GRAN IDEA
We are created to walk in healthy relationships with each other. While that may not have been modelled to us, we have the opportunity and capacity to experience it in our own lives as we embrace biblical relationship principles.
LECTURA
Eph. 5:1–6:9
PENSAMIENTOS
Our ultimate goal is to walk in love in all our relationships. God continues to work on this in us and helps us understand what this looks like. Love is the perfect balance between grace and truth, freedom and boundaries. As we grow in our understanding of love, we will grow in healthy relationships (1 Cor. 13).
Not all relationships are created equal. We cannot give the same amount of time and focus to each connection. Setting relationship priorities helps us establish boundaries to protect ourselves and others around us. Here is a biblical view of priorities in relationships.
- God—Our relationship with God always comes first in our relationships. Our relationship with God is different than serving in the church.
- Marriage—If you’re married, your marriage is your primary relationship.
- Children—If you have kids, they are your second priority.
- Parents—If your parents are alive, they are your third priority.
- Friendships—It’s up to you to decide the order of importance of the friendships you have outside of these pri- orities. You can have an inner circle of close friends and concentric outer circles of acquaintances around you. Your friendships may or may not include extended family.
Marriage
We are designed to experience healthy, exclusive, lifelong marriage relationships. This partnership is intended for friendship, shared purpose, and procreation. God designed men to lay down their life in service to their wives willingly, and God created women to lay down their life in service to their husbands willingly as well. This ideal only works in a co-voluntary, non-demanded, serve-first approach (Eph. 5:3, 15–33). Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Col. 3:18–19
Sexuality
We are created for monogamous sexual experiences in the context of heterosexual marriage. We will experience brokenness in activities outside of this. How does this view challenge your beliefs about sexuality (Rom. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 6:9–18; Eph. 5:31, Heb. 13:4)?
The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 1 Cor. 7:4
Friendships
We can have good friendships by being friendly, discerning, and intentional, and by establishing boundaries and building trust over time (Prov. 13:20, 17:17, 18:24; John 15:13).
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Eccles. 4:9–10
Parents
The primary role of parents is to nurture and train children to become healthy, self-sustaining adults who walk in relationship with God and fulfill their potential to join God in His mission (Deut. 6:6–9; Ps. 127:3–5; Prov. 29:17; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 3:14–15).
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Prov. 22:6
Children
The primary role of children is to obey their parents as they are nurtured to become healthy, self-sustaining adults fully devoted to Jesus (Prov. 1:8–9; Eph. 6:1–3).
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Eph. 6:1
Employees & Employers
We are called to be diligent employees who give our best, or employers who serve, pay, and treat employees well (Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 4:1).
A New Way
We live in a world that challenges a biblical view of healthy relationships and sexuality. The biblical model might even contradict what you’ve personally believed up to this point and what you’ve experienced. You may have also encountered pain from past relationships. The good news is that no matter your past, you can write a new future.
Debate
- How does the biblical model challenge you personally?
- Why is God specific about our sexuality in the Bible?
- List some of your questions related to relationships that you would like to further explore with a mentor.