FAITHFUL FAMILIES BIBLE STUDY CLASS

SESSION FIVE: THE WIFE’S ROLE

I. Welcome and Opening Prayer

II. Review of Last Week’s Lesson:

a. LEARNER – Husbands, did you ask your wife any questions this week?
i. I Peter 3:7

b. LOVER – Husbands, how many of the ten things did you complete?
i. Ephesians 5:25-33

c. LEADER – Husbands, how did you serve and lead your wives this week?
i. Matthew 20

III. Testimonies for the Week (How did God work in your marriage this past week?):

IV. Homework Review:

a. Wives, in light of reading I Timothy and Titus, what item listed by Paul
describes a strength in the character and practices of your husband?
V. This Week’s Lesson:

Keeping in the theme of simplicity, a wife’s role can also be described in three words:

a. SUBMIT

Ephesians 5:22 -- Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Colossians 3:18 -- Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

1 Peter 3:1-2 -- Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so

that, if any of
them do not believe the word, they may be won over without
words by the
behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and
reverence of your lives.

i. Why submission? It is God’s plan for F____________ and O___________.

1. Translation: Military term to voluntarily arrange yourself in rank under

2. A way of life for all B________________(1 Peter 2:13-23; Eph 5:21)

3. A proof of the wife’s L_______ for Christ (John 14:15, 31; 1 John 5:3)

4. A way to be B______________________ (1 Peter 3:1-6)

5. A picture of the church O_______________ Christ (Eph 5:22-31)

ii. Wrong ideas about submission:

1. A wife is I________________ (1 Peter 3:7; Galatians 3:28)

2. The husband is I___________________, or should be before you

submit to his authority (1 Peter 2:13-23)

3. A wife cannot think and should not S____________ (Eph 4:15, 16, 25)

4. A wife has no influence (1 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Samuel 1-3; 2 Timothy 1:5)

 iii. Limited only by biblical M___________________, not personal preference

b. HELP

Genesis 2:18:
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him."

i. Term “ezer”-

1. Some of the words in definition: C________________,

complementing, corresponding to, fitting perfectly to

2. A ___________to meet needs.

3. Used 14 times to describe G _______being my help

ii. In what ways does a wife, unlike any other person complete or
contribute to her husband?

1. Companionship (Proverbs 5:18)

2. Emotionally (Proverbs 5:19)

3. Physically (1 Corinthians 7:4)

4. Spiritually (Ephesians 5:22-33)

5. Parentally (Proverbs 1:8-9, Titus 2:4)

6. Domestically (Titus 2:5)

7. Intellectually (Proverbs 31:26)

8. Ministry (Proverbs 31:23)

iii. Wives, how would you honestly rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 when it
comes to being your husband’s helper?
 iv. What can you begin doing to improve your score?

c. RESPECT

Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the
wife must respect her husband.

i. Definition: Reverence, Regard, Notice, H_______________, Prefer,

Esteem, Love, Admire, Exceedingly P________________

ii. How do we do this in practical terms?

1. Express t________________

2. Be s________________ despite circumstances

3. Do not let your e_____________ control you

4. You are not his personal ____________ _____________

5. P___________ him when he does well

6. E_________________ him when he fails

7. Let him know you are glad he came h___________

iii. Are you respecting your husband?

1. Are any of these present in your home?
a. Bitterness, resentment, tension, discouragement, depression,
destruction of love

iv. How to get started/get better

1. Love him as he is (1 John 4:11)

2. Remember that you C_______________ him (and why)

3. Deal with your own L_____________ first (Matthew 7:3-5)

4. Give your “rights” to God (Philippians 2:3-9)

5. Communicate biblically and in L_____________ (Ephesians 4:25-32)

6. Say only P_____________ things about him in public (including family)

 7. Remember: God has a plan and God’s plan works

VI. Homework:

a. Date Night b. Family Devotional Time c. Nightly Prayer Time

d. Book Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 3 in Reforming Marriage, write down

when you read it and underline the 5 most important things that apply to you.

Take the most important thought and write it down on the homework sheet.

e. Wives: Read Titus 2:4-5. List 8 things that “young women” should do and
write out a definition for each item (your own or another source).

f. Love, Love, Love: TODAY, wives give husbands the “Ways a Wife May
Express Love” handout and ask him to circle ten things. Begin planning
when you can complete the tasks. Record the date next to an item on the
handout when it is completed. These will not be returned as homework but
should be posted in a spot where both husband and wife will be reminded.

g. Discussion: By Tuesday, each person should complete the Score Card for
Wives. Before class next week, sit down and discuss the differences.
Record the date and time when discussion was held.