between the woman and the man for leadership in the marriage. Paul explains that through Christ, all of our relationships should be guided by Spirit-filled submission to one another. '

Section 2: Mutual Submission

Why Submission—Ephesians 5:31-32

Role of Husband—Ephesians 5:25-30, 33; 1 Peter 1:7-9

Role of Wife—Ephesians 5:22-24, 33; 1 Peter 3: 1-6, 8-9


 * Each person read their assigned verses. Next, have each individual answer to the group:
 * What caught your attention? What did you like best? Why?
 * What responsibilities do husbands and wives have to one another?
 * What can we learn from the relationship between Jesus and the church?

'Summary: Submission is God’s plan for all believers. If the husband or wife is making mistakes that disrupt the harmony of the home, the way out is to first confess sin to God (1 John 1:9) and then confess to the one that was wronged (James 5:16). Even if a husband or wife does not fulfill their responsibility, you must fulfill yours. Your example will help them change. '

'In God’s eyes, there is no difference between the value of a husband and a wife. Both must submit themselves to each other in the fear of God. But, as a household, the wife submits to the husband and the children submit to the parents. So the husband/wife relationship symbolizes the relationship of the Church to Christ. Remember, church leaders should be growing as examples of godly marriages. (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7).'

Read Ephesians 5:33.

Prepare for Mission (20 minutes)

 * In small groups, have each participant evaluate how their lives are in the area of husband/wife submission and make a plan on how they will immediately begin to improve.
 * Discuss practical applications:
 * What situations commonly cause arguments in the home between husband and wife?
 * Why do husbands and wives often violate Biblical teachings in those situations?
 * What must you do in your home to obey the Biblical teachings about the husband/wife relationship?
 * Write “I will, by when” statements. Include “who will you teach this lesson to?”
 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones.

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision—a church or faith community for every 1,000 people.
 * Spend time in prayer:
 * committing the goals that were set to the Lord.
 * for God to raise up a movement of churches.
 * for more laborers to come out of the harvest.